My newly purchased vRS is on Longlife Service Schedule. From what I can see it has been serviced every two years and run on Longlife oil.

Is this an official Skoda service schedule?

Whats the max mileage for this?

I do around 8 - 10,000 miles a year, should I keep it on longlife servicing?

Thanks in advance

Longlife (or variable) servicing is designed to extend the service intervals and minimise running/service costs. This is aimed at fleet managers who are most concerned with how much it will cost them to run the car over a set period, say three years or 80,000 miles for example. If a car needs servicing less often then it costs less and is therefore easier to compete with other car manufacturers to make the Octavia more attractive for large company sales.

The car is able to monitor the quality of the oil and adjusts the service intervals accordingly. This means the time / mileage before a service is required can vary. The number of cold starts, how hard you drive the car, journey distances and times etc. all affect the service intervals.

Fixed servicing is better for the car as it goes on a set time or mileage (10,000 miles or a year, which ever occurs first) which often means the car gets serviced more often - but of course can cost more.

Not keeping the car for long? Longlife servicing and save some cash.

Keeping the car for many years? Fixed servicing and a longer lasting car!

Incidentally, my Octavia is on fixed servicing but still uses the same longlife oil as cars on the longlife servicing schedule due to its Dust Particulate Filter (DPF).

I shudder to think of any car running for two years on the same oil, it doesn't matter how good the oil is, two years (and two winters) is a hell of a long time regardless of mileage.

Edited 3 October, 201015 yr by silver1011

Mine is on variable. I just feel that no matter what Skoda say, almost 20k miles on a gallon of oil seems very harsh to me. As I intend to keep the car for a long time I shall change oil+filter at 9/10k miles.

I have run all my Skodas on Variable servicing. The last Octavia PD140 did just short of 100K miles and had just 4 services, never had any issues at all. Still going strong at 100K miles, did not use any oil between services. Still on original components including the turbo which is the PD140 weak point.

What is the difference between variable and longlife then?

I have run all my Skodas on Variable servicing. The last Octavia PD140 did just short of 100K miles and had just 4 services, never had any issues at all. Still going strong at 100K miles, did not use any oil between services. Still on original components including the turbo which is the PD140 weak point.

And Skoda know this, hence why they offer variable servicing.

Once you reach three years - no more warranty.

Most modern engines will run for many miles on old oil. 100,000 + miles / 3 + years is when you'll pay the price - literally...

What is the difference between variable and longlife then?

Nothing, its the same.

Some people call it longlife servicing as it uses longlife oil.

Quite a contradiction in my eyes, its anything but longlife servicing.

Edited 3 October, 201015 yr by silver1011

Nothing, its the same.

Some people call it longlife servicing as it uses longlife oil.

Quite a contradiction in my eyes, its anything but longlife servicing.

Ahhh, I see, So Variable servicing is.....

2 Years or ??? How many Miles?

Ahhh, I see, So Variable servicing is.....

2 Years or ??? How many Miles?

Till the service light comes on.

System measures engine oil viscosity, revs and other variables and says when you should service. Usually a 18,000 ish for petrols and 22-25,000 odd for diesels in my experience.

Ahhh, I see, So Variable servicing is.....

2 Years or ??? How many Miles?

It can vary - hence being called 'variable'.

There is no set time scale or mileage, I mentioned the influences in my first post...

Based on your mileage, variable will be fine.

There are a number of members on high milers on variable with no issues.

Modern oils have come a long way and can easily cope with 20k as most German cars come set. the others don't want to goto larger services as they'll see you less and get more cash from you. Think Ford, vauxhall.

Skoda may shirk warranty claims if you change oil between services and get an engine problem. Also as the car monitors oil quality, you'll confuse it suddenly seeing the oil quality improve. You may actually trigger a service message as a result.

Not sure why people have such an issue with variable. So long as you follow vag's guidance on service regimes, you'll be fine.

It can vary - hence being called 'variable'.

There is no set time scale or mileage, I mentioned the influences in my first post...

It has just had a 'variable service'.

Would you agree that I wait a year and get it serviced again and switched to fixed then??

I have a question...

Does the car actually detect the physical quality of the oil or is the variable service interval just calculated on recorded variables such as number of starts/type of driving etc. My car is on variable servicing and I wondered if I did an interim oil change at say 10,000 miles, would it make any difference to when the management system decided a variable service was due? i.e can it tell I changed the oil before the service was due?

Cheers,

Bob.

It has just had a 'variable service'.

Would you agree that I wait a year and get it serviced again and switched to fixed then??

Completely your choice, to Mannyo's point his car did 100,000 miles on variable servicing with no problems at all.

For me, I spent £14,000 on my car and need to ensure it lasts as long as possible. More frequent servicing (fixed) is a cost worth paying in my eyes.

Completely your choice, to Mannyo's point his car did 100,000 miles on variable servicing with no problems at all.

For me, I spent £14,000 on my car and need to ensure it lasts as long as possible. More frequent servicing (fixed) is a cost worth paying in my eyes.

Is it simple enough to change between Variable and Fixed Service Plans?

Is it simple enough to change between Variable and Fixed Service Plans?

Yes, but it needs to done by your dealer or a friendly member with VCDS. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes, its just a case of connecting the car up to the diagnostic system and making the change.

I have a question...

Does the car actually detect the physical quality of the oil or is the variable service interval just calculated on recorded variables such as number of starts/type of driving etc. My car is on variable servicing and I wondered if I did an interim oil change at say 10,000 miles, would it make any difference to when the management system decided a variable service was due? i.e can it tell I changed the oil before the service was due?

Cheers,

Bob.

Good question Bob, my comments of it actually monitoring the quality of the oil are based on previous threads on this forum.

It is very possible I am wrong.

If you are considering an interim service would'nt it make sense to change to fixed servicing?

As I do less than 10,000 miles a year (just) I quite like knowing that my car will need servicing around the same time every year - means I can budget for it easier

Not sure why people have such an issue with variable. So long as you follow vag's guidance on service regimes, you'll be fine.

Thing is, I'm not convinced VAG's guidance has the interests of the cars longevity as its main priority.

Variable servicing means lower costs for the owner. This attracts more customers and allows Skoda to sell more cars and generate more revenue.

Providing the car makes it beyond the three year warranty problem free the manufacturer wins twice - 1) more car sales, 2) fewer warranty claims.

One thing is for sure, Skoda will have done their sums. They are a business, profitability and happy stakeholders is everything.

Fixed servicing doesn't provide any real tangible benefits to Skoda, its the dealers (more servicing = more custom) and owners (better maintained car) that really benefit.

Skoda may shirk warranty claims if you change oil between services and get an engine problem. Also as the car monitors oil quality, you'll confuse it suddenly seeing the oil quality improve. You may actually trigger a service message as a result.

How on earth would they know you had changed the oil? Yes, the car monitors the oil (& other factors) but it hasnt ever affected the service message on the 10 VAG TDI's I've changed the oil on. They always continue to countdown the miles at exactly the same rate. I always get 18-19k between each variable service (with an interim oil change by me)

I know it is not needed but I generally keep my cars for a few years and a fair few miles. It doesnt cost me much, gives me piece of mind and none of my VAG TDI's have ever had any engine/turbo/dpf/egr related issues (touch wood!)

Edited 3 October, 201015 yr by Keith Lard

I have a question...Does the car actually detect the physical quality of the oil or is the variable service interval just calculated on recorded variables such as number of starts/type of driving etc. My car is on variable servicing and I wondered if I did an interim oil change at say 10,000 miles, would it make any difference to when the management system decided a variable service was due? i.e can it tell I changed the oil before the service was due?Cheers,Bob.

Yes it does, and you can see this (current reading) if you have VCDS

How on earth would they know you had changed the oil? Yes, the car monitors the oil (& other factors) but it hasnt ever affected the service message on the 10 VAG TDI's I've changed the oil on. They always continue to countdown the miles at exactly the same rate. I always get 18-19k between each variable service (with an interim oil change by me)I know it is not needed but I generally keep my cars for a few years and a fair few miles. It doesnt cost me much, gives me piece of mind and none of my VAG TDI's have ever had any engine/turbo/dpf/egr related issues (touch wood!)

Pretty sure someone here a while back had engine issues (PD turbo fans imploding?), and the matter of interim services came up which they DIY'd. I believe Skoda did honour the warranty work eventually, but made it quite clear to the member that DIY oil changes shouldnt be carried out if they wish to have an intact warranty on the engine and turbo.

VAG have a history of testing fluids, as to whether this is only fuel or oil as well I wouldnt want to guess. But if yours was serviced with brand a, you've used brand v and then there's an issue with no recorded works at either a VAG dealer or vat registered independent, there could be some uncomfortable questions asked if you did have an engine related issue.

The other thing is interim oil services, are now just that with VAG. They dont really do much else anymore. So again, wheres the benefit for your £100-160? Variables been around for about 7 years now, and you don see many stories of cars being on that regime suddenly keeling over and dying. If VAG had a history for doing this, they wouldnt sell many used cars or even new ones.

Just my 2p, but if you meet the criterea for variable, then there's no reason to worry or do interims. http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes

Where would I find oil quality with VCDS ?

Several other manufacturers offer fixed service intervals of 15000 miles and more so I would have thought variable with long-life oil and some on board detection of servicing need would be safe for 20,000 (although most will ask for a service before this?).

I remember when 6000 mile oil changes were the norm and the first 12K service routines came in, people said much the same kind of stuff about oil not lasting the course.

Obviously fixed is the "safe" option but personally anything that reduces the number of visits I have to make to the dealer is great.

I'd be interested if all those Skoda taxi drivers favour fixed or variable...time off the road is a big factor for them.