well I always tend to get at least 18K between services, so I take 9K as midpoint

well I always tend to get at least 18K between services, so I take 9K as midpoint

So it's kinda fixed but just for longer, eh ?

Sorry Wardy, I'm a little confused now, but please correct me. I thought that the 'oil sensor' only monitors the temperature and how long it takes the oil to cool down after the engine is switched off. The more sludge in the oil (due to age/mileage/driving style etc) the longer it takes to cool, thus changing the mileage for the variable service. So by changing the oil would only give me the maximum (in theory) service interval. But as I said, this is only what I believe is the case ?

My understanding is that if you're on variable, the system employs an oil viscosity sensor that's fitted, somewhere in the sump I would imagine.

well I always tend to get at least 18K between services, so I take 9K as midpoint

I just don't get this logic I'm afraid. The whole point of variable is that it's set to tell you when the car needs servicing, based on a number of sensors and variables already mentioned. So it's easier for the general public to know when the car needs attention, and also as a benefit for the fleet sector as cars are in the garages and off the road for less time (in theory).

But if you're going to go ahead and do your own thing, what's the point of having it set to variable? You also need to use the more expensive VAG spec oil for variable, as it's supposed to be long-life, as it's supposed to be used in the car for longer....

Yep I can see your point

Hopefully you can see I'm not having a go at your approach, everyone's entitled to do things differently of course.

Just that with the way you're doing it, you might as well flip to fixed, seeing as you're changing the oil at a fixed mileage point anyway :yes:

(which is certainly a better way of doing it IMO )

No, no worries Wardy, to be honest this is the first time I've done an oil change on the car myself, always goes to Skoda otherwise.

Be interesting to see if the distance/time to service has now changed, following the interim change?

I'll check it later and post the mileage to the next service

Still showing 9500 miles until next service

I did interim changes on variable as it allowed the car to maintain a full service history, while getting the changes every 9 to 10k.

Service indicator never complained, so it can't have been that bad.

Edited 14 September, 201114 yr by cheezemonkhai

You got your car back Ant ?

Not yet, it's still being pampered by Sharks

Thanks for the confirmation Cheeze Whens it due back Ant ?

I did interim changes on variable as it allowed the car to maintain a full service history, while getting the changes every 9 to 10k.

Service indicator never complained, so it can't have been that bad.

I do the same, it gets a dealer service every 18 to 20k miles with an oil change by me in between. The car has a full service history of 5 variable sevices and still on original turbo after 112,000 miles.

Think I'll be switching mine to fixed servicing - I'm not doing motorway driving so much now, but still doing about 10K a year, I think fixed servicing makes sense.

Thanks for the confirmation Cheeze Whens it due back Ant ?

When I get the call, they started working on it yesterday, I have no idea how long it takes to do the work, I'm assuming it only takes a couple of days. Can't pick it up until Saturday anyway. bloody work