Hi,

I picked up my 04 Fabia at the beginning of the month. I checked the dipstick and the oil is getting to the minimum limit. After looking at the manual I am a bit confused as to what grade to put in. My Fabia is set up for standard 10000 mile servicing. Do I put in the 505.0 (think this is right number)grade oil?

Could someone recommenf an oil that I will be able to buy at my local Halfords?

Cheers.

ceepan be careful, are you sure that the oil is low? I was almost caught out by the patten on the dipstick.

The low / high mark on the dipstick is the "dotted" area.

Dave

Don't know the "official" answer to the question but I was told by a Skoda dealer that you can use Halfords own brand Fully Synthetic 5W-40 oil. However on closer inspection of the container in Halfords it stated that it only meets the 505.00 standard and not the 505.01 that I think is required for the PD engine range. I decided to play it safe and went to the nearest VAG dealer and got a litre of the "official" VAG oil for PD engines. On it it has the Skoda logo as well as VW, SEAT and AUDI and states it meets the 505.01 spec. Cost about

You need VW spec 505.01 if you're on fixed service or 506.01 if you're on variable servicing.

I think you'll struggle to get it at Halfords. They only seem to have Castrol Magnatec and Mobil 1 and I don't think either is upto the required spec.

Try any VAG dealer and tell him it's for a pd engine and you should get the right stuff, but do check that it says 505.01 on the bottle.

Thanks for the replys. I am sure that the oil is getting near to the minimum. It has done 800 miles so that sounds about right from what I have read on the forum.

You MUST (sorry about the shouting!) use VW Spec. 505.01. If the container doesn't have this specification on it, no matter what else it says, you should not use that oil. Millers do a PD oil, see http://www.millersoils.net/index2.html

If you check with Millers you should find a local stockist. It's usually about

You MUST (sorry about the shouting!) use VW Spec. 505.01. If the container doesn't have this specification on it' date=' no matter what else it says, you should not use that oil. Millers do a PD oil, see http://www.millersoils.net/index2.html

If you check with Millers you should find a local stockist. It's usually about

Two more points:

1) A lot of Skoda dealers seem to be really ignorant about the oil required for pdi engines despite it being very clear in the instruction books.

2) Fabias are all on fixed service intervals (i.e. 10k or 1 year) in the UK. There was a very interesting post recently on this, quoting Skoda and giving the reasons. I'm afraid I can't find it at the moment. It does mean that all pdi engines require 505.01 and not the even more expensive 506.01

So, how can you tell if the car has the correct oil in it and what are the consequences if it doesn't? The local garage I bought my car from gave the car a "service" (read oil change! ) before I collected it and I don't trust them. I intend to get the car properly serviced and cambelt done in 5k miles time - should I be worried, or just get it sorted then?

Chris

So' date=' how can you tell if the car has the correct oil in it and what are the consequences if it doesn't? The local garage I bought my car from gave the car a "service" (read oil change! ) before I collected it and I don't trust them. I intend to get the car properly serviced and cambelt done in 5k miles time - should I be worried, or just get it sorted then?

Chris[/quote']

If you can't get definite proof from them that they used 505.01 oil you really do need to change the oil and filter immediately. There have been all sorts of reasons given for why this special oil is needed but it seems that are certain additives in it that the very high pressure mechanical injectors require in the pdi engines. Personally, I would be worried and wouldn't leave it for 5k if you are not sure whether the correct oil has been used.

Unless your local garage is a Skoda, VW, Audi or Seat dealer I would be very suspicious as to whether they even know about the correct spec. oil to use. Also, I would make sure that when you have the cambelt changed that it's done by a VAG specialist.

Thanks, no the garage I got it from was not a VAG one and I suspect they just used "oil" Is there anything I can look out for as clues, eg poor fuel economy, running hot, etc, or is it just a case of knowing? Since the service the car has run faultlessly for over 1000 miles and fuel economy is about 50mpg.

Cambelt will definitely be done by a VAG specialist as I want the car having a thorough going over too to see what state it's in....

Chris

The Fabia vRS uses the same PD engine as in the Octavia, less the sensor(s) associated with monitoring service intervals (ie oil quality) on variable servicing. All Octavias which can be set for variable servicing intervals (QG1) - including those with the PD engine - come from the factory set for that. However owners can opt to have their cars set for fixed servicing (QG2) by the dealer. Additionally, Octavias with the PD engine come with spec VW 506 01 (Longlife oil) in the engine. If they are then set for fixed service intervals the same oil is left in the engine until the next oil change, at which stage VW 505 01 oil is recommended. However I see no logical reason why VW 506 01 oil should not continue to be suitable for use, although it is arguably overkill to use an oil capable of 30000 mile oil change intervals in a car having its oil changed every 10000 miles. Carrying the argument one stage further, if 506 01 is suitable for the PD engine in the Octavia, then it should be equally suitable for use in the Fabia vRS. Moreover, the oil recommendations in the Owners Manual are for standard engines, not those which have been chipped or otherwise modified to produce more power. Such engines should arguably benefit from the best oil available - ie VW 506 01 in the case of PD engines. One further comment. I see little logic in scrimping on the cost of decent oil, whether Longlife or multigrade high lubricity, while at the same time happily spending extra on Optimax/Ultimate, uprated brake fluid and brake pads, and mods which give marginal gains for the outlay involved. Surely the engine is the one component which deserves the most consideration?

My case rests.:soapbox:

Halfords don't seem to do any 505.01 spec oils. I looked at the weekend. All I could find was 505.00 and 506.01 oils. Might try the Millers oil and see how we go. The only thing I'm a bit confused on is my service indicator hasn't come on yet! Done nearly 10,500 miles now and no sign of it. My old 16v came on at about 9,500 to give you some warning. Do the vRS's not have these now then? :confused:

I don't think that there is any way you can tell what oil is in an engine without complex analysis. If in any doubt I would still play safe and get the oil and filter changed.

I certainly agree with DGW; it always amazes me how people will spend

Graeme, your dealer should stock 505 01.

Well - I scoured the bottle of oil I bought recently and there is NO MENTION of this 505.00 / 505.01 of what is... :confused:

The closest I got was on the list of manufacturers suitable (where Skoda was mentioned) it put "505.00" after the VW name, but not after any others. But it looks damn good enough to me, and I'm using it either way...

Well - I scoured the bottle of oil I bought recently and there is NO MENTION of this 505.00 / 505.01 of what is... :confused:

The closest I got was on the list of manufacturers suitable (where Skoda was mentioned) it put "505.00" after the VW name' date=' but not after any others. But it looks damn good enough to me, and I'm using it either way... [/quote']

Don't put this stuff in your engine. It's got to be 505.01

Perhaps it's time to ring the motor spares place and check with them what the grade is. I'm a bit annoyed the bottle doesn't tell me for sure!

Don't put this stuff in your engine. It's got to be 505.01

Yep the oil for the PD engines is very very specific. I was warned about this by the mechanic at the dealership. I bought to bottles for the Fabia and Octavia yet the Octavia has a different oil and he told me don't ever put the Octavia oil in the Fabia. He even marked it out with some helpful labels!

The oil I use is Esso Ultron 5W40. This is VW Special oil 502.00 and 505.00 oil.

Flyingscot - 502.00 is a petrol engine spec and 505.00 is bog standard Sdi/Old Tdi spec - not PD - you are using the wrong oil.

The correct oil for a PD engine is 505.01 or 506.01 (e.g. all Fabia Tdi's)

The difference between 505.00/506.00 and 505.01/506.01 appears to be a higher extreme pressure shear ability. This is required in PD engines as the cam lobes that operate the unit injectors are subject to very high peak loads. This is akin to the need for EP oil in final drives, use normal oil and the oil film wil break down giving metal to metal contact and premature wear.

I am new to the Skoda world but I have seen widespread ignorance of PD engine oil requirements at VW Audi Seat and Ford (Galaxy).

Of course the guy who offloads his vehicle at 50k won't notice, but the new owner will....think twice about buying a second hand PD engined car...

506.01 has a longer additive life (probably by using a greater quantity of additives) which are used for acid/soot control and dispersal (technically speaking - it maintains a high TBN value for longer) and it is fully synthetic, both are required for the long life application. So there is no harm in using 506.01 in place of 505.01 though the longlife qualities should only be relied on in conjunction with the onboard diagnostics of the variable service regime (not available on Fabia)

I notice the local dealer (VW/Audi/Skoda) now stocks Quantum PD at

This is the same argument that goes on at the Ford Galaxy site which is frequented by Galaxy, Sharan and Alhambra owners. Here's a link -

http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/Forum/index.php?showtopic=2455&hl=

When I thought my Alhambra TDI 130 needed a top up I phoned 3 SEAT dealers. The first said ANY diesel oil, the second said the castrol version which I'd already confirmed was only 505.00 - he'd even checked in the workshop , adding that they used it, and the third gave the correct answer.

I've found the Quantum (VW after market brand) version of this oil in German and Swedish for

Flyingscot - 502.00 is a petrol engine spec and 505.00 is bog standard Sdi/Old Tdi spec - not PD - you are using the wrong oil.

The correct oil for a PD engine is 505.01 or 506.01 (e.g. all Fabia Tdi's)

It was a long time ago, and I probably read the wrong bottle. I have 2 bottles of oil in the garage, one for my Fabia and the other is for my Dad's Octy TDi. I know I haven't put the wrong oil in the Fabia, since I use the same oil as the garage sold me for

Just a reminder; both Millers and Valvoline do a 505.01 oil at about