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Despite asking several VW dealers I've never got a definitive answer on which oil I should use in a year 2000 golf non-PD TDI (90bhp). I currently use SLX Long life which is a quality oil but is expensive and may be an over kill considering I change the oil every 4000 miles/6 months. Are there any cheaper alternatives?
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Any good quality diesel specific oil to VW 505.00 specification. Check that this precise specification is shown on the container. You can also use oil to VW spec 505.01 which is suitable for tdi and pdi engines on fixed service intervals. Not necessary for your engine as it's more expensive than 505.00.
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This may help.
Volkswagen Group Oil Specifications and their Applications
VW 500.00
This is an ?old? oil specification and is applicable to engines built before model year 2000 (up to August 1999)
Viscosity ratings: SAE 5w-40, 10w-40 or 20w-40
This oil can be used in all petrol and some diesel engines, apart from those referred to under other specifications.
VW 501.01
This is another ?old? oil specification with exactly the same application as VW 500.00.
Viscosity ratings: SAE 10w-40, 15w-40 or 20w-40
VW 502.00
This oil can only be used in petrol engines and is recommended for those which are subject to arduous conditions. It must not be used for any engines with variable service intervals or any which are referred to under other specifications.
Viscosity ratings: SAE 0w-40, 5w-40 or 10w-40
VW 503.00
This is a relatively new oil specification for petrol engines with variable service intervals. It includes the AUDI S4, but not the RS4, or the TT and S3 with outputs of more than 180bhp.
Viscosity rating: SAE 0w-30
VW 503.01
A new oil specification specifically for the RS4, and the TT and S3 with outputs of more than 180bhp, Passat W8 and Phaeton W12.
Viscosity rating: 0w-30
VW 505.00
For all diesel engines prior to model year 2000 (August 1999)
Viscosity rating: 0w-40, 5w-40 or 10w-40
VW 505.01
For all diesel engines with unit injectors (Pumpe-Duse or PD) without variable service intervals.
Viscosity rating: SAE 5w-40
VW 506.00
For all diesel engines except those with unit injectors, with variable service intervals.
Viscosity rating: SAE 0w-30
VW 506.01
For all diesel engines, including those with unit injectors, with variable service intervals.
Viscosity rating: SAE 0w-30
Cheers
Simon
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Thanks for the information Simon, I'm still unsure what I should really be using. My car is a year 2000 build golf (non PD) that runs a normal service regime. Does that put me in the 506.00 bracket? Are there any oils apart from the castrol SLX oils that meet that spec?
Thanks
Scott
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You've put yourself on a fixed service routine so 505.00 is fine especially since you change the oil so frequently. I assume that you change the oil filter at the same time! I would think that Castrol SLX Longlife is overkill.
Have a look at the various oil company web sites.
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Personally I would use a 505.00 either 5w-40 fully synthetic or 10w-40 semi-synthetic.
Drop me an email and I'll give you some recommendations, cannot mention brands/prices etc here.
FYI factory fill in Germany is done by a German Company called Fuchs Lubricants.
Cheers
Simon
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What, in all seriousness, are the implications of not using the correct oil ?
I had my skoda serviced at a dealers yesterday, and set back to fixed-interval servicing.
when I asked 'did you use oil of the correct VW spec', they say 'we used 10w40 semi synth'.
when I said 'What VW spec is it', they said 'Its Shell Helix Plus, but any good quality 10w40 will do'
I get the distinct impression that as long as it's oily, they dont care what they put in your sump !
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At the end of the day, it's safer using these oils.
VW are quite prescriptive about which ones to use and the VW Approved ones are tested by them and meet the required specs.
Sounds simple but it isn't as VW (as with Ford and other major OEM's) require certain performace characteristics related to things like fuel economy, wear and shear stability.
Sorry it's a complicated topic and I don't want to bore everyone to sleep here!
Cheers
Simon
PS. Just email me for advice if you need it.
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Borasport:
What engine does your Skoda have? If it's a recent pdi engine on fixed service intervals then it must use oil to VW 505.01 specification - see previous postings. I don't know whether Shell Helix Plus is a 505.01 oil but I'm sure someone will be able to tell you. I suggest that you contact the garage now, if not sooner, and find out what VW spec oil they used.
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Bert - the skoda is a non-PD TDI.
to quote the garage, 'we don't use VW codes' !!!
what worries me is that as far as I can tell, Shell Helix Plus is VW 505.00, but not 505.01
as for what it definitively should be, I'm still waiting for an answer from Skoda Customer Services - however, when I've questioned them before about equipment levels on the car, I've known them to be wrong !
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My garage told me that all this 505.1 and 506.01 has been superceded by new specs, and any good oil will do.
I know that they are wrong, and when they serviced my VW I supplied some SLX11.
It is not only VW oil that garages get wrong, my lot put 10W-40 in new Fords, which I believe must have 5W-30.
I think it is getting too complicated for words, I bet alot of people who go to the fast fit centres, get the wrong spec of oil for their car. I wonder who takes the blame when something goes wrong.
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If your engine is one of the older tdi versions then 505.00 is fine. In view of your less than helpful dealer I think I would be taking my car elsewhere! 505.01 was apparently developed specially for the pdi engines. I'm a bit confused as you say that your car was originally on variable (extended) service intervals. I'm probably wrong but I thought only pdi engined Skodas could be on variable service intervals. If your car is a Fabia then it can only be on fixed service intervals.
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well, Bert, you can learn something new every day. Only the 130 hp (or ps) engines in the skoda octavia were PD engines, and mines only the 90 hp, but both the dealer and Skoda customer services told me it was on variable servicing.
of course what we may learn is that both of the above can be wrong !
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Borasport:
It might be worth you looking at www.briskoda.net/forums/
Lots of Skoda experts on that forum.
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Dealers! Dealers! 10w-40 in a Zetec NO - 5w-30 only.
Cheers
Simon
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