Hi everyone, Happy new year! Apologies for such a novice question but still learning the ropes with used cars!

 

I need to keep an eye on my oil levels and top up as required. The car is an Octavia VRS 2.0TSI, 2010 facelift (1Z3/CCZA) it has just ticked over to 100k miles. I have owned it for 8 weeks.

 

The owners manual states VW 504 00 oil.

 

The service history all from Skoda dealers states it has had Castrol long life 5W-30 and then Castrol long life 5W-40, it's last service by skoda had Shell Helix ultra 0W-30. It has since been serviced again but I do not know what was used.

 

Anyway for topping up should I be aiming for 5W30? If so do any particular brands and types stand out for my engine? Castrol Edge Titanium 5W-30 long life stands out but I want to be sure before I purchase.

 

Thanks for any help 

Edited 2 January, 20188 yr by HarleQuinn

@HarleQuinn - Petrol turbo I'd always use Mobil 1 and change every 10_000 miles or 1 year, whichever is sooner.

@KenONeill OK interesting thank you, just doing a search on the Mobil website and it recommends "Mobil 1 ESP 0W-30"

 

If Mobil 1 ESP is best for my engine I am happy to go with it but 5W-30 or 0W-30?

Edited 2 January, 20188 yr by HarleQuinn

@HarleQuinn - personally I always use the 0W-30, because it will build enough pressure to get the warning light off before the engine will even fire, and once you have that much pressure in the galleries the cold viscosity is academic because the hydrodynamic pressure in the bearings will be thousands of PSI rather than the 10PSI resulting directly from the oil viscosity.

Oil that meets the spec 504 is what you need the 5-30 10-30 is of less importance. Quantum iii oil is the one sold by vag the  oil is to 504 507 spec and is 5-30 you can find it sold in 5l bottles from a vw dealer on EBAY for about £25. 5l of halfords vw oil is around £42 

12 hours ago, HarleQuinn said:

 

The owners manual states VW 504 00 oil.

 

Thanks for any help 

 

 

It won't state only vw 504.00, that is for variable service regime QG1, it will also state vw 502.00 for fixed regime QG2, which I would highly recommend following for that engine.

 

You can use a vw 504.00 as a fixed service oil, but it is not necessary and arguably you may be excluding a lot of good oils because of choosing ONLY vw 504.00 (no 502.00 oils) if you are changing 12 mths / 10k miles max. 

 

This question has been done a lot on these forums in the past but it is not proven that long life oil is always better, even if often stated as fact. 

 

The multigrade ratings are a different issue, and you should mostly choose one appropriate to you environment temp range, so if I was living in the Scottish Highlands I might consider 0W30 other I'd stick with 5W30 (if using Long Life) or in my view 5W40 vw 502.00 as it is more resistant to thinning at higher temps and they did design the EA888 to run pretty hot.

 

Factory fill for UK is probably 5W30 but to meet requirements of long life regime if chosen at first purchase and also a strong incentive to use the thinnest oil they can to squeeze every decimal point of fuel consumption out.  The EA888 also has carbon build up issues and thinner viscocity at higher temps probably doesn't help.

 

There is also the blocking of scraper rings which is a design issue but maybe affected by the Saps content of the oil and ability to stay clean.  As to whether all this materially makes a difference, we'd need to set up a test with new engines and a control group and same driving conditions over extended period to prove anything!

 

 

 

A5_Octavia_OwnersManual_Oil.pdf

Edited 2 January, 20188 yr by TheClient

My car says it is QG1 which is variable servicing according to Skoda. This is how it was sold to the previous owner and he had it serviced well till he sold it. My plan is to top up when I need to but have the oil changed every 12 months.

 

This is quite a bit more complex than I could have imagined! I see Skoda dealers supposedly moved to Shell Helix 0W-30 but being in the middle of England temperatures are not too bad.

 

 

 

 

Edited 2 January, 20188 yr by HarleQuinn

15 minutes ago, HarleQuinn said:

My car says it is QG1 which is variable servicing according to Skoda. This is how it was sold to the previous owner and he had it serviced well till he sold it. My plan is to top up when I need to but have the oil changed every 12 months.

 

This is quite a bit more complex than I could have imagined! I see Skoda dealers supposedly moved to Shell Helix 0W-30 but being in the middle of England temperatures are not too bad.

 

 

 

 

 

All vehicles in UK are supposedly delivered as QG1 to allow long life regime to be adopted. If you are running a variable service schedule per QG1, I would suggest you change to fixed 12 mths / 10k max. That will be more important in itself than the oil in all likelihood.

 

Edit: and you are already saying you intend on changing oil every 12 months so you are not intending on running as variable regime. If your car is set to variable long life it can be changed to count miles and days to service per fixed regime.  But it doesn't change anything other than when services are required.

 

 

Edited 2 January, 20188 yr by TheClient

Just now, TheClient said:

 

All vehicles in UK are supposedly delivered as QG1 to allow long life regime to be adopted. If you are running a variable service schedule per QG1, I would suggest you change to fixed 12 mths / 10k max. That will be more important in itself than the oil in all likelihood.

 

 

 

Hi, well I have owned the car for 8 weeks and am going to have it serviced every 12 months. When I bought the car it showed a service was due on the maxidot and it was serviced in November when I bought it.

 

I am going to change to June services as that is when we go on holiday and it would coincide nicely with our long drive, then going forward every June each year. So what needs changing exactly? A setting on the maxidot or do you mean I just change to every 12 months which is my plan anyway?

 

However I still need to be topping up the oil occasionally so need to decide on the best for that! Thanks for the informative reply

1 minute ago, HarleQuinn said:

 

I am going to change to June services as that is when we go on holiday and it would coincide nicely with our long drive, then going forward every June each year. So what needs changing exactly? A setting on the maxidot or do you mean I just change to every 12 months which is my plan anyway?

See above under edit to my previous post.  I am still not totally clear as to whether your car is set to variable servicing or fixed.  In any case, per my previous explanation, it doesn't do anything in terms of how the engine is run, only how your next service is reported as due. 

33 minutes ago, TheClient said:

See above under edit to my previous post.  I am still not totally clear as to whether your car is set to variable servicing or fixed.  In any case, per my previous explanation, it doesn't do anything in terms of how the engine is run, only how your next service is reported as due. 

 

I think I am confusing myself!

 

So the service book has the code QG1 which does say variable servicing in the book. There was a service done on...

 

10/03/2010 - Car delivered new to previous owner

15/2/2011 - 16k miles - Skoda dealers

13/1/2012 - 32k miles - Skoda dealers

18/12/2012 - 50k miles - Skoda dealers

24/09/2013 - 61k miles - Skoda dealers

2/10/2014 - 76k miles - Skoda dealers

11/8/2015 - 90k miles - Skoda dealers

10/11/2017 - 99k miles - Independant garage

 

So I plan the next service in June and then want to have it serviced every 12 months so do I need something changing on the cars maxidot to have it saying service due around June each year so fixed servicing so to speak?  We do about 6k miles a year.

 

Edited 2 January, 20188 yr by HarleQuinn

17 minutes ago, HarleQuinn said:

 

I think I am confusing myself!

 

So the service book has the code QG1 which does say variable servicing in the book. There was a service done on...

 

15/2/2011 - 16k miles - Skoda dealers

13/1/2012 - 32k miles - Skoda dealers

18/12/2012 - 50k miles - Skoda dealers

24/09/2013 - 61k miles - Skoda dealers

2/10/2014 - 76k miles - Skoda dealers

11/8/2015 - 90k miles - Skoda dealers

10/11/2017 - 99k miles - Independant garage

 

So I plan the next service in June and then want to have it serviced every 12 months so do I need something changing on the cars maxidot to have it saying service due around June each year so fixed servicing so to speak?  We do about 6k miles a year.

 

 

That is definitely a history of variable servicing up to 2 years / up to 18k miles.

 

You should be able to revert to fixed interval by resetting the service indicator per the manual. But you may want to do it next service, as it will be 2 months out if you reset now. 

 

Edit: Note, whilst you can change to fixed you can only go back to  variable by a dealer or service garage changing the parameter or someone with VCDS.

 

It is not a biggie either way, as long as you keep an eye on miles and date yourself like changing every June. If you used a VW 502.00 oil, with car  left on variable servicing, it would probably say service immediately or give an oil quality error.

 

The reason we got into this discussion was to say you don't have to use VW504.00 only, you could also use a VW 502.00 alternative given you will be following a 12 month / 10k mile service interval going forward and that point is still valid.

 

That said, your engine has now covered 100k miles on a variable schedule, so the benefits of changing to fixed will be less than if it was adopted early on....

 

 

Edited 2 January, 20188 yr by TheClient

41 minutes ago, TheClient said:

 

That is definitely a history of variable servicing up to 2 years / up to 18k miles.

 

You should be able to revert to fixed interval by reseting the service indicator per the manual. But you may want to do it next service as it will be 2 months out if you reset now.  It is not a biggie either way, as long as you keep an eye on miles and date yourself like changing every June.

 

The reason we got into this discussion was to say you don't have to use VW504.00 only, you cold also use VW 502.00 given you will be following a 12 month / 10k mile service interval going forward.

 

 

 

It's all good information, I am happy to have gone through it all, helps me understand it too!

 

So in your opinion VW502.00 is best for my servicing schedule?  5W-30, 5W-40 or 0W-30 (which is what Skoda used last). Any particular brand too? I think Skoda are using Shell Helix?

 

This one is VW502.00 but is 5W-40

https://opieoils.co.uk/p-68976-shell-helix-ultra-5w-40-pure-plus-fully-synthetic-engine-oil-recommended-by-ferrari.aspx

 

Or this one perhaps?

https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Skoda_Octavia_2.0_2010/p/car-parts/engine-parts1/engine-parts/engine-oils/?521773521&1&c5c2194a62ecc3a1a59845525478368483281ea9&000398

Edited 2 January, 20188 yr by HarleQuinn

It is all personal opinion as to exactly which oil brand and oil within the other parameters discussed.....  I have tried to give some background.  I personally would be drawn to the Shell Helix Ultra 5W40 as a good option.  A good multigrade.  Higher hot viscoscity than 5W30 long life. And it is Acea A3/B4 A3/B4 rather than Cx...

 

There are a lot of options for VW 502.00 in 5W40 though, so the world is your oyster!.  

 

Out of all the things discussed a 12 mth / 8-10k mile interval will probably do you the most good.

 

I think both the links you have posted are the same oil?  The Opie Oils is good value and a very good price though at the moment and a site sponsor and I have used them before.  Good vendor you, can rely on the items being genuine which can be an issue sometimes when sourcing on ebay (more care required).  

 

The other thing is, your car has done 100k miles on a long life regime on long life vw 502.00 oils and is doing ok.. So you could stick with those oils, Vw 504.00 5W30s like Quantum LL3, Mobil 1 ESP, Castrol Edge, and shorten the interval to 12 months as has been suggested and earlier posts recommended if you wanted to. Wouldn't be the way I would go but it has done your car ok so far (presumably).

Edited 2 January, 20188 yr by TheClient

'Long Life' recommended VW Group oils,  Castrol / Quantum and others often mean 'short life TSI's'.

 

If doing fixed servicing / oil / filter changes as well to use VW 502 00 oil,  so 5w 40 Full Synthetic. 

Not for cheapness, just because German / VW Group Engines have some of the highest failure rates of engines. 

So why listen to German Engine manufacturers on consumables.

 

If you are not leasing, Fleet Buying, why not just give your TSI oil that they like and at 372 days / 9,600 miles or so and the car can be a keeper.

VORSPRUNG DURCH TECHNIK.

  Just check if everything with a VW Engine is as reliable as they would have you believe.

http://vwproblems.com 

Edited 2 January, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

29 minutes ago, TheClient said:

It is all personal opinion as to exactly which oil brand and oil within the other parameters discussed.....  I have tried to give some background.  I personally would be drawn to the Shell Helix Ultra 5W40 as a good option.  A good multigrade.  Higher hot viscoscity than 5W30 long life. And it is Acea A3/B4 A3/B4 rather than Cx...

 

There are a lot of options for VW 502.00 in 5W40 though, so the world is your oyster!.  

 

Out of all the things discussed a 12 mth / 8-10k mile interval will probably do you the most good.

 

I think both the links you have posted are the same oil?  The Opie Oils is good value and a very good price though at the moment and a site sponsor and I have used them before.  Good vendor you, can rely on the items being genuine which can be an issue sometimes when sourcing on ebay (more care required).  

 

The other thing is, your car has done 100k miles on a long life regime on long life vw 502.00 oils and is doing ok.. So you could stick with those oils, Vw 504.00 5W30s like Quantum LL3, Mobil 1 ESP, Castrol Edge, and shorten the interval to 12 months as has been suggested and earlier posts recommended if you wanted to. Wouldn't be the way I would go but it has done your car ok so far (presumably).

 

Thank you, yeah the labelling looked slightly different so wasn't sure. ECP have a  promo at the minute so it works out at £23 which is good. Actually ECP sister site carparts4less has it at £19.58 with a promo code! I will go with the VW 502.00 Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40 as a top up oil and then use it for permanent 12 month oil changes as long as that is my best foot forward, I think I have read all your excellent information correctly!

 

@AwaoffSki Thanks for the advice, I think I have made the best choice with VW 502 00 Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40

 

 

Edited 2 January, 20188 yr by HarleQuinn

2 hours ago, HarleQuinn said:

 

Thank you, yeah the labelling looked slightly different so wasn't sure. ECP have a  promo at the minute so it works out at £23 which is good. Actually ECP sister site carparts4less has it at £19.58 with a promo code! I will go with the VW 502.00 Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40 as a top up oil and then use it for permanent 12 month oil changes as long as that is my best foot forward, I think I have read all your excellent information correctly!

 

@AwaoffSki Thanks for the advice, I think I have made the best choice with VW 502 00 Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40

 

 

 

Under £20, for Shell Ultra Helix 5W40, that is a good price. I have also used Mobil Super 3000 x1 5W40, but is a bit pricier.  Might even stock up on a bottle of Shell myself. 

 

 

12 minutes ago, TheClient said:

 

Under £20, for Shell Ultra Helix 5W40, that is a good price. I have also used Mobil Super 3000 x1 5W40, but is a bit pricier.  Might even stock up on a bottle of Shell myself. 

 

 

 

I didn't realise we had practically the same car but yours is the estate, good to know!

HarleQuinn, i use 5/40 (vw 502) oil in mine (1.8 tsi has same oil consumption issue's) and service it every 12 months or around every 6,000 miles, 

 

When i bought it in feb last year it had 5/30 in it and it liked a good drop of it, since changing to 5/40 the consumption is a lot less (about 275ml's every 1000 miles)

 

Mine is due both MOT and service next month (handy sometimes working at halfords auto centre, will go in on my day off and "borrow" a ramp for an hour or two) so changing the Maxidot over to fixed will be easy as launch diag equipment can do it.

 

Will going into the Dealers to have the water pump repaired under warranty though and have the service recorded on their database (just have to show an invoice from where i work)

1 minute ago, Ju1ian1001 said:

HarleQuinn, i use 5/40 (vw 502) oil in mine (1.8 tsi has same oil consumption issue's) and service it every 12 months or around every 6,000 miles, 

 

When i bought it in feb last year it had 5/30 in it and it liked a good drop of it, since changing to 5/40 the consumption is a lot less (about 275ml's every 1000 miles)

 

Mine is due both MOT and service next month (handy sometimes working at halfords auto centre, will go in on my day off and "borrow" a ramp for an hour or two) so changing the Maxidot over to fixed will be easy as launch diag equipment can do it.

 

Will going into the Dealers to have the water pump repaired under warranty though and have the service recorded on their database (just have to show an invoice from where i work)

 

Based on that I would probably lose 1500-1650 mls over 12 months. We do about 5k-6k per year.

 

What is the oil capacity in these cars? About 5 litres?

5 minutes ago, HarleQuinn said:

 

Based on that I would probably lose 1500-1650 mls over 12 months. We do about 5k-6k per year.

 

What is the oil capacity in these cars? About 5 litres?

Owners hand book says 4.6 litres for both the 1.8 and 2.0 tsi

Just now, Ju1ian1001 said:

Owners hand book says 4.6 litres for both the 1.8 and 2.0 tsi

 

 Ah ok, so I am possibly going to lose 1/3 of the oil between services. That isn't too bad to be honest.

 

At how many litres lost would I expect the oil low warning light to display?

8 minutes ago, HarleQuinn said:

 

 Ah ok, so I am possibly going to lose 1/3 of the oil between services. That isn't too bad to be honest.

 

At how many litres lost would I expect the oil low warning light to display?

That i don't know as i never let my oil run low (bad practice for an MOT tester/technician)

The thing is they are not all the same in terms of oil usage,  so because @Ju1ian1001 uses x amount per 1000 miles does no mean you will. It depends. Mine doesn't really use measurable oil between 8k mile services. Despite a visible oil leak above the turbo cold air connection. Possible PCV replacement, I've has the intake tract off and used mirrors to confirm it is not the oil supply lines to turbo. Still haven't got to the bottom of that....

 

The oil light is theoretically about 1L below the min level AFAIR from other posts but not perfect to gauge. Edit: Also, do not really on it, check.

Edited 3 January, 20188 yr by TheClient

HarleQuinn, does you car use oil now or not?

 

Just be sure the correct quantity is in, as at a 'operating temp check',  and compare when stone cold and know where it shows.

(Do not do 'warm checks',  Cold or up above 80*oC to 90*oC)

Do not overfill, and do not allow to go low so Warning Lights show.

It is basic enough stuff.