My dealer as told me that I need to have the engine oil changed every 7500 kms. Is this true?

My dealer as told me that I need to have the engine oil changed every 7500 kms. Is this true?

That sounds like it's too low. Check whether you're on fixed, annual servicing or variable servicing. It should tell you in the cars manual what the service intervals are. From memory it's 18,000 miles on variable and 9000 miles on fixed.

Stewart

Stewart, variable is what it says,......variable, so depending on lots of different things it could be anything. It seems that a couple of us have had theirs at around 18k. Others have been less.

7500kms does seem very low.

Cyprus, if I remember correctly, is very hot and dusty especially in the rural areas - so perhaps that has some bearing upon the oil change interval.

Here in Wales one would hope that the dung of various animals would not be so deleterious - though yesterday one blessed chap caused a complete white-out and loss of any forward vision by deciding to lime his fields at breakneck speed, thus creating as much in the dense white cloud as there was on his once-green field.

On second thoughts, perhaps we SHOULD be changing oil more frequently... ... ... while removing farm collie teeth from the tyres. (Cheerfully, my neighbour has a Huntaway who thinks nothing of greeting you by leaping up and placing his great paws around your neck - complete with oodles of mud, dust and slime.).

7,500 Km?

That is not true.

I've been told that car manufacturers like to promote the fact that an oil change is only needed once a year to help sales. I've always preferred to change it twice a year and with the best oil available to prolong engine life. I have to admit I've never owned a car long enough to know wether this is a economical way of looking at things or not.

The service intervals for fixed servicing QG1 and variable QG2 used to be stated in the handbook. However after a brief look at the current edition of the handbook, then this appears to have been replaced by the following statement;

"Please refer to the brochure Service schedule for extensive information about the service intervals"

QG2 used to state something along the lines as indicated or at two years whichever came first

QG1 at 15,000Km or 1 year which ever came first

From factory mine came set to QG2 but the garage reset it to QG1 and the service reminder popped up just over 9,000 miles.

TP

The maxidot on mine said 740 days or 18000 miles when collected from the dealer.

I've been told that car manufacturers like to promote the fact that an oil change is only needed once a year to help sales. I've always preferred to change it twice a year and with the best oil available to prolong engine life. I have to admit I've never owned a car long enough to know wether this is a economical way of looking at things or not.

Had a mk2 golf for years bought with 9000 mls on clock, serviced by a back street mechanic(vw trained) for all the time we had it, he used cheap oil(morris's of shrewsbury if memory serves) - when it moved on it had 300000mls on the clock still with the original bits and pieces, and used about a pint of oil per 12000 service - it had however always been used for the daily commute(50 mls 65%m/way)

Had a mk2 golf for years bought with 9000 mls on clock, serviced by a back street mechanic(vw trained) for all the time we had it, he used cheap oil(morris's of shrewsbury if memory serves) - when it moved on it had 300000mls on the clock still with the original bits and pieces, and used about a pint of oil per 12000 service - it had however always been used for the daily commute(50 mls 65%m/way)

That's all fair enough but why save a relatively small amount on oil?

I am more in the camp of changing the oil more often as recommended by HJ [D Telegraph] who says keep the same oil in for the first 10k to bed in the engine, then change it every 5k miles, so maybe 7.5k kilometres isn't that daft. I would be tempted to do it myself, but I'm concerned if there were a problem the ecu would reflect what I have done, as it records changes in oil quality? I will certainly do it when the warranty runs out as I want to keep the SM till it's 5 at least.

Edited 5 April, 201214 yr by yetiscot

All oil is made by only a handful of manufacturers, so Morris, Millers, Rock oil and so on buy in bulk from say Castrol for instance and re can it, as long as it has the correct spec for your engine it really doesn't matter who's label is on the can.

My car has had its first service at 18,000 miles, it will have its next at about 36,000 miles, the car is 9 months old now and already has 30,000 miles on it, servicing done at the dealer and I have no idea what oil goes in to it.

In short modern oil is much better than mineral oils of years ago and is more than capable of doing double the mileage of what the dealer recommends for variable servicing, it is down to the individual how long you want to run on the same oil.

Lots of short journeys can cause condensation probs with the oil, my earlier post reflects possibly the fact that running distances evaps the water caused initially!!

All oil is made by only a handful of manufacturers, so Morris, Millers, Rock oil and so on buy in bulk from say Castrol for instance and re can it, as long as it has the correct spec for your engine it really doesn't matter who's label is on the can.

My car has had its first service at 18,000 miles, it will have its next at about 36,000 miles, the car is 9 months old now and already has 30,000 miles on it, servicing done at the dealer and I have no idea what oil goes in to it.

In short modern oil is much better than mineral oils of years ago and is more than capable of doing double the mileage of what the dealer recommends for variable servicing, it is down to the individual how long you want to run on the same oil.

There's a hint of truth here, but some big errors. For a start, Castrol do not make oil for those other companies. Some make their own and others buy from 'toll blenders', who make oil for whoever will pay for it, but don't sell oil themselves.

Secondly, specification is a minimum requirement; some oils go above and beyond the minimum requirements of the specification.

It's true that if, for example, an oil meets VW 504 00 / 507 00 that it can be used for the extended 'variable' service regime, but this is a tough spec so there's no way to predict if an oil could go longer than recommended or by how much.

If yours is like our cars over here, then if you turn the ignition on but not the engine, wait a while for things to settle down and then press the trip button on the instrument binnacle, after a few seconds the time and distance to the next service will show up on the display. This works on my Maxidot equipped car, don't know if it will work on a non-maxidot car.

Ian

There's a hint of truth here, but some big errors. For a start, Castrol do not make oil for those other companies. Some make their own and others buy from 'toll blenders', who make oil for whoever will pay for it, but don't sell oil themselves.

Secondly, specification is a minimum requirement; some oils go above and beyond the minimum requirements of the specification.

It's true that if, for example, an oil meets VW 504 00 / 507 00 that it can be used for the extended 'variable' service regime, but this is a tough spec so there's no way to predict if an oil could go longer than recommended or by how much.

OK so I was wrong about Castrol BUT if you read the VAG group policy on variable servicing, the engines can run from 9,000 to 30,000 miles before it will ask for a service, my A4 and Passat were always serviced at 22,000 mile intervals, the Yeti asked for its first service at 18,000, next is due at 36,000, so less than the other two cars with similar engines.

My point is this, If VAG choose a window of 9,000 to 30,000 miles for servicing/oil change they must have a mileage allowance above 30,000 miles that they tested as "safe" to determine the oil change window.

All my cars have done 130,000 miles + in three years, all have been on variable servicing and I wouldn't have hesitated to buy any of them at the end of the lease. All these cars were on long life service and all were serviced at the dealer (some were topped up with oil in between) with Q8, Castrol, Rock Oil and whatever else was to hand.

In answer to the first question in this thread, your dealer is giving you duff info in my opinion.

I hear what people are saying regarding long life servicing but the thought of leaving the same oil in the engine for up to 30,000 miles scares me s***less! Ive always done oil changes at 5,000 miles or six monthly and never had an engine issue whatsoever so I'll keep on with that regime even though others do consider it ott. :-)

If anyone is a member of Costco Castrol Edge 5W30 at £27 for 4 litres is the cheapest I've seen---yesterday

15000 km between oil changes, FOR SURE .

Someone wrote cyprus is hot and dusty ,not precise.

I live in Israel which is hotter, and the interval between oil changes is still 15000 km.

If I remember well,the interval is written in the user book you got with your yeti.

If anyone is a member of Costco Castrol Edge 5W30 at £27 for 4 litres is the cheapest I've seen---yesterday

Though I haven't checked lately but I did buy some from Asda for about £30 for the same oil.

Ian

Though I haven't checked lately but I did buy some from Asda for about £30 for the same oil.

Ian

£35 at Asda according to their website--which is still cheap--Halfrauds @ £47

As a comparison, how much is the 'approved' oil from Skoda dealers?

As a comparison, how much is the 'approved' oil from Skoda dealers?

My last service shows oil at £40.20 plus VAT.

Thanks Graham, though I should have been a little more precise... I meant to ask what do they charge if you walk in & ask to buy a can of oil - 4L or 5L or whatever they sell it in that's bigger than a 1L top up can?