TSI EA211 – Why did VW 508.00 disappear from manuals after 2021?

[Ing.Habrykh]

Hi everyone,

While checking oil specs for the TSI EA211 engine family, I noticed something odd. In manuals up to around 2020, both VW 504.00 and VW 508.00 are clearly listed. But starting from 2021, VW 508.00 seems to be missing — even though many well-known oil brands still recommend it for EA211.

I’m not sure if this is a simplification across different engines, a documentation mistake, or maybe a change that was never properly explained. It feels confusing, especially when trying to choose the right oil or stick to warranty rules.

If anyone has access to manuals from 2021 or later, could you take a look and share what’s written there? A screenshot or short quote would be really helpful. The more we gather, the better chance we have to understand what’s going on.

Thanks in advance — let’s figure this out together.

 

[James_R]

Which manuals are you referring to?

 

[Ing.Habrykh]

Seat Arona

 

[James_R]

Sorry, I meant which manuals are you referring to when you said the oil grade is missing? The service manual in the car? Or VWG technical data?

 

[Ing.Habrykh]

Thanks for jumping in. I’m referring to the printed service manuals that come with the car — especially those issued from 2021 onward. In earlier versions (around 2020), both VW 504.00 and VW 508.00 were listed clearly. But in newer manuals, VW 508.00 seems to be missing, even though many oil manufacturers still recommend it for EA211 engines.

I’m trying to understand whether this change was intentional, a simplification across engine types, or maybe just a documentation inconsistency. If anyone has access to manuals from 2021 or later, it would be great to compare and see what’s actually written.

Appreciate any insights!

 

[James_R]

As of 2020 VWG only recommends the use of 0w20s/508.00 in the majority of it's petrol engines according to the workshop manuals.

 

[Ing.Habrykh]

Just wanted to follow up with a few screenshots from the official Seat Arona user manuals — 2020, 2021, and 2023 editions.

All three refer to TSI EA211 engines, but the oil specification section changes noticeably over the years. In 2020, VW 508.00 is clearly listed. In 2021, it disappears. And by 2023, it’s still missing — even though many oil manufacturers continue to recommend it for EA211.

I’m not posting this to criticize anyone, just to help clarify things. If anyone has manuals from other models or markets, feel free to add them. Maybe together we can figure out why this change happened — and whether it affects how we maintain our cars.

 

[James_R]

DM me your chassis number and I can tell you which oil you need.