I've been reading a lot of threads that mention variable servicing and apart from that fact that it means you don't service your car on the usual 10,000 miles interval I don't really know what that entails.

I just got my Octy a month or so ago and it's rapidly approaching 60,000 miles. The previous owner seems to have had it serviced pretty regularly and not always on the standard interval (usually slightly more frequently), so I am a bit unsure as to whether it is on standard servicing or variable.

Can anyone clarify what the whole variable servicing thing for me?

The best way to check is to look at the inside cover of the service book - there you should see a data sticker with engine and chassis details at the bottom will be a lot of codes - look if QG1 is there,if it is then your vehicle is suitable to use variable service - although that does not mean that it is set to variable service.

Another way of telling is to look at the sump - if you see a sensor with wires going to it then that again is a pointer that its variable prepared.

However I doubt that an '01 model Tdi would be variable.

EDIT:

Don't forget to get the cambelt changed - it's due.

Don't forget to get the cambelt changed - it's due.

Yeah, I know. Trust me to buy a car that's due a major service!

Thanks for the reminder

I've been reading a lot of threads that mention variable servicing and apart from that fact that it means you don't service your car on the usual 10' date='000 miles interval I don't really know what that entails.

I just got my Octy a month or so ago and it's rapidly approaching 60,000 miles. The previous owner seems to have had it serviced pretty regularly and not always on the standard interval (usually slightly more frequently), so I am a bit unsure as to whether it is on standard servicing or variable.

Can anyone clarify what the whole variable servicing thing for me?[/quote']

There is a leaflet, 'Variable Servicing and Long-life Oil' (V04/04) that your dealer should have that 'explains' it. - something to bear in mind is that, as the leaflet states, 'if your vehicle is driven in a manner listed below, it may make sense to opt for the Time/Distance regime

• extremely uneconomical driving style, ie continual maximum

• acceleration, 'foot to the floor' (nobody here then )

• vehicle fully loaded

• mainly shorter distance journeys

• frequent cold starts

• frequent hill climbs

• frequent towing

• regular city centre driving
  

also bear in mind when garages convert cars from variable to fixed (you can't go the other way) they do not always change the handbook !

also bear in mind when garages convert cars from variable to fixed (you can't go the other way) they do not always change the handbook !

Very valid point that. The manual may state variable, and that would be as it left the factory. If at any point in its life it had been set to fixed service or was still left on variable but only fixed-service oil was used, you cannot go back to variable (if you go by the book). I hope that makes sense.

You can go back to variable, as long as you have an oil and filter change and use longlife oil.

Not all engines with sump sensors will run variable, Fabia vRS has one, but only a level sensor.