Hi guys!

Dont understand much about cars, but i have a skoda rapid 1.6 tdi (2014), i recently changed the oil and the shop used 5w40 oil. After some research i found that they needed to put 5w30. Am i right? Or is this a irrelevant detail?

Hi , if it was my car I would ask the shop to change the engine oil to the correct specification or get your money back and go to a VW group specialist.

2 minutes ago, dsgman said:

Hi , if it was my car I would ask the shop to change the engine oil to the correct specification or get your money back and go to a VW group specialist.

Thats probably what i am going to do. The thing is there are some 5W40 oil that is VW 507.00 spec and not Vw 505.00, but its really not comon and i think its not the case, but if that was the case, would it be fine?

9 hours ago, Gdafa23 said:

there are some 5W40 oil that is VW 507.00 spec

Can you provide a link to an example, please?

2 hours ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Can you provide a link to an example, please?

Well it apears that master mechanic chatgpt lied to me, because i cant find any. I guess that settles it, they used the wrong oil on my car

6 hours ago, Gdafa23 said:

chatgpt lied to me

It didn't lie it just doesn't know what it's typing about. You always need to double-check and cross reference any information you get from any source but possibly much more with AI chat things.

6 hours ago, Gdafa23 said:

I guess that settles it, they used the wrong oil on my car

Not necessarily they have used a different weight range of oil 5w-40 instead of 5w-30 that is not the end of the world. A 5w-** oil will be good oil as that's what required to meet the 5w (winter cranking, starting of the engine) the 30 or 40 is more about when the engine and oil are warm/hot.

The 40 of 5w-40 may be close to a 30 in a 5w-30 as the 30 and 40 numbers relate to a range within the actual number especially as things change with the use of the oil in the engine. Also bear in mind your location where it might get very hot weather where the garage might prefer the high number oil.

You could check that the oil they used matches the VW spec number 5** ** your particular engine requires.

You need to ask the garage, it could be a typing error on your bill/invoice or they prefer the use of 5w-40 in your location, or perhaps they just have 5w-40 oil to get rid of. As long as the 5w-40 oil is suitable for your engine, in your location with your use of the engine it could well be fine and better than a 5w-30 oil of a lesser quality and suitability for your engine use.

@nta16 VW502 00 is not suitable for the 1.6 TDI CR, so it is VW504 00 / 507 00 (Long Life) for Fixed or Variable servicing with this car with a DPF.

I've no idea what oil is available in Lisbon in what weight ranges to what specifications, as I put as long as the oil is suitable to the engine and it's use you could have 5w30 or other and then there's the other possibilities I've mentioned.

For VW specifications, the info isn't from AI but may still contain error(s) and omission(s) so needs checking, even from manufacturers websites.

https://www.oilspecifications.org/volkswagen.php

https://www.oilspecifications.org/articles/vw_motor_oil_specifications_explained.php

https://penriteoil.com.au/knowledge-centre/Specifications/194/OEM-and-Manufacturers-Approvals/211

The top link is the one i have linked for years. Simply clever'. It is the Manufacturer as in VW Group that causes confusion, especially among Dealership employees who's full or part time job involves working with VW Group vehicles or the customers / owners of them.

use low saps oil, it can be also 0w30, C3.

0w30 is supstitution for 5w30, and 0w40 for 5w40. but 4w40 is not low saps oil. it can dmage or destroy DPF filter, if you hace on (not deleted)

Key Oil Recommendations for 1.6 TDI:

Specifications: VW 507 00 (essential for DPF).

Viscosity: 5W-30 (most common) or 0W-30 (e.g., VAG LongLife III FE).

Interval: While often marketed as "LongLife" (up to 30,000 km or 2 years), many users recommend changing every 15,000 km or 1 year.

Ensure the oil container explicitly states it meets the VW 507 00 standard.

With a 12 year old Euro 5 TDI i would stick with 5w 30 FS III and not go to 0w 30 FS III

Edited 23 January23 Jan by Evolution13

5w40 can be a low SAP but might not be VW 504.00 or VW 507.00, there's also mid saps.

The VWŠkoda Dealerships that changed the engine oil on my wife's car put various service information and materials on the bills/invoices they gave her including different engine oil information, whether it was always correct, accurate (or honest) I don't know. What happens in a "shop" in the Lisbon area I would have no idea, if the oil used is wrong for the engine and use then it's how much is it wrong for levels of panic and concern and if the shop can't fully justify its use in the engine then it needs an apology and replacing.

Perhaps we will get the full details and outcome.

@Evolution13 a chart I've used for years.

Hi nta16 ,

In the UK I have a 1.5 Tsi DADA petrol engine.

When I purchased the car the Skoda garage serviced the car using a Castrol 5-30 W engine oil.

They used this grade of oil because that the recommended grade of engine.

Next service garage used Castro 0-20W engine oil

Garage told me Skoda had changed the specification again.

Next service garage Skoda changed the oil back to 5-30W

I told the garage use to use 0-20W and not 5-30W oil.

I believe that garages alter engines oils because the account told them to reduce stock ( both the grades they have used are approved by VW for my engine type.

I stand by my first comment but is the engine oil used in your engine approved by VW ?

@dsgman Were you ever shown that communications from Skoda UK or CZ telling the dealership to use VW 504 00 rather than VW 508 00 Then change again? They are Approved even though it was VW / Skoda that went VW508 00 / 509 00 for WLTP certification and the RDE2. From the Owners manual.

Edited 23 January23 Jan by Evolution13

Hi dsgman

My wife's 2015 Fabia Mk3 1.2 TSI (90, 5-speed manual, definitely not my car) used to use Dealerships' stock oil (whatever they had in stock at the time) but I now use a good quality oil that's blended in Britain which is recommended for the VW specs but they've not paid for VW's approval.

I know that does and will bother others but that doesn't bother me as I've used their oils for years and find them good. I don't think my choice of oil can improve the VW engine very much at all and it costs more than the (previously?) recommended Castrol brand (not bought from Dealership) but it's my preference to waste even more money on her choice of car. As always each to their own.

Hi Evolution 13 ,

From the garage no but Skoda on,two occasions had confirmed tome in writing that although both grades are approved the engine but was designed round the Castrol 0-20 Engine oil.

17 hours ago, dsgman said:

Hi nta16 ,

In the UK I have a 1.5 Tsi DADA petrol engine.

When I purchased the car the Skoda garage serviced the car using a Castrol 5-30 W engine oil.

They used this grade of oil because that the recommended grade of engine.

Next service garage used Castro 0-20W engine oil

Garage told me Skoda had changed the specification again.

Next service garage Skoda changed the oil back to 5-30W

I told the garage use to use 0-20W and not 5-30W oil.

I believe that garages alter engines oils because the account told them to reduce stock ( both the grades they have used are approved by VW for my engine type.

I stand by my first comment but is the engine oil used in your engine approved by VW ?

dont mix all of these oils.

i sayd what vw told. 0w30 is supstitute for 5w30. 0w30 is superior in winter, all else is same. 0w20 is here because of ecology. but didnt proof its purpose much.

i am using 0w30, because have coldwinters and warm summers.

aldough my car i bought used, was driven 80000 kms with vw oil 0w20, i am using 0w30. i tryed first 5w30 but in winter is thick and engine must warm a lot to be useful. people dont like 0w20 in tsi engines. on other side ford ecoboost using 5w20.

those new gasoline engines are sensitive on oils, fuels, all sort of things..

diesels are not that much.

Edited 24 January24 Jan by imart143

There are loads of posts (and possible threads) on the 0w-20 discussion / debate / verging on argument on Briskoda and elsewhere and as with many oil beliefs supporters on both sides. More important than just the raw numbers is that the oil is appropriate to use and changed in a timely and thorough manner. Only time will tell which might be the better choice, if either or none.. It might depend on how long you want to keep the car or how long the car can actually last for whatever reason.

What is it in the UK, less than half the passenger cars are privately owned. Business / Fleet owned vehicles, leased being the majority of New First Registered. The thing is after the Service / Fleet pan Servicing or End of lease, these are the UK,s 'Used' / 2nd hand vehicles. Those that then owners / Keepers might well do as they wish with.

Hi ,

I choice the oil specification in my cars regarding how long I propose to keep the car , time of year car driven.

0-20 Engine oil - very very very slightly more engine wear.

5-30 Engine oil - slightly more chances of sludge forming in the engine.

These two specifications are approved by VW Tsi 1.5 DADA engine.

I use Castrol Edge

Time of year(?) how often do you change the oil each year. 🙃

If, you are happy, the car's happy, VW will be happy (well whilst the car was in warranty), Castrol will be happy, then I'm happy (no idea about others, VW fans will be happyish (it's the 0w20, 5w30 split that might upset both sides).

Should you ever feel rebellious and want to be on the dark side -

0w20 (C5) Millers Oils EE Performance - https://www.millersoils.co.uk/products/ee-performance-engine-oil-c5-v-0w20/

5w30(C3) Millers Oils EE Performance - https://www.millersoils.co.uk/products/ee-performance-c3-5w30/

Other good oils that haven't got VW's "Approval" are also available, but remember this is on the dark side so you'll also not get VW fans' approval, people may cross the street to avoid you and pity you. 😄

Good luck.

Hi nta16 , I have the car serviced annually by Skoda in October.

I live in Portugal for 4/5 months of the year so I want clean oil in the engine over the winter months.

When I get back to the UK I am having the gear box serviced as the car now has covered 65,000 Kms.

@dsgman Are you going to have a Main Dealership change both oils in a DQ200 DSG?

Hi Evolution13 ,

No , the gearbox is being serviced by an independent VW specialist in Worcester.

The Supplying Skoda dealer of my car refused to quote as they say that's it's not necessary.The other Skoda dealer never replied to my enquiry.

Skoda have written to me twice stating the gearbox oil change is not necessary.

A mechanic I know well (Audi mastertech ) says it's down to the useage of the car.

I use the car round town so the gearbox is used in a severe cycle so he recommended that I had the oil changed.What he did say if you don't have the oil changed now don't change it.( He did make it clear to me that this was his opinion and not of the VW group )

For your information using VW oil the cost was £220.00 including VAT

Using OEM oil the cost was £175.00 including VAT

The gearbox does not have a replacement oil filter as such.

A friend of mine has a 2016 Superb and he very recently had the box oil changed , 2 litre diesel dsg cost £220.00 including VAT in Worcester.