EA211 EVO engines: Plasma coating confirmed — but VW 508.00 quietly removed?

[Ing.Habrykh]

After reviewing multiple SEAT Arona manuals, I’ve found something troubling:

In the **2020 manual**, both **VW 504.00 and VW 508.00** are listed as approved oil specifications for petrol engines.

But in manuals from **2021 onward**, **VW 508.00 disappears completely** — even though the engine (EA211 EVO) features **plasma-coated cylinder walls**, officially confirmed by ŠKODA in September 2020.

> “New EA211-series 1.0 TSI petrol engines now feature an ultra-thin plasma coating instead of cast-iron cylinder liners.”
> — ŠKODA AUTO press release, 16.09.2020

This coating is just **150 µm thick** and highly sensitive to oil chemistry. VW 508.00 (0W-20) was specifically developed to protect such surfaces. So why would VW Group **remove 508.00 from the documentation**, right when it becomes technically critical?

Is this editorial oversight? A marketing decision to avoid limiting oil choices? Or a deeper disconnect between engineering and consumer-facing materials?

If anyone has access to SSPs, engine bay oil labels, or internal service bulletins for post-2020 Arona models — please share. This inconsistency deserves clarification.

Let’s get to the bottom of it.

 

[James_R]

The best place to seek clarification is from the brand.

The manual states that you can use various oils to top the engine up in an emergency, but your workshop can provide you with the correct oil details upon request.

The correct oil spec at this point in time is VW 508.00 0w20s for vehicles manufactured 2020 onwards.

The brand has probably chosen to omit the specific details as they can be subject to change at any point, hence contacting your workshop for the correct oil based on their data at the time.

The newer manual just suggest 504.00 can be used as a top up.

 

[Ing.Habrykh]

Thanks, James — I really appreciate your input.

To clarify: I’ve already resolved this question for myself some time ago by submitting a direct inquiry to the official representatives. I’m fully aware that VW 508.00 is the correct spec for EA211 EVO engines post-2020.

My goal here isn’t to challenge the brand, but to **warn other users** who rely solely on the manuals — which, as we’ve seen, omit VW 508.00 entirely in recent editions. That omission creates a real risk of misinformed oil choices, especially for owners of plasma-coated engines like DLAC.

I’m also trying to understand **why this editorial shift happened**, and whether it reflects a broader documentation strategy. If it’s intentional, it deserves transparency. If it’s an oversight, it needs correction.

Thanks again for engaging — your perspective helps move the conversation forward.

 

[Tell]

I seem to recall one is the long service oil and the other one isnt. So if you are taking out the service programme from your dealer that will be annual so they wont be putting in the long service oil unless they use that in the workshop on everything, which is possible. 504.00 isnt the long service oil.... thats from memory. Either way you put in it what you are suppose to. I tend to top up with the long service oil.... years ago a Fiat dealer put treacle in my 900cc engine it turned over very slow. Even dealers can make mistakes. I had problems turning it over from cold.

 

[James_R]

504.00 is longlife 3, 508.00 (although not marketed or badged as) is essentially longlife 4.

The latter is utilised to create less emissions and improve economy, use of the former can reduce those engine characteristics.

 

[Ing.Habrykh]

Thanks, James — that part is clear.

What remains unclear is why VW 508.00 was removed from the owner's manuals after 2020, despite being the correct specification for EA211 EVO engines.

I’ve contacted several oil manufacturers directly, and their responses were categorical: VW 504.00 is **not acceptable** for this engine due to the plasma-coated cylinder walls. I received a similar confirmation from an official SEAT representative.

However, when I asked SEAT about the discrepancy between their manuals and the actual oil requirements, they politely avoided giving a direct answer.

That’s why I’m raising this here — not to challenge the brand, but to highlight a documentation gap that could lead to real-world mistakes. Thanks again for engaging.

 

[Tell]

As it happens we dont need to top up either the Arona or Ateca. Really the engine oil question is for people doing their own servicing these days. You carry some just in case on those long trips although a Vag dealer would see you are alright and that's a top up. Its the price difference that exercises people in the quality and what to you do with the wrong oil which you have from your old car . Down the recycle tip. Even the lawnmower has specialist stuff.

Won't be needing any when I move to EV unless I'm told otherwise. Hmm.

The maintenance PDF from erWin tell you what you should be putting in it and also a cross reference to whether the dealer is picking up the service intervals correctly. My experience is they dont since they are linked to minor / major and those PCP guys its geared to out their cars way before the missing stuff becomes due. So the weight of getting things done correctly is on what gets missed from the service as the car ageis rather than the engine oil quality. That's where the SSP comes in if you arent servicing it yourself to ensure the dealer is picking up the more long term stuff. 4drive, dsg gear box etc.

Links to Erwin here, buy 2 hours should do the trick. I always download all the pdfs on a new car:

SEAT Repair Manual and Workshop Information

To answer a lot of the technical questions of the Ateca the full workshop manuals are available by an hourly or daily rate for download as PDF files. You can browse but can't download if you don't pay. https://seat.erwin-store.com/erwin/showHome.do Circa 7 Euro's + VAT gives you the ability to...

www.seatcupra.net

I'm told that if you register as a dealer you get to see the build codes which is useful. They got shifted to dealer only.

 

[Ing.Habrykh]

Thanks again — I’ve actually raised this point earlier in the thread, including my correspondence with oil manufacturers and SEAT support.

Their responses confirmed that VW 504.00 is not suitable for EA211 EVO engines with plasma-coated cylinder walls, and that VW 508.00 is the correct spec — despite its absence from recent manuals.

I’m not trying to repeat myself, just making sure this key detail stays visible for others who might be following the discussion. Appreciate your engagement.

 

[Ing.Habrykh]

Just received an official response to a technical inquiry about why VW 508 00 is no longer mentioned in manuals for EA211 EVO engines with DLAC coating.

The explanation was editorial: starting in 2021, documentation was simplified to allow unified content across multiple markets. As a result, specific oil norms like VW 508 00 are no longer listed directly in the manuals.

Instead, users are advised to refer to the engine bay sticker or consult a dealer to confirm the correct oil spec.
Key points:
– The removal of VW 508 00 is not a technical change, but an editorial decision
– This creates potential confusion, especially since VW 504 00 / 507 00 are not suitable for DLAC engines according to multiple oil manufacturers
– The recommended spec remains VW 508 00 / 0W-20 for post-2021 DLAC-equipped engines 1.0tsi

 

[Tell]

Well I would have gone straight to the Erwin maintenance manual for the answer rather than the cars pdf manual which are known to contains errors - cut and paste jobs. James is right on the lower VW spec oil . I was thinking of 502.

The 2018 page looks like this but you have a more recent engine. Hence the need to download it yourself.

2018 spec:

There is a lot not in the consumer manual and its those questions that come up here but the final answer is in the maintenance manual from Erwin. Although some flexibility in some areas such as AC fluid / brake etc.

 

[Tell]

Just received an official response to a technical inquiry about why VW 508 00 is no longer mentioned in manuals for EA211 EVO engines with DLAC coating.

The explanation was editorial: starting in 2021, documentation was simplified to allow unified content across multiple markets. As a result, specific oil norms like VW 508 00 are no longer listed directly in the manuals.

Instead, users are advised to refer to the engine bay sticker or consult a dealer to confirm the correct oil spec.
Key points:
– The removal of VW 508 00 is not a technical change, but an editorial decision
– This creates potential confusion, especially since VW 504 00 / 507 00 are not suitable for DLAC engines according to multiple oil manufacturers
– The recommended spec remains VW 508 00 / 0W-20 for post-2021 DLAC-equipped engines 1.0tsi

I'd always spend circa €15 on two hours of Erwin time to get all the manuals. Here in the UK there are the Haynes manuals the Erwin material gives you much more detail. Erwin is the go to place, the Vag official manuals used in the trade. The odd €15 is neither here nor there against the cost of the car and provides a resource if you need to start taking the car apart.

 

[James_R]

FYI 2024 Arona

 

[Tell]

& 509.0

The beauty of the manuals you wouldn't have to dig around in the car looking for plates .

 

[James_R]

FYI, exactly the same oil but 508.00 is the petrol spec, 509.00 is diesel.

 

[Ing.Habrykh]

Well I would have gone straight to the Erwin maintenance manual for the answer rather than the cars pdf manual which are known to contains errors - cut and paste jobs. James is right on the lower VW spec oil . I was thinking of 502.

The 2018 page looks like this but you have a more recent engine. Hence the need to download it yourself.

2018 spec:

View attachment 50793

There is a lot not in the consumer manual and its those questions that come up here but the final answer is in the maintenance manual from Erwin. Although some flexibility in some areas such as AC fluid / brake etc.

Thanks a lot — that really cleared up my doubts. I didn’t expect Erwin to contain such specific engine-level details, especially beyond what’s in the consumer manuals. I’ll definitely use the platform myself next time. Appreciate the tip.

 

[Ing.Habrykh]

FYI 2024 Arona

Thanks for sharing the engine bay label — very helpful. Unfortunately, not all SEAT Arona vehicles have this sticker, which makes things more complicated when trying to confirm the correct oil spec.

 

[James_R]

Erwin is the aftermarket version of the system that the dealer uses.

 

[Tell]

So the place to go to for your official documentation. I understand its the one independents use. I have never seen my maintenance history but never really looked. Registering as a dealer on their gives you a better view so I'm told.