I just noticed that i have 400 miles and a spanner showing when i start up.Thing is its on long life intervals and was serviced at 15000 and not due until 35000.i have only done 31000.Any ideas why this has come on?

If by long life intervals you mean the variable interval option then the engine reckons it needs replacing now based on the oil condition monitoring it uses. The fixed interval is 10k miles or one year AFAIK...

You've done 16k since your last service, that sounds pretty reasonable to me!

Just over 18K miles is the absolute max for a variable service, so at 16K you have done well. Mine seems to need doing every 17K or so.

Mine seems to need doing every 17K or so.

But don't you do additional oil changes, which would enhance your figure somewhat? It would be less than 17K without the extra oil changes?

No additional oil changes, only those carried out at the dealer. So mine get nice new longlife oil at around every 18K miles. My car is on 82K miles now, and had 4 oil changes, doesnt smoke a lot, and uses virtually no oil between services.

No additional oil changes, only those carried out at the dealer. So mine get nice new longlife oil at around every 18K miles. My car is on 82K miles now, and had 4 oil changes, doesnt smoke a lot, and uses virtually no oil between services.

I must have gotten you confused with someone else then!

Is (low) oil consumption a good indicator of engine condition then?

The dealer told me it would need a service next May :eek: or at 35K.

The dealer told me it would need a service next May :eek: or at 35K.

Re: the 35K bit, he was either wrong or lying :thumbdwn:

The dealer told me it would need a service next May :eek: or at 35K.

IMHO 35k miles is about right for a second variable service. (2*18.5k mile).

Obviously there is the issue that if you're doing short journeys and lots of start stop you might need the service sooner than that.

You could invested in a pela pump such that the oil can be removed, the filter changed with a genuine one replaced with the correct VW507 oil in about 30 minutes.

If you're doing taxi driving you might well be better off on fixed tbh.

IMHO 35k miles is about right for a second variable service. (2*18.5k mile).

Bear in mind though his first service was at 15k, so he'd have done 20k on that oil by 35k...

Longlife or variable means your min service would be 10K, and your max 18k/2 years.

16K isnt a bad innings.

Bear in mind though his first service was at 15k, so he'd have done 20k on that oil by 35k...

So the dealer got the info a bit wrong then I guess, but hey ho.

Don't think it's way out and the services are every 15-16k miles for the OP.

Thanks guys for your help.I have now booked car in for service in 2 weeks time as was mentioned on here that the car monitors oil condition so its best done at this time

So the dealer got the info a bit wrong then I guess, but hey ho.

Don't think it's way out and the services are every 15-16k miles for the OP.

The info wasn't way out, but he certainly misled the OP (probably unintentionally), saying "next service at 35k", hence this thread! So for that dealer it's a :thumbdwn: from me