Had car serviced and they've put in ap-l 0w-30 rather than av-l. If the ap-l doesn't meet the VW 502 00 standard would you change it for the av-l or is it unlikely to make any difference?

VW 502 00 is not Long Life oil it is for Fixed Services. TSI,s not TDI,s.

Usually that is 5w 40 FS

What engine have you and in what country / world region are you?

Do you not need oil to VW504 00 / 507 00, For fixed or variable Oil & Filter change regimes.?

5w 30 FS III or 0w 30 FS III

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Or with most newer engine after 2018 maybe with recommended spec of VW508 00 / 509 00

0w 20 FS IV. (Not to be back dated Euro 5 & older engines.)

Edited 12 September, 202512 Sep by Ootohere

It's a 1.8 tsi Skoda Octavia mk 3 pre-facelift. I change the oil every 7.5k miles

Good. I would use & have done VW502 00 with TSI,s.

But you do not need to if you have not got a 1.8 TSI with excessive oil use.

The Long life oil is fine.

Changing at low mileage if that is your annual miles.

The AP-L was not correct though. But is 5w 30 FS III

Edited 12 September, 202512 Sep by Ootohere