Nick_H

Our Octavia 1.9Tdi is coming up on a year old and has covered 7500 miles.

Historically I have always serviced my cars every year. On the last 2 brand new cars I've had the dealer change the engine oil yearly.

Our Octavia is set to variable service which I believe is around 20,000 or 2 years whichever comes first.

I've just spoken to the service guys at my dealer who I have complete faith in and they basically say I would pretty much be throwing my cash away to have it serviced now and to wait until it's due which would be another year. I also suggested changing to fixed yearly servicing but again he advised against.

I must admit that saving the cash is nice but we intend to keep the car for a long time and I don't want to save a few quid now to the detriment of the motor later.

Opinions please ?

mdk1

I have my oil changed every year and serviced.
Had my Oct'y on a yearly service plan, so it costs an extra £150 a year, not much in the scheme of things.
My old diesel Clio needed a change ever 5000miles!!

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jamesmckelvie

It depends on how you use the car. With the low mileage are you doing short journeys all the time? or do you just use the car at the weekend for longer mileage trips?

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1.9 TDI Elegance - Cappuccino Beige
Plenty enough power and torque for the economy offered

Nick_H

Mainly 3 miles to and 3 miles back to work for the missus. Odd run at the weekends with hols mixed in.

jamesmckelvie

Arh so a lot of cold starts, I'd be inclined to get the oil changed as this deteriorates the oil significantly, and change from variable servicing to 12monthly/12000 miles.

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1.9 TDI Elegance - Cappuccino Beige
Plenty enough power and torque for the economy offered

mannyo

Oil quality is monitored by the engine sensors, if the oil needs replacing due to lots of cold starts then the variable indicator will trigger earlier. Variable is UPTO approx 18k miles/2 years, and can be considerably less.

For what its worth, my car at 60K miles has been into the dealer for servicing now 3 times since new and shows no issues at all.

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Manny
2005 Octavia 2.0TDi Elegance combi
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jamesmckelvie

this is true, at the end of the day it's a personal preference as what to do. Personally I'd be looking at changing the oil if doing 3 miles at a time, we all know cold starts are the most damaging to a engine.

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1.9 TDI Elegance - Cappuccino Beige
Plenty enough power and torque for the economy offered

cheezemonkhai

I'm on variable, and will be getting an oil extractor to do other cars.

For the sake of £50 I think I'll probably do an extra oil and filter change along with the air filter at 10k miles.

It's a bit hit and miss as to whether this is worth it, butif you intend to keep the car a long time it can't hurt. Also note that VAG seem to only recommend variable if you do a flat motorway drive of 25 miles plus each day on the newer cars from what i'm reading.

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gadgetman

Just remember with variable servicing, you must use long life oil as per you manual!

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cheezemonkhai

If you're changing the oil part way on a variable you would indeed replace it with VW507/VW504 or the correct spec for your car on the long life service.

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Cars make CO2 and trees absorb CO2. By driving your car you're feeding a tree and helping the environment.

susi

I've got the same dilemma.

I'm on variable servicing and that's what the dealer recommends. But I also know that dealers all repeat the story they are sent by head office (all large companies brief their guys to sing the same song, least they come in for criticism for inconsistency)

We have cold winters, but our garage is at 20.5°C - warmer than most of my mates houses in the UK (and it's heated using a carbon neutral heating method before any greens attack me! ). If it's parked outside, the engine block heater is usually plugged in somewhere.

I commute about 25km each way, daily, with some longer trips during weekends and holidays. I plan to keep the car for 8 years and want it to be reliable (breaking down in arctic conditions isn't much fun).

So if I do an extra oil and filter change in between the variable service programme, am I wasting my money? Also if the system monitors the oil condition, will it then just extend the period before the system bleeps to tell you it's time for the variable service?

A dilemma