Highest mileage with variable servicing

tonto kowalski · 08-06-2007, 19:05

What's the highest mileage anyone has done in an Octavia on a variable service schedule?
Has the car been reliable?
At what mileages has the car said it needs servicing?
A mate of mine thinks oil should be changed every 5,000 miles,and is highly sceptical about manufacturers claiming their cars don't need regular frequent services.

Lummox · 08-06-2007, 19:12

I service plenty of variable service schedule cars that are over the 100,000 miles mark (some above 200,000) and I don't think any issues they have are related to the servicing. Same faults as SEAT have and they only offer a fixed regime.

Your maximum mileage is either 20,000 (Octavia 1 + 2) or 30,000 on the Superb.

Johnwg · 08-06-2007, 19:27

My Golf's on vairiable service, just hit 7k since new and its indicating the first service is at 17k miles..... is it worth doing an oil and filter change at 10k?

Just dosen't seem natural to leave the oil in there for so long, especially over the running in period?

Lummox · 08-06-2007, 20:43

If you change the oil and filter it will change the due time of the service.

simonsheil · 08-06-2007, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lummox

Your maximum mileage is either 20,000 (Octavia 1 + 2) or 30,000 on the Superb.

I believe it is 32000 or thereabouts for the diesel Octavia Mk 1. I know mine did 28000 last time.

Lummox · 08-06-2007, 20:52

Some do have 30k limits yes, didnt know exactly what engines so stuck to what I knew for sure.

skinnyman · 08-06-2007, 21:20

I'm currently waiting for my first variable service to come up. When I bought the car new - March 06 - the salesman said "If you drive it like an idiot, well see you in 9,000 miles. If you drive like a grandma, it should be around 18,000 miles."

I'm currently up to around 15,000 and deciding that I must be in grandma territory. However, I do give it some stick on a regular basis, so maybe his grandma was a bit of a boy racer?

I worry about the oil being in there from new and nearly reaching 20,000 miles before a change. Mind you, I hark back to the good old days of Mk1 Golf and Capris, oil technology has come on a bit since then.

vRSLen · 08-06-2007, 21:24

Oil quality and mechanical tolerance have improved vastly
over the years. The oil filter will catch most of the debris
in the oil.

matt@theforce · 08-06-2007, 21:39

my old vrs did the
1st variable service at 19,000miles, company owned car
2nd service 38,000miles, I lived near london and barely had fun
3rd service 46,000 miles. moved to the edge of the peak district and had loads of fun everyday.

Johnwg · 08-06-2007, 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lummox

If you change the oil and filter it will change the due time of the service.

Take it any change will bring the due time of the service forward?

Is it worth doing an oil/filter change at 10kish on a new engine or is it best to leave the original in there till ECU indicated?

Lummox · 08-06-2007, 22:26

Any oil change could well set the service interval backwards as it will then be measuring clean oil again.

I'd leave it in there unless you want to change to fixed which you may as well do if you plan on changing it at 10k.

mluton · 09-06-2007, 00:50

1st Variable service at 20,300 miles
2nd Variable service 37,500 miles
Waiting for 3rd Variable service light, currenlty at 49,300 miles

sharkrider · 09-06-2007, 07:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by vRSLen

Oil quality and mechanical tolerance have improved vastly
over the years. The oil filter will catch most of the debris
in the oil.

this is true... modern oils are fantastic, even years ago when they first made Mobil1 they ran a BMW for 100k (changed the oild when it said on the service indicator) took the engine apart, and it was still within factory tolorances, so could have been sold as a new engine!!!

I had a citroen on 20k fixed service intervals, ran that for 150k, and the engine was as good as new when I got rid...

my fiats on 18k fixed service intervals...

hasn't the dodge viper got 100k service intervals? i.e. just needs topping up with oil in all that time?

richm · 09-06-2007, 10:44

I really don't understand how these long service intervals are such an attraction..? oil change is so cheap it just seems madness to leave all the crap (combustion byproducts, acids that are formed etc) floating round the engine for so long, especially on turbo cars that are presumably getting proper "exercise"

I was seriously put off a couple that I looked at because the owners were making a "selling" point of the fact they'd only had a handful of services in 60K miles

Drop the oil at 6-8K and it's black enough, lord knows what it looks like after 20K...

Johnwg · 09-06-2007, 12:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lummox

Any oil change could well set the service interval backwards as it will then be measuring clean oil again.

I'd leave it in there unless you want to change to fixed which you may as well do if you plan on changing it at 10k.

Thanks ..... guess I just need to trust that modern day oils are up to the job !!!

simonsheil · 09-06-2007, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by richm

I really don't understand how these long service intervals are such an attraction..? oil change is so cheap it just seems madness to leave all the crap (combustion byproducts, acids that are formed etc) floating round the engine for so long, especially on turbo cars that are presumably getting proper "exercise"

I was seriously put off a couple that I looked at because the owners were making a "selling" point of the fact they'd only had a handful of services in 60K miles

Drop the oil at 6-8K and it's black enough, lord knows what it looks like after 20K...

Drop the oil out of a diesel a 1000 miles after a change and it will be black, just how they run.

As for the attraction of long life service, it mainly means if you do high mileage you do not have to go to the garage every 4 months. I can go just about a year between services. If I did a lot less miles it may well be switched to fixed service intervals, however, I think I will trust the combined experience of the oil industry and car manafacturers rather than the view we used to change oil veery 5000 miles so must continue to do so.

sharkrider · 09-06-2007, 16:40

check even after the drive homw from the dealer after the service and it will be black... as simonsheil says... just how they run..... its no problem....

51octytdi · 09-06-2007, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by richm

I really don't understand how these long service intervals are such an attraction..? oil change is so cheap it just seems madness to leave all the crap (combustion byproducts, acids that are formed etc) floating round the engine for so long, especially on turbo cars that are presumably getting proper "exercise"

I was seriously put off a couple that I looked at because the owners were making a "selling" point of the fact they'd only had a handful of services in 60K miles

Drop the oil at 6-8K and it's black enough, lord knows what it looks like after 20K...

Because the premium for using the long-life oil is around £30, and the savings from the oil change service you no longer need is about £80, plus the time and effort of not having to go the dealer, and the reduced environmental impact of having to handle the old oil. if you're prepared to change your own oil and filters, those figures will stack up differently.

Over 135,000 miles my engine has been serviced, on average, every 28k. When I bought it on 92k, it had four stamps in the book. Personally I saw that as a positive rather than a negative - it suggested it was going to be a cheap car to run!

I think it's more important on a used car that it was brought in on time (and not driven around with the service light on) rather than the actual length of the intervals. I wonder if the ECU has any history stored in it?

J

This PDF has some good details http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/assets/L..._servicing.pdf .

***DGW*** · 10-06-2007, 19:54

Better mpg - the figure of 3% comes to mind - is another plus point for using LongLife oil. And the downloadable BP article below from 2002 gives some interesting background information on why LongLife oils were developed:

http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_inte...on_running.pdf

pigfarmer99 · 11-06-2007, 17:53

My old SLX TDi did 14500 from the previous service before the service indicator came on. As far as I was concerned that was more than adequate...30+k/year at either red line or idle and rarely in between.
Current VRs had reached 18k without indication, but the water pump failed and I had the service done at the same time.

08-06-2007, 19:05	#1
tonto kowalski Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nottingham Posts: 374 Members Car: A lovely unadulterated Fabia vRS Thanks: 4 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Highest mileage with variable servicing What's the highest mileage anyone has done in an Octavia on a variable service schedule? Has the car been reliable? At what mileages has the car said it needs servicing? A mate of mine thinks oil should be changed every 5,000 miles,and is highly sceptical about manufacturers claiming their cars don't need regular frequent services.

08-06-2007, 19:12	#2
Lummox Cupra Bush King Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 22,497 Members Car: Mk2 Golf GTi 16v and building a 20VT MK2. Images: 2 Thanks: 22 Thanked 760 Times in 638 Posts	Re: Highest mileage with variable servicing I service plenty of variable service schedule cars that are over the 100,000 miles mark (some above 200,000) and I don't think any issues they have are related to the servicing. Same faults as SEAT have and they only offer a fixed regime. Your maximum mileage is either 20,000 (Octavia 1 + 2) or 30,000 on the Superb. __________________ www.unit18.co.uk Remapping Service now available, PM for details.

08-06-2007, 19:27	#3
Johnwg Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: South Lakes (Grange Over Sands) Posts: 2,075 Members Car: Octavia II VRS Thanks: 66 Thanked 57 Times in 56 Posts	Re: Highest mileage with variable servicing My Golf's on vairiable service, just hit 7k since new and its indicating the first service is at 17k miles..... is it worth doing an oil and filter change at 10k? Just dosen't seem natural to leave the oil in there for so long, especially over the running in period? __________________ 2007: Octavia II VRS TDI in Black

08-06-2007, 20:43	#4
Lummox Cupra Bush King Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 22,497 Members Car: Mk2 Golf GTi 16v and building a 20VT MK2. Images: 2 Thanks: 22 Thanked 760 Times in 638 Posts	Re: Highest mileage with variable servicing If you change the oil and filter it will change the due time of the service. __________________ www.unit18.co.uk Remapping Service now available, PM for details.

08-06-2007, 20:52	#6
Lummox Cupra Bush King Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 22,497 Members Car: Mk2 Golf GTi 16v and building a 20VT MK2. Images: 2 Thanks: 22 Thanked 760 Times in 638 Posts	Re: Highest mileage with variable servicing Some do have 30k limits yes, didnt know exactly what engines so stuck to what I knew for sure. __________________ www.unit18.co.uk Remapping Service now available, PM for details.

08-06-2007, 21:20	#7
skinnyman Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Up North Posts: 574 Members Car: Mk1 vRS Thanks: 8 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Highest mileage with variable servicing I'm currently waiting for my first variable service to come up. When I bought the car new - March 06 - the salesman said "If you drive it like an idiot, well see you in 9,000 miles. If you drive like a grandma, it should be around 18,000 miles." I'm currently up to around 15,000 and deciding that I must be in grandma territory. However, I do give it some stick on a regular basis, so maybe his grandma was a bit of a boy racer? I worry about the oil being in there from new and nearly reaching 20,000 miles before a change. Mind you, I hark back to the good old days of Mk1 Golf and Capris, oil technology has come on a bit since then. __________________

08-06-2007, 21:24	#8
vRSLen King Rat Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 5,459 Members Car: MK11 Octavia vRS Thanks: 169 Thanked 200 Times in 145 Posts	Re: Highest mileage with variable servicing Oil quality and mechanical tolerance have improved vastly over the years. The oil filter will catch most of the debris in the oil. __________________ Current car: Black MKII Octavia vRS Combi Previous: Black MKI Octavia vRS Combi Black Fabia Elegance 100 BHP

08-06-2007, 21:39	#9
matt@theforce Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Durkar Posts: 2,315 Members Car: Octavia 130pd Elegance Estate Thanks: 119 Thanked 83 Times in 72 Posts	Re: Highest mileage with variable servicing my old vrs did the 1st variable service at 19,000miles, company owned car 2nd service 38,000miles, I lived near london and barely had fun 3rd service 46,000 miles. moved to the edge of the peak district and had loads of fun everyday. __________________ Support Briskoda Join FREEDOM >>> <<<

08-06-2007, 22:26	#11
Lummox Cupra Bush King Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 22,497 Members Car: Mk2 Golf GTi 16v and building a 20VT MK2. Images: 2 Thanks: 22 Thanked 760 Times in 638 Posts	Re: Highest mileage with variable servicing Any oil change could well set the service interval backwards as it will then be measuring clean oil again. I'd leave it in there unless you want to change to fixed which you may as well do if you plan on changing it at 10k. __________________ www.unit18.co.uk Remapping Service now available, PM for details.

09-06-2007, 00:50	#12
mluton Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Birmingham Posts: 6,402 Members Car: Red Octavia vRS 1.8T (20v) Thanks: 46 Thanked 227 Times in 202 Posts	Re: Highest mileage with variable servicing 1st Variable service at 20,300 miles 2nd Variable service 37,500 miles Waiting for 3rd Variable service light, currenlty at 49,300 miles __________________ Support Briskoda----------------------> Red Skoda Octavia V//RS Mods to date: Carbonio CAI Forge 007 DV Aero Wipers Briskoda Stickers KVW100 GB Wheel Inserts RS Tuning Remap Delocked Piper Cat Back Kenwood KDC-W6541U Fli Twin 12" Active Sub Parrot CK3100 *------------------------------------------------*

09-06-2007, 10:44	#14
richm Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Melksham Posts: 540 Members Car: vRS Thanks: 3 Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts	Re: Highest mileage with variable servicing I really don't understand how these long service intervals are such an attraction..? oil change is so cheap it just seems madness to leave all the crap (combustion byproducts, acids that are formed etc) floating round the engine for so long, especially on turbo cars that are presumably getting proper "exercise" I was seriously put off a couple that I looked at because the owners were making a "selling" point of the fact they'd only had a handful of services in 60K miles Drop the oil at 6-8K and it's black enough, lord knows what it looks like after 20K...

09-06-2007, 16:40	#17
sharkrider rider of sharks Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cumbria Posts: 3,888 Members Car: Fabia vRS Thanks: 245 Thanked 108 Times in 95 Posts	Re: Highest mileage with variable servicing check even after the drive homw from the dealer after the service and it will be black... as simonsheil says... just how they run..... its no problem.... __________________ Fiat Grande Punto Sporting (158 bhp 314 lbs/ft) in Red.... Furby vRS , black magic,passenger airbag de-activation switch, (now gone, but not forgotten!)

10-06-2007, 19:54	#19
*DGW* BRISKODA Staff Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Cambridgeshire Posts: 17,300 Members Car: Octavia 1.8T 4X4 Estate & Fabia vRS Thanks: 51 Thanked 208 Times in 157 Posts	Re: Highest mileage with variable servicing Better mpg - the figure of 3% comes to mind - is another plus point for using LongLife oil. And the downloadable BP article below from 2002 gives some interesting background information on why LongLife oils were developed: http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_inte...on_running.pdf __________________ Denis 2002 Octavia 1.8T 4X4 turbo Estate - rebreathed on by Jabba ... 31.93mpg 2007 Fabia vRS - CC, ESP and full leather trim by Seat Surgeons ...48.57 mpg...

11-06-2007, 17:53	#20
pigfarmer99 Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Down yer in Darzet. Posts: 43 Members Car: Red and dusty Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Highest mileage with variable servicing My old SLX TDi did 14500 from the previous service before the service indicator came on. As far as I was concerned that was more than adequate...30+k/year at either red line or idle and rarely in between. Current VRs had reached 18k without indication, but the water pump failed and I had the service done at the same time.

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