Hi all,

I've had my mk1 4x4 for a few years now and have always assumed it didn't have the necessary gubbins for variable servicing (an oil sensor in the sump, I think?) and seems to ask for a service every 10k miles. However, today I saw pictures of two sumps on vwspares.co.uk, one with a hole for the sensor and one without. I'm pretty sure mine has that sensor - I'd always wondered what it was for. Having checked the service schedule, it says "QG1", which I understand means it is (at least once was) able to run variable servicing.

My questions, then, are:

1. How can I establish, definitively, whether the car is currently set to variable or fixed servicing? I have VAG COM.

2. Assuming I'm currently on fixed servicing, can I go back to variable? I'm due an oil change so it would be an ideal time to swap to the long life stuff. I have a fuzzy recollection of reading somewhere that once you go fixed, you can never go back... which seems a bit naff. I hope this isn't the case.

Thanks in advance.

-Will.

Hi all,

I've had my mk1 4x4 for a few years now and have always assumed it didn't have the necessary gubbins for variable servicing (an oil sensor in the sump, I think?) and seems to ask for a service every 10k miles. However, today I saw pictures of two sumps on vwspares.co.uk, one with a hole for the sensor and one without. I'm pretty sure mine has that sensor - I'd always wondered what it was for. Having checked the service schedule, it says "QG1", which I understand means it is (at least once was) able to run variable servicing.

My questions, then, are:

1. How can I establish, definitively, whether the car is currently set to variable or fixed servicing? I have VAG COM.

2. Assuming I'm currently on fixed servicing, can I go back to variable? I'm due an oil change so it would be an ideal time to swap to the long life stuff. I have a fuzzy recollection of reading somewhere that once you go fixed, you can never go back... which seems a bit naff. I hope this isn't the case.

Thanks in advance.

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It is possible to tell from the Engine number just ask a freiendly dealer. From memory there is a different start to the engine number if fixed or variable. i thought most Octavias and Superbs have been variable for 5 years or more. Not sure why Fabia and SEATs still fixed. My Octy 1 is on fixed but with 100K on the engine I think I will keep it on fixed.

Would have thought that you could change a oil change time but I would want to be sure that long drain time was done as some garages do rush it and therefore leave too much of the old semi sythetic in there, not good.

Edited 28 November, 201015 yr by lol

You cant tell by the engine number, but as you say the build sticker will tell you.

To check what its set to hook up VAGCOM and go into dash (17), adaptation (10) and channels 43,44,45 These give you min mileage, max mileage and days.

2. Assuming I'm currently on fixed servicing, can I go back to variable? I'm due an oil change so it would be an ideal time to swap to the long life stuff. I have a fuzzy recollection of reading somewhere that once you go fixed, you can never go back... which seems a bit naff. I hope this isn't the case.

Thanks in advance.

-Will.

As I now do less miles per year, my Skoda dealer advised me that it would save me money by changing from variable service to fixed. I asked the same question and the answer was that I could go back to variable service at any future oil change.

Mike

Yeah as said above, you can change back and forth as much as you like, it just has to have a service and the right oil put it and the dash re configured.

Excellent. Thanks, everyone. However, having read a bit more around the subject, I'm inclined to think that I'm probably better off on fixed servicing anyway - I don't do an awful lot of motorway miles. It's nice to know how to check it definitively, though, and that I can change back if my situation ever changes.