Hi All

This question has been posted before but I am still confused. I have a 2003 1.8T 180bhp VRS which I bought a couple of months ago. It has approx 48K miles on the clock and it had an oil/filter change done before I got it.

I always do my own oil/filter changes every 5k-6k miles, no matter what car I am driving. I don't understand all the 501/503/506 VW type of oil classification in the manual.

In my last car (Peugeot 306 GTi-6), I always used Castrol GTX Magnatec 10W40 semi-synth and this suited the engine perfectly.

For the Skoda, should I be looking at a good quality fully synthetic 0W30 oil for a 5k-6k service interval? Or would a 10W40 semi-synth be sufficient?

All advice greatly appreciated! Great site by the way, already learning loads about the car

Thanks

Gerry

Depending on wether you are going for variable or fixed oil changes determines which oil you use..

Fixed you can use cheaper oils,and variable needs a more expensive oil, however neither of these are cheap and both must meet the required VW spec.

Your user manual will tell you which oil you need to use for either serviing interval and this sticky thread may help.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/octavia/what-oils-meet-specifications-vw-503-00-vw-506-00-vw-506-01-long-life/58168/

Pity I cant use 5w30 longlife from Vauxhall as I can get it for £19 :(

I don't like the variable service idea so have stuck to fixed. I also change the oil and filter mid way between services. I've always done this with all my cars. I use shell helix fully synthetic as it meets 500 00 and 502 00 which is what my manual asks for. If you check on the bottle they normally say something like "meets VW specifications".... and then a list of numbers.

Thanks for the replies guys, still a little confused about the fixed and variable oil changes tho.

Let's say I am going to do mine every 6k (oil and filter), is that a fixed or variable service interval? Surely this is better for the engine and turbo than waiting, say 12k, where the oil will have broken down alot more? Basically I need to know what constitues a fixed interval, and is everything outside of that considered variable (even if it is fixed at 6k)? My understanding of engines was that it is always better to err on the side of caution when changing your oil i.e. more often is better than less often.

If I knew which of the 50x numbers I should use for that sort of service interval, then I could find the appropriate mainstream oil in the sticky that cheezemonkhai attached to his post (thanks cheezemonkhai).

Gerry, do you remember hearing about BMWs that adjusted the service interval according to how hte car was driven? If so, then that's "variable servicing", and fixed servincing is the traditional "every N thousand miles or M months scheme", which sounds like what you're doing.

Not certain, but I think a reputable oil, like Magnitec or Shell Helix will quote the relevant VAG 50X code for the grade on the can.

Im none the wiser either with these intervals. Has anyone tried 5w30 oil in the 1.8 T engine?

Latest advice on selecting a good oil is not to get to hung up on viscosity, but to select oils on the SAE quality rating, and manufacturer's code if there is one for the engine (not that that helps much, since I've no idea what they are for VAG engines on either service scheme).

I use Mobil 1 in my 2001 Octy Vrs.

Details from Mobil website :-

Mobil 1 0W-40 meets key industry and car builder specifications for:

* Mercedes MB 229.5

* BMW Longlife 01

* Porsche Approval List 2002

* VW 502.00/505.00/503.01 Good Enough I Hope?!!?!

* GM-LL-A-025 (gasoline)

* GM-LL-B-025 (diesel)

* ACEA A3, B3/B4

* API SM/CF

Exceeding industry standards and the major leading builder requirements is the cornerstone of the performance reserve that lets Mobil 1 0W-40 keep performing well after conventional oils cannot. Mobil 1 0W-40 provides the widest range of protection -- providing the extreme cold start protection of an 0W grade and the high temperature protection of an SAE 40 grade

If the oil chages are that regular if you do them yourself then a good 5w-40/0w-40 synthetic would be my choice.

If you go long life you must use a long life oil.

Cheers

Guy.

Cheers Ianto. Those VAG and SAE API standards say that Mobil 1 should be usable in pretty much any engine, for either service profile, since one of the selling features (which I've tested) of Mobil 1 is the extended service interval (and, without intending to, I also tested the "run on an empty sump one" by having a sump go porous on me at the start of a holiday that involved a return trip from Glasgow to Birmingham, without engine damage).

That version of Mobil 1 isn't suitable as a longlife oil for the Octavia 1.8T engine since it doesn't meet spec VW 503 00. However it is fine for fixed service intervals since it meets specs 500 00 and 502 00.

If i was changing every 6k then 10w40 semi or 5w40 fully from the likes of Mobil/Castrol/Fusch/Esso/Lucasoil/Miller/Valvoline would be more than ok Just look at the spec SL or the better SM spec oil for assurance, unless your doing 20k between changes (which your not) and your car is'nt running high boost or you drive like a nut @5-6k on the rev counter everywhere you go, those oils will be more thank ok for 20v engine,

And yes 5w30 will work as thats what vw superceded last year to from 0w30