Hey all, i've done a search on this, but i seem to be getting confused with all the numbers.

What is the most commonly used oil with all you self-servicers out there? I just purchased an X Reg (2000) Octavia SLX TDi, with the 110 lump in it. It's done 75k miles and has a FSSH. It's due it's annual service next month, but i think i'll switch to interval servicing (every 8k sound ok?) as i'm going to be doing about 24k miles a year for work, so i thought a service 3 times a year would be the best. (Oil, and Oil, Air & Fuel filters).

The situation that makes me different, is that i live (and work) within 1 mile of the M1, so i'll be straight up to motorway speeds before the engine gets warm, almost eveywhere i will go for work (in terms of client sites) is down or up the M1, so does this affect my choice of Oil type? Any advice on how to adjust my driving style to help the engine/box?

All help much appreciated!

Presuming your bit of the M1 flows well enough to get to a legalish cruise, you'll be showing something just under 2_500 rpm, and the governer stops play at 5_000 (discovered during pre-MOT play).

From memory, standard service intervals are inspection every 10_000 miles, brake fluid every 2 years irrespective of mileage, cambelt every 48_000 miles or 4 years, whichever's first, filters every 40_000 miles (but that may be pushing it; maybe half that).

As for oil type, there's a sticky on oil selection, but I don't know where they've been moved to!

I like the millers a lot, seems to stay very clean relative to the other well priced brands and IMHO it's at least as good as the castrol stuff.

I like the millers a lot, seems to stay very clean relative to the other well priced brands and IMHO it's at least as good as the castrol stuff.

You've just put me well and truly off Millers! AIUI the reason oil goes black is because it's carrying carbon and combustion product in suspension (or solution), so if it stays "nice and clean" that means it's not doing so, and you've got crud all over the inside of the engine, including places like bearings and cam lobes.

I can't find this oil sticky thread. Only the advice thread from opie oils, nothing specific to the octy.

Which make and viscosity is generally recommended for the 110 TDi?

Is it a 5W-30 that's best?

that would be your best bet mate, if going on motorway from cold engine temp, the 5w means winter rating, lower that is the better protection at lower temp, and obviosly opposite for the other figure 30.

You've just put me well and truly off Millers! AIUI the reason oil goes black is because it's carrying carbon and combustion product in suspension (or solution), so if it stays "nice and clean" that means it's not doing so, and you've got crud all over the inside of the engine, including places like bearings and cam lobes.

Ken, clean is a relative thing.

By clean I mean it still flows and has not got a nasty powdery texture to it. Of course it's still black and fill of crud but it isn't to the state where it's probably doing as much harm as good going around.

Stop being a pedant.

If you look in the cards handbook it will tell you the oil spec required for fixed or variable. As long as the oil meets this spec you will be ok.

A decent quality 10W40 semi synthetic would suffice. An SLX will be on fixed interval servicing anyway, extended servicing came in with the facelifted models.

The 2001 version of the Octavia Owner's Manual specifies the following oils for non-PD diesel engines on fixed service intervals:

Multigrade high lubricity oils:

- Spec VW 505 00 only in combination with VW 500 00 or VW 505 01 (both specs must be stated on the can.

Multigrade oils:

- Spec VW 505 01 ( a date not earlier than 11/92 should be indicated after this VW standard)

- Spec ACEA B3 - 96 (This oil must only be used once for topping up within the specified exchange cycle if no approved engine oil is available.)

Oilman's post below gives further information on those oil specs:

http://briskoda.net/forums/technical-guides/oil-advice-recommendations-here/22016/#post273952

Ken, clean is a relative thing.

By clean I mean it still flows and has not got a nasty powdery texture to it. Of course it's still black and fill of crud but it isn't to the state where it's probably doing as much harm as good going around.

Stop being a pedant.

If you look in the cards handbook it will tell you the oil spec required for fixed or variable. As long as the oil meets this spec you will be ok.

Ok ok. We've already established that I don't know you that well (like knowing your name for example). I do know people who say "this oil stays nice and clean" meaning that it stays the original goldy colour, rather than going black!

Ok ok. We've already established that I don't know you that well (like knowing your name for example). I do know people who say "this oil stays nice and clean" meaning that it stays the original goldy colour, rather than going black!

Fair enough, I've been servicing dervs for years and if the oil had ever been golden and clear even after only 50 miles I'd be worried it wasn't leaving the sump.

Fair enough, I've been servicing dervs for years and if the oil had ever been golden and clear even after only 50 miles I'd be worried it wasn't leaving the sump.

Likewise. Even my ZX (which I owned fron new and got oil and filter every service) at least started to colour the oil darker after 100 miles or so.

I can highly recommend Motul oil. Just take the one that meets the specification for your care and you wont regret.

have you had a look on opie oils for a service pack for your car? give good club discounts. i use them for my supra now

If your car is cruzing down a motorway then you are very lucky as this type of driving is how cars run for tens of thousands of miles more than cars that are driven on short less than 15 min journey on a daily basis. This is because it is running with less stress as no start stop interupting the journey. Gearboxes brakes clutches ect all usually run for longer because od this.

As for oil any branded oil with 10w40 15w40 with SL-SM b4 04 spec /505/507 spec with do as thees specs are the latest protection levels form the oil industry.

I you look at Lucas Oil for example there 15w40 magnum with last double that of convensional oil due to the extremely high TBN (total base no) oil spec holding all combustion byproducts e.g carbon soot ext in suspension longer than most regular branded oils will. castrol edge has a tbn on about 12 the magnum is 14 and its a mineral based non drain formula that protects as well if not better than magnatec, it has a good cold flow below -20 so no problems in the uk. If you cant get that 10w40 sm spec will be more than than enough for protection thru the life of the engine and give good economy at the same time without costing a fortune.

I use opie oils (fuchs 5w30) too, but I am on variable servicing for my TDi.

i do a full filter and oil change every 10k using castrol slx (now edge) 0-30 or 5-30 and so far it has lived to see 167k since it was built in late 2001 and mine is the 1.9tdi 110