For those of you looking for engine oil especially to the 506.01 spec these people provide a very good online service with a very quick delivery via Amtrak.

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/

I'm sure oilman will be pleased to hear that you stumbled his work's website!

I can only speak as I find, they have provide a first class service.

Wih this whole synthetic engine oil relative to specification it seems very hard to find any solid information and it strikes me that both oil manufactures and local suppliers are missing a very large market out here.

The technical advances with regard to extended servicing and engine oil changes to many of us older drivers requires a major mind shift as they fly in the face of all the rules that we previously maintained our vehicles and bikes. They also seem to be out stripping car dealership and service outlets ability to keep pace and carry lubricant stocks, assuming they can even afford to do so.

Looking at the current Skoda Owners book then it does not throw a very clear light on the matter. True it tells you to use an oil of certain spec, but it fails to tell you suggested branded products so that the vehicle owner can at least have a fighting chance of buying the correct spec product.

From my initial searches there is very little, in most cases no 506.01 spec engine oil out there for normal retail purchase. I appreciate the current price of synthetic engine and gear lubricants are very high and as such many lubricant retailers will find it costly to carry even a small variety of brand named products, but this does not make it easy for us the modern car owners.

On top of this there also seems to be the confusion as to whether 506.01 spec engine oils are being use by vehicle servicing dealerships, which in some ways is understandable as all these spec variations would lead to their lubricant inventory going thru the roof in money terms.

It is confusing to say the least and you only have to read various car forums on the subject of engine oils to see this is still the case.

For my money there is only one Oil manufacturer whose products I will put into our cars diesel engines...MILLERS. They produce diesel specific oils that meet or exceed VAG specs and, were probably the first to develop semi synthetic oils for diesels. I have been using their oils for over fifteen years - one PSA unit still in daily service with 160,00 miles and no consumption between changes. Have used in MK1 Octavia since new and will be changing new Octavia over to Millers once I get 5,000 miles on it. Check their website http://millersoils.net

For my money there is only one Oil manufacturer whose products I will put into our cars diesel engines...MILLERS. They produce diesel specific oils that meet or exceed VAG specs and, were probably the first to develop semi synthetic oils for diesels. I have been using their oils for over fifteen years - one PSA unit still in daily service with 160,00 miles and no consumption between changes. Have used in MK1 Octavia since new and will be changing new Octavia over to Millers once I get 5,000 miles on it. Check their website http://millersoils.net

Millers oil are great, however they don't do one for the longlife schedule so I am afraid they miss out there.

This thread might be useful to you if you're looking for longlife oil suitable for variable servicing.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/new-octavia/shell-helix-ultra-x-0w-30-longlife-oil-octavia-vrs-mark-ii/51089/

Kentish, Miller do supply engine lubricant to VAG variable change specs see

http://www.millersoils.net/index2.html

Miller XF Long Life 0W-30 meets VAG 503, 506 and 506.01

Miller XFS 0W-30 meets VAG 503 and 506

It may be worth spelling out what the current Octavia 2 engine oil specs are as lifted from the handbook.

Fixed period engine oil change ( 12 months or 9300 miles)

Petrol engine requires VAG spec 501.01, 502 and 504

Diesel engine requires VAG spec 507.01 if no particle filter fitted

VAG spec 505 with a particle filter fitted

Variable period oil change according to Dash display info

Petrol engine requires VAG spec 503 and 504

Diesel engine requires VAG spec 506.01 with no particle filter fitted

VAG spec 507 with a particle filter fitted

From my searches it is the VAG spec 507 oil that appears to be the hardest to find, but my 2.0TDI does not have a particle filter so I assume this is not a UK spec for the Octavia.

I hope this helps, it certainly gets a bit confusing when you are out there looking and as the book says do not dilute the high spec oils with more than half a litre of low grade oil one assumes these synthetics have to be precise.

find this all very confusing!!!

can some one give a simple answer as to what spec oil to use in a 1.9 TDi octy2 (UK spec car)

No idea if I have a partical filter and wouldn't know what to do with it anyway!!!!!

That is the problem, but if you look at your Service Schedule book in your Owner Pack you will find a load of codes stamped in the first page under Vehicle Data.

If you have the code QG1 then this means your vehicle has a Variable Period oil change ( Two Years Maximum).

If in addition to the above you also have the code 7GG then your vehicle is equipped with a Particle Filter. I think we do not have these in the UK spec vehicles, but your codes will certainly tell you.

I would have thought that the VAG 506.01 engine oil has an additive that holds diesel particles in suspension so I figure that if you use only that spec oil you will be safe.

Refer to page 33 of your Owners Manual re the Particle Filter info and page 250 for your engine oil specs, check your codes in the Service Schedule and once you have the codes applying to your vehicle then Highlight the relevant oil spec on Page 250.

Once you have done the spade work it all starts to make sense.

The only other thing to do is to ensure that when you do eventually have the vehicle serviced that the servicing dealer is using the correct spec oil and not just something that suits there general needs. This to me seems to be the weak point in this whole service/ engine oil spec saga.

We dont have particulate filters on the Octavia 2 (yet). But they will be here very soon.

Superbs allready have one on the 2.0 8v PD engine, but thats a different sort as that has addative and a service life filter. The Octavia 2 has a regenerating particulate filter that should last the lifetime of the vehicle that uses no additive.

Right, got that sussed now - car is set for variable, which I knew, has code QG1 and no 7GG, so oil spec VAG 506.01 it is.