Oil spec for Octavia III 1.5ACT petrol engine

[robthearchitect]

Hi all

There are various threads on oil but I guess my query is specific to my new(ish) 67reg/2018 Octavia III 1.5 ACT petrol, so thought best to start a new one. However principal does apply to other engines. 

 

I bought a pre-reg car from main dealer with only 19 miles on clock about 6 weeks ago. Shortly after they offered me some top up oil (Castrol Edge LL III 5w-30, VW504 complying). However I was aware of various online discussions on grade so asked they double check with Skoda UK, which they did apologising as Skoda UK had indicated should be (the older) VW502 standard (ie Castrol Edge 5w-40). I am led to believe that my car is on a variable service interval (ie that I will be informed by the microdot display in advance of when next service is due).

I was a little concerned and being aware that there is also a relatively new VW508 specification (Castrol Edge LL IV 0w-20) I said I would check with Skoda head office to be absolutely sure am doing the right thing. (Manual says can top up with any, 502, 504 or 508 up to 0.5L between services). 

 

The response to my detailed query to Skoda head office in Czech Republic was evasive. I asked them:

1. what the optimal oil spec for my car should be

2. what it would have been filled with at the factory

3. what I should do if the above two differ

They kept referring me either to my dealer or customer services in my country, despite my querying that surely there is a common answer to my first question for every engine of this type made for the European market and filled with oil at the Mlada Boleslav factory. 

 

Skoda UK have yet to respond to me direct but Castrol (BP), with whom VW group develop oil specifications, were much prompter in their response, stating that they would chose Castrol Edge LL III 5w-30 (VW504) as on variable service intervals. However that does not tell me what is in the car now. Interestingly VW group cars (VW, Skoda, Seat, Audi) seem to have differing advice on oil, none of which very clear! VW508 spec 0w-20 seems to be for 'specific petrol engines' but I can't see where it says on any website/document which these are.

 

Has anyone else had this issue with new 1.5 ACT engine and resolved more than me to date? 

 

Impressed with car but less so with clarity of advice from Skoda at moment!

[Gerrycan]

Due to your thorough investigations so far I think you are probably the leading expert on this particular subject matter.

I have wondered what the effect of mixing different (high spec) oils is on lubricant effectiveness, not sure I'd be happy experimenting on a brand new car with variable servicing applied.

The 1.5tsi is a relatively low tune so you assume the VW508 'specific vehicle's would be the higher tune engines.

 

VW group cars do not option variable servicing in Australia, it is a mandatory 12 months or 15k km. Maybe something to do with our hot weather and high sulphur fuels?

BMW/Mini and some other European brands do offer much longer servicing intervals though so they don't consider it such a problem.

Edited 10 October, 2018 by Gerrycan

[robthearchitect]

Finally have response from Skoda UK as follows:

Car was filled at factory with vw 502 00 oil (presumably Castrol Edge 5w-40).

I am taking it that it is thus not suitable for variable service regime and will take in for oil change first service when one year old (as drive modest miles in year).

Permissible oils for the 1.5 ACT petrol/gasoline engine in UK apparently vw 502 00, vw 504 or VW 508 (Castrol Edge 5w-40, LL III 5w-30, and LL IV 0w-20 respectively). Will therefore probably change to 504 or 508 at oil change so can be on variable service intervals going forwards.

 

Not sure why head office in Czech Republic could not have answered as information for UK on what my car was filled with could only have come from there!

[xman]

BS from Skoda UK, factory fills with 504/507 or 508/509 depending on engine and certification and has been doing so for years. They arrive in the UK set to variable regime and often the dealer will switch them to fixed at PDI without permission and without informing the customer of their actions and explaining why.

 

Head office don't reply because they are paying muppets in the UK to handle that kind of query, unaware of the lies the UK muppets are telling.

 

Edited 11 October, 2018 by xman

[ahenners]

I'm surprised it would come from the factory with 502 spec oil, rather than at least 504 or 508. What codes are listed on the sticker on the boot floor, is Q16 or a different Q code listed? My limited understanding is that all cars come from the factory set for variable servicing, and thus have longlife oil filled.

[xman]

Yes look for QI6 in owner manual spec sticker or boot sticker. My car (1.4 Superb) even has a 504.00 sticker in the engine bay

Edited 11 October, 2018 by xman

[robthearchitect]

Afraid nothing so clear apparent in boot or bonnet (nor stuck to manual). I have the yellow and black sticker under the bonnet however, but that doesn't seem to say much?? Certainly nothing with 'Q16' or other Q code apparent.

I was originally told by the supplying dealership that car was on variable servicing schedule but with 502 in presume can't be the case.

In all whole process does not fill you with confidence that they know what they are talking about!!

 

Xman, you refer to 'BS' in your reply?

 

 

[ahenners]

8 minutes ago, robthearchitect said:

Afraid nothing so clear apparent in boot or bonnet (nor stuck to manual). I have the yellow and black sticker under the bonnet however, but that doesn't seem to say much?? Certainly nothing with 'Q16' or other Q code apparent.

I was originally told by the supplying dealership that car was on variable servicing schedule but with 502 in presume can't be the case.

In all whole process does not fill you with confidence that they know what they are talking about!!

 

Xman, you refer to 'BS' in your reply?

 

 

 

Correct 502 spec oil does not meet the requirements for variable servicing and longer oil change intervals.

 

The boot sticker should be under the false floor stuck to the metal chassis and have a bunch of codes listed on it. Q16 is variable servicing intervals which would confirm the oil should not be 502 spec.

Edited 11 October, 2018 by ahenners

[xman]

Furthermore all new petrol cars are now fitted with gpf (opf). Particulate filters which require the use of low SAPS oil, which 502 is not. Only 504/507 and 508/509 are low SAPS (DPF/OPF compatible).

[xman]

1 hour ago, robthearchitect said:

Xman, you refer to 'BS' in your reply?

 

[robthearchitect]

Haha - getting slow!

[Ootohere]

Dead Simple.

A TSI does leave the Factory with the ability to have variable / Flexible servicing and with long life oil.

But the Service Intervals can be changed to fixed, and Long Life oil VW504 / 507 used still or VW 502 since you are doing fixed servicing.

Just because Dealership Employees want to and do use Long Life oil even if Fixed Servicing is getting done does not mean the engine require Long Life oil.

http://volkswagen.co.uk/overs/servicing/regimes

 

This does not apply the same with Euro 5  / 6 TDI's, they require VW504/507.   

[xman]

Not quite ski, All TSI's produced after approx June 2018 will have OPF and cannot use 502 AFAIK

Edited 11 October, 2018 by xman

[ahenners]

2 hours ago, ahenners said:

 

Correct 502 spec oil does not meet the requirements for variable servicing and longer oil change intervals.

 

The boot sticker should be under the false floor stuck to the metal chassis and have a bunch of codes listed on it. Q16 is variable servicing intervals which would confirm the oil should not be 502 spec.

 

Why confused @Offski?

 

[Ootohere]

Because a car has a code for Variable Servicing Intervals the engine does not have to be on Variable it can be done Fixed Servicing, 

then you just need the correct spec, and that with a TSI does not mean Long Life is required if doing fixed intervals.

Back when Mk2 Fabia were launched the VW Engines in VW's were already with the Variable Code and in a Skoda Fixed Code, and in 2011 no difference in the Engines but the code was changed to Variable.

[ahenners]

Just now, Offski said:

Because a car has a code for Variable Servicing Intervals the engine does not have to be on Variable it can be done Fixed Servicing, 

then you just need the correct spec, and that with a TSI does not mean Long Life is required if doing fixed intervals.

Back when Mk2 Fabia were launched the VW Engines in VW's were already with the Variable Code and in a Skoda Fixed Code, and in 2011 no difference in the Engines but the code was changed to Variable.

 

But don't all the MK3 Octavia all leave the factory set to variable?

[Ootohere]

XMAN,  

Yet to see the price Main Dealers are going to quote for TSI's with GPF's servicing and the Service Desk Staff knowing WTF a customer is asking about when they ask, 

'Are you using 0w 20 FS LL?'   The answer will be, 'they know what to use we use only Long Life Oil, we only use Full Synthetic.'

Edited 11 October, 2018 by Offski

[Ootohere]

Apart from Citigo all Skoda leave the factory set for Variable Servicing and with Long Life Oil.

The Citigo has Long Life Oil, but not Long Life Servicing.

 

The car is changed if it is to Fixed Service Intervals after Delivery into the UK, usually at a PDI, and sometimes without asking the new owners permission or what would suit their needs, servicing, annual mileage, Service Plan if any.

 

Now because of the WLTP all other than the Citigo have had in VW508/509 Long Life Oil, 

not all needed it, but they were having to use it since September 2017, and now for the WLTP / RDE.

Edited 11 October, 2018 by Offski

[ahenners]

Just now, Offski said:

Apart from Citigo all Skoda leave the factory set for Variable Servicing and with Long Life Oil.

The Citigo has Long Life Oil, but not Long Life Servicing.

 

Now because of the WLTP all other than the Citigo have had in VW508/509 Long Life Oil, 

not all needed it, but they were having to use it since September 2017, and now for the WLTP / RDE.

 

I'm still unsure why my post was confusing... OP has been told his car left the factory with 502 oil, which cannot happen if the car left the factory with Q16 variable servicing + boot sticker code confirm this. This oil is not suitable for Q16. It could be switched to fixed by the dealer and future oil services could use 502, but the factory filled cannot be 502.

[xman]

Well, as I see it you have 2 choices

 

Or

 

Colin Chapman swore by Duckhams, but then they paid him a wodge to say that. And I believed him cos he showed one of his Lotus F1 cars with it in (for the advert maybe)......

 

Edited 11 October, 2018 by xman
It was Colin Chapman not Jackie Stewart that advertised Duckhams Q

[Ootohere]

ahenners,

sorry mis-read your post having not fully digested what the OP had posted about the reply from Skoda Muppets about leaving the factory with VW502 00.

 

 

[fabdavrav]

As I have the MK7 Golf service books as I paid for them....

 

All petrol cars in UK are set for flexible service (QI6) as they have an oil level sensor, brake pad wear sensor, & flexible service interval display. (these are the prerequisites).

The oil for flexible services must conform to spec VW 504 00. Note this is NOT a specific grade of oil.

 

Just because the car has been set up for flexible, does not mean that it cannot be placed (later on) on the shorter fixed interval, which in UK is QI4.

The grade of oil for fixed is to be spec VW 502 00, again this is NOT a specific oil grade.

 

Diesel is 507 00 for both fixed & flexible.

 

For model year 2018 & onward VAG has introduced a new oil specification called 508 00/509 00. 

This oil meets both the new petrol spec of 508 00 & the new diesel spec of 509 00.

 

So for new engine from 2018:-

 

Petrol fixed is still 502 00

Petrol flexible is 508 00 (replacing 504 00)

Diesel is 509 00 (replacing 507 00)

 

This means that the same spec of oil can be used in petrol engines on flexible & ALL diesels...

 

Note the VW spec has NOTHING to do with the "W" grade of the oil whatso ever!

 

& just because one brand of oil in a specific "W" grade has VW spec ,does not mean that the same "W" grade of oil in a different brand will have the same VW spec...

 

chose the correct VW spec first..then select the "W" grade/brand...

 

Edited 11 October, 2018 by fabdavrav

[xman]

From the latest Octavia Owners Manual effective from July 2018

 

Quote

 

To find out which type of engine oil you can use for your vehicle, contact a
specialist garage. If this oil is not available, other oils can also be refilled.

 

To prevent engine damage, a maximum of 0.5 l of engine oil with the following specifications may be used until the next oil change:

▶ Petrol engines: VW 504 00, VW 502 00, VW 508 00, ACEA A3/ACEA B4 or API SN, (API SM);
 

▶ Diesel engines: VW 507 00, ACEA C3 or API CJ-4. Engine oil VW 505 01 can optionally be used in diesel engines without a diesel particulate filter.

 

 

Note it says ONLY for top ups to a maximum of 0.5 litres between services. These are not specifications for a full oil change service.

 

I keep repeating this, its important. WLTP compliant petrols, everything manufactured after June 2018 (and certain other engines before that date) have a gasoline particulate filter fitted as standard and so require a low SAPS oil if the particulate filter is going to last and not fill quickly with ash.

 

502.00, ACEA A3/ACEA B4 or API SN, (API SM) standards are NOT low SAPS specifications, however some 502.00 oils which also are ACEA C3 compliant are low SAPS, e.g. Quantum Platinum with QFX

 

Check other brands carefully for low SAPS (GPF/DPF) compatibility before using 502.00 especially for full oil changes.

 

The easier option is to use 504.00 oils for all petrol engines from 2018 onwards regardless of regime, that is a low SAPS oil.

 

AFAIK 508.00 oil is not suitable for all petrol engines and should only be used when specified by current workshop service instructions/schedules as acceptable.

 

Edited 11 October, 2018 by xman

[fabdavrav]

9 hours ago, xman said:

From the latest Octavia Owners Manual effective from July 2018

 

 

Note it says ONLY for top ups to a maximum of 0.5 litres between services. These are not specifications for a full oil change service.

 

I keep repeating this, its important. WLTP compliant petrols, everything manufactured after June 2018 (and certain other engines before that date) have a gasoline particulate filter fitted as standard and so require a low SAPS oil if the particulate filter is going to last and not fill quickly with ash.

 

502.00, ACEA A3/ACEA B4 or API SN, (API SM) standards are NOT low SAPS specifications, however some 502.00 oils which also are ACEA C3 compliant are low SAPS, e.g. Quantum Platinum with QFX

 

Check other brands carefully for low SAPS (GPF/DPF) compatibility before using 502.00 especially for full oil changes.

 

The easier option is to use 504.00 oils for all petrol engines from 2018 onwards regardless of regime, that is a low SAPS oil.

 

AFAIK 508.00 oil is not suitable for all petrol engines and should only be used when specified by current workshop service instructions/schedules as acceptable.

 

 

 

The ERWIN VW docs which I admit I got last year don't mentions SAPS...my post above is pretty much verbatim from the VW service book...

 

 

[robthearchitect]

What have I started!! ...back to extravirgin olive oil then (cold pressed of course).

 

As my pre reg car was registered in UK first late January before sitting largely unmoved for 6 months until I bought, am guessing had left factory late 2017. Bit strange as you say that filled with 502 as 504 standard has been around for over 10 years. I do wonder where Skoda UK are taking this information from?? Hmmmm.

As I mentioned does not appear to be any sticker stating what filled with/should be used, and no Q codes.

 

Having lost faith in veracity of information received by them am inclined to wait until car is a year old (end Jan) and do oil change to probably 504 then. ...before if needs more than 0.5L top up.

 

Probably only will have 4000 miles done by then but at least will know what in there!