Confused as to servicing and oil

I

im333

Member
Hi,

A2 1.4se 2002 only done 29,000miles.
Set to VSI and showing service due in 100miles.

This car (bought a few months ago) has been serviced way too regularly (every 3k miles or so but pretty much annually):

11/03 @ 10,500m
04/05 @ 18,500m
03/06 @ 20,600m
05/07 @ 24,000m

now due @ 29,000m

It has always had Long Life oil - 0w30 or 5w40.
I rang an indy today and asked what's best - he suggested:

- Leaving it at VSI (better for engine). I was going to switch it to fixed servicing!

- Switiching to semi-synthetic oil (says LL is way too thin and they see more cars at 70k miles + with blown engines and a lot of carbon build up due to this type of oil). They use Miller's oil.

I'm a little confused; I always thought fully syn is better qualit than semi?

What should I do?

im333
 
5W40 is no longlife oil. It is the better yearly change oil (normal is 10w40).

You can change to 0W30 or the new longlife III oil (5wxx) and program the service intervall display to longlife again and then you have two years until next service.
 
erstens said:
5W40 is no longlife oil. It is the better yearly change oil (normal is 10w40).

You can change to 0W30 or the new longlife III oil (5wxx) and program the service intervall display to longlife again and then you have two years until next service.
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To clarify, long life oil is not the issue here - FULLY synthetic is more to the point.

Also, 10w40 is a SEMI syn oil, NOT fully syn.
I don't see the point/sense of switching to semi having used fully though...

Furthermore, there is really not muh difference in real terms using 5w40 or 0w30 imho....thus, either is FULLY synthetic and suitable for the LL oil, is it not?
 
But for guarantee etc. we need oil after the VAG specification numbers. (VW503,...) and if you care for that, you will not find any 5w40 matching the VW specification numbers for longlife service. Just see the manual.
 
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erstens said:
But for guarantee etc. we need oil after the VAG specification numbers. (VW503,...) and if you care for that, you will not find any 5w40 matching the VW specification numbers for longlife service. Just see the manual.
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Ahh.. fair enough.
I don't have warranty on this car.
I'm tempted to stick to VSI anyway and insist the indy uses FULLY syn oil.

Other things is - in the serive book, the past 2 services have a tick against:
additional work every 2 years and every 20k miles.
The receipts don't show anything out of the ordinary so I was wondering what this work might be?
 
For best life of engine do not skimp on oil.
The Longlife oil specced by VW is better than 10W40 oils.
The engine tolerances and oil channels are specced to take acount of the thinner oil.

Personally I use fixed service intervals and change the oil every 10,000 miles (or 12 months). For engine longevity this is the best option.

Yes the longlife oil "may" last "up to" 20,000 miles (more in a diesel?) but you have to understand why extended service intervals came about.
Extended service intervals are a great selling point, and if a car will run for 80k with 4 oil changes then thats a great selling point for Audi. However most Audi buyers will not care if the 80k engine is a little more worn after 80k because of this (they will have traded in for a new one).

Engines like regular oil changes. The oils oxidize and loose their lubricating and protection properties over time. Longlife oil looses its properties slower than others, but for the sake of £20-40 for an oil change then why push the oil to its max lifespan.
 
chb said:
For best life of engine do not skimp on oil.
The Longlife oil specced by VW is better than 10W40 oils.
The engine tolerances and oil channels are specced to take acount of the thinner oil.

Personally I use fixed service intervals and change the oil every 10,000 miles (or 12 months). For engine longevity this is the best option.

Yes the longlife oil "may" last "up to" 20,000 miles (more in a diesel?) but you have to understand why extended service intervals came about.
Extended service intervals are a great selling point, and if a car will run for 80k with 4 oil changes then thats a great selling point for Audi. However most Audi buyers will not care if the 80k engine is a little more worn after 80k because of this (they will have traded in for a new one).

Engines like regular oil changes. The oils oxidize and loose their lubricating and protection properties over time. Longlife oil looses its properties slower than others, but for the sake of £20-40 for an oil change then why push the oil to its max lifespan.
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Agree completely. I do an interim change (6k) myself on my 2 bmw's (diesel & petrol) and take it to the dealer for scheduled insp's too.

My question is - should i switch to fixed or stick to VSI?
This car has been over-serviced (look at 1st post) in terms of mileage driven between services.

This car will do around 6k miles per year so perhaps its better to leave it on VSI and also leave it on FULLY syn oil?
 
Hey, just noticed you are in Leeds too!
We are in Woodlesford. (Metallic Blue FSI reg ending in CPU if you see me!)

Personally I would not say your car has been overserviced.
It has had an oil change once per year, this is not excessive.

If you are driving your car 6000 per annum then I would just stick it on fixed service intervals and change the oil once per year.

It's not so much the milage that kills oil, but the number of times that the oil has been heated up and cooled down.

I used to work near IKEA, and now work in Harrogate. My trip is now 24miles each way instead of 10. I reckon that the longer commute is better for the car as the whole system gets warmed up,any condensation in the oil or exhaust gets evaporated.

If your 6k per annum is built up of daily school runs and shopping trips then the oil is getting way more abuse than a car which does 6k made up of runs to London.

The VSI takes this into account, but for me I just find it easier to change the oil every 10k. Especially now that its £16 for 3 litres at COSTCO.
 
chb said:
Hey, just noticed you are in Leeds too!
We are in Woodlesford. (Metallic Blue FSI reg ending in CPU if you see me!)

Personally I would not say your car has been overserviced.
It has had an oil change once per year, this is not excessive.

If you are driving your car 6000 per annum then I would just stick it on fixed service intervals and change the oil once per year.

It's not so much the milage that kills oil, but the number of times that the oil has been heated up and cooled down.

I used to work near IKEA, and now work in Harrogate. My trip is now 24miles each way instead of 10. I reckon that the longer commute is better for the car as the whole system gets warmed up,any condensation in the oil or exhaust gets evaporated.

If your 6k per annum is built up of daily school runs and shopping trips then the oil is getting way more abuse than a car which does 6k made up of runs to London.

The VSI takes this into account, but for me I just find it easier to change the oil every 10k. Especially now that its £16 for 3 litres at COSTCO.
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Hi there!

We're in Adel. My sis drives the car, so she'll probably be oblivious to any other cars waving past :) She drives it, I maintain it for her!

I suppose, being serviced annually, you're right - it's done correctly.
Which oil is at Costco for that much - sounds good?

I'm in 2 minds about switching to fixed.....
Also, where do you get your car serviced?
 
Ive just topped mine up with castrol edge 5w-40 i decided im going to service my car every year as this is what im used to.:rolleyes:

This oil is,nt cheap ive just paid £39 for 4L at halfords (the oil minimum indicator was on) its nice that the car tells you when it needs things topping up as this is a bit of a novelty ive never had that before.
 
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