Taliska Posted April 19, 2004 Report Posted April 19, 2004 First service - enquired about the right oil for the Galaxy while checking in... Afterwards I look at the Parts list and notice some oil with a code of MOB530. "Don't worry, we put the right oil in the car for you!" quoth Ford approved service centre. Perhaps this MOB530 is Mobile 5W-30. Perhaps this doesn't agree with the handbook that states 5W-40. So what now... Does this Mobile 5W-30 stuff meet Ford's specification WSS-M2C917A? Is this anything vaguely similar to VW505.01? (not mentioned in the Ford handbook) Taliska Quote
NikpV Posted April 19, 2004 Report Posted April 19, 2004 What the manual says 40K service Lots of folks have posted on this topic and the majority seen to think that the oil type is very important see thread 'Oil Question' recently. Oil Question Quote
iainkirk Posted April 19, 2004 Report Posted April 19, 2004 Wrong oil I reckon. Ford use either Formula SD (a Ford product), or Castrol 505.01 (only just available in UK apparently). Get back to the dealer ASAP and ask him for the can. Also ask for (demand!!) a letter signed by the MD of your dealers confirming that the oil stated on the service was the correct Ford-specified oil. Quote
Dave-G Posted April 19, 2004 Report Posted April 19, 2004 :( I was "billed" for 5W-30 at my last service,and queried it...... :D Reply: It's the correct (5W-40) oil, but It's much easier for our billing dep't to simply list 1 oil,with regards to computer programing for invoicing purposes,and few IT programmers would know which oil goes in a particular engine. :D The above is not word for word,but what it boils down to. It makes sense that fully skilled motor mechanics ar'nt wasted on invoicing purposes I s'pose,and the engine aint fell out, so I guess it's a feasible answer :( Quote
Guest Dave TDI Posted April 20, 2004 Report Posted April 20, 2004 Having read the various different accounts about oil for the diesel engine I have just checked my invoice for the 80k service which was carried out on my Galaxy by Allen's of Romford, they have listed Fina Quartz 5-30 Semi Synthetic as being used! Any comments would be appreciated. Dave TDI Quote
rwtomkins Posted April 20, 2004 Report Posted April 20, 2004 what's emerged from previous threads is that ford dealers (like other dealers) buy their oil in bulk from the oil companies, and it's usually a one-size-fits-all 5W30 oil. regardless of what the galaxy manual or any other manual says, this is the oil they will put in your engine unless you specifically instruct them otherwise and supply them at your own expense with the oil you require them to use. i'm not qualified to say whether this 5W30 oil is damaging to a diesel engine but it isn't the oil specified in the manual for the TDI and personally i wouldn't want to use it for any length of time. however, if you have been supplied with this oil, i doubt you can go back to the dealer and expect them to change it. they will say it's perfectly OK and nobody else has ever complained. further, i'm only speaking from memory but i think there's some sort of cop-out line in the manual along the lines of using the specified oil "or other such oil recommended by the dealer." can anyone supply the precise wording? Quote
Taliska Posted April 20, 2004 Author Report Posted April 20, 2004 Bit of a result really - went back to the dealer this morning and they agreed with me that they had put the wrong oil in and took the car away and (hopefully) put the right oil in. It was just boring to have the whole incident happen in the first place when I repeatedly said "put the right oil in please" when booking it in. Fight your corner! Taliska Quote
the bus Posted April 29, 2004 Report Posted April 29, 2004 Hi Having just had the first service completed by the garage that supplied the car, I queried the oil that they put in as the oil that they supplied for "topping up" was only 5w-30. They informed me that it was fine and not to worry, however when I phoned Ford Uk they told me in no uncertain terms to get the garage to change it. This has now been done and having researched the subject of oil within this site I think that they have still put the wrong oil in. The garage re-filled my Galaxy with Formula S 5w-40 and I have since discovered that they should have used Formula SD 5w-40. I assume there is a difference if so what? I know that at the next service I will taking in my own oil and the most popular choice appears to be Millers XFE-PD for the fixed service intervals, whilst it would appear that if you choose to use the variable service method then Castrol SLX Longlife II appears to be the best option. In the meantime I guess that I will have to write a letter to both the garage (Reg Vardy Ford - Reading) and to Ford UK requesting confirmation in writing that the current oil in my Galaxy ois correct. Heres hoping. Quote
NikpV Posted April 29, 2004 Report Posted April 29, 2004 It appears that Formula S is a different viscosity class - API SG/CD than Formula SD (for pumpe duse engines) - API SJ/CF the formula S is what ford use on the 2.5TD engine in the Scorpio (IIRC), I think that the SJ/CF is a better!!!! class than SG/CD so probably its still not the correct oil. If they gave you the bottle for top ups post the numbers on the back or compare with http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/Forum/index.p...indpost&p=13009 Who knows how much difference it makes but from the general opinions in this forum the oil is important. Quote
Taliska Posted April 29, 2004 Author Report Posted April 29, 2004 I know that at the next service I will taking in my own oil and the most popular choice appears to be Millers XFE-PD for the fixed service intervals, whilst it would appear that if you choose to use the variable service method then Castrol SLX Longlife II appears to be the best option. Unfortunately I remembered too late to buy some in - I did say to the garage 'please put the correct oil in' before the service - so I guess, never trust them. Taliska Quote
NikpV Posted April 29, 2004 Report Posted April 29, 2004 On the subject of Millers X... I found a interesting post which said But you shouldnt yet use XFE in any PD Vw's - read in Diesel Car that they have applied to VW for approval of Millers XFE PD back in December but have heard nothing! here http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/?f=1&t=4851 :rolleyes: Quote
Guest JonathanK Posted April 30, 2004 Report Posted April 30, 2004 I buy Millers XFE-PD a few cans at a time because I can't get it locally and I use it in my Passatt V6 TDi as well as the Alhambra. Just ckecked a can and it says 'Approved by VW to 505.01, 505.00 and 500.00'. Elsewhere on the can it separately repeats 'Approved by VW'. If it isn't, I'd say they were breaching the Sale of Goods act. Comments? JK Quote
NikpV Posted April 30, 2004 Report Posted April 30, 2004 Just checked that reference - was april 02 - so its obviously been approved since. :rolleyes: Quote
the bus Posted April 30, 2004 Report Posted April 30, 2004 Thanks for all of the replies. Based on the current track record of the dealer and Ford UK I will be supplying my own oil form now on. In the meantime I am still awaiting a response form the dealer with regard to the Formula S 5W-40 that they have put in my engine as opposed to the Formula SD 5W-40 that they should have used. Faxes and letters have been sent to the dealer, lets hope they respond (bet they don't). Should have listened to my dad, "if you want a job done properly, do it yourself" If in doubt use Millers XFE PD for fixed servicing or Castrol SLX Longlife II for variable servicing and don't let anybody tell you different! Quote
seatkid Posted May 1, 2004 Report Posted May 1, 2004 NEVER EVER trust a dealer (or a garage) to put in the right oil for a Tdi PD. The oil must always have VW 505.01 or 506.01 (not 505.00) stamped on the tin. This forum proves that a very high proportion have the wrong oil put in (possibly > 50% of owners!) In the case of engine warranty claims, Fords etc will no doubt walk away on examination of service records that show wrong oil type. Quote
rwtomkins Posted May 4, 2004 Report Posted May 4, 2004 i've never understood this preference for millers. why not just use the Ford SD 5W40 specified in the manual? for most people it's much easier to obtain and it's also cheaper. i've never read anything suggesting millers is superior to the ford product and if we're not even sure it's been approved, why take a chance? Quote
the bus Posted May 4, 2004 Report Posted May 4, 2004 I have tried to purchase the Ford Sd product at not one, not two but three different Ford garages in and around the Wokingham area and none of them stock it or use. When I queried this they simply said that the use the same oil for throughout their business when servicing a car. Hence the reason why I purchased my own oil, and whilst I appreciate the fact that Millers XFE-PD might not be approved to the Ford specification it is certainly approved and reccommended by VW and they built the engine! Quote
rwtomkins Posted May 4, 2004 Report Posted May 4, 2004 sorry, re-reading the previous page it seems millers IS approved by VW which means it's definitely ok. however ford SD 5W40 is also approved by VW and it's cheaper. if the ford dealer doesn't stock it i'd have thought it would still be cheaper and easier to have him order it in than obtaining millers by mail order. but hey, whatever floats your boat, and besides, i'm starting to sound like a ford rep... Quote
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