Another funny question: our car has done 8.8k in it's first few months since January, and the warning of "service in 500 miles" has appeared.

I guess this is warning of approach of 10k for it's first annual service, but the dealer says it "knows" our driving style, the state of the oil and may bring the service on earlier.

How does it know what the oil is like anyway, it can't analyse the oil for metallic contaminates - is it dealer bulls**t?

Edited 21 September, 201213 yr by Yety

How does it know what the oil is like anyway, it can't analyse the oil for metallic contaminates - is it dealer bulls**t?

Oh yes it can! There are sensors that will measure contamination and viscosity etc and if the engine really needs the oil replacing it will tell you. Generally that will happen if you are on variable servicing but I'd guess you are on fixed servicing as you mention 10K. I've little doubt that if the sensors deem the oil sufficiently naff then even if you're on fixed servicing it will pipe up.

I'm not even going to start on variable v fixed servicing. Best trust your car, it knows best (most of the time....)

PS I didn't find your question in the least least funny, did i miss the punchline

My car is set on fixed and when I collected my Yeti the oil change was set for 18,000 miles, I have now done just under 8,000 miles and the car says still over 11,000 to go. It must like the type of journeys that I make, I've also never seen the DPF light on.

Then it is not on fixed.

Fixed servicing is 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever is reached first.

When set to QG0 (fixed) the oil sensor is disconnected, hence loosing the temp display on maxidot

When set to QG2 it's still fixed but oil monitoring still takes place, however won't effect the 10k or 12 month limits

When set to QG1 it's variable and minimum of 9300 miles and a maximum of 18-20000 depending on year.

I am a bit confused about the variable service reminder, it is a bit inaccurate.

My car is now showing service in 1800 miles which is ok but below it states or 626 days! 1800 miles is about 21 days maximum.

As I have stated before in other threads variable is the way to go, 20k is nothing for a modern oil to do, I think it was on here that somebody stated a certain Lexus has its first oil change at 120k! yes 120k on the same 4 or 5 litres of oil. All my cars have been on variable and they have all done high miles over three years with no issues and they are driven hard most of the time.

When was the car serviced?

It's mileage or days, they won't tally up exactly.

As I have stated before in other threads variable is the way to go, 20k is nothing for a modern oil to do.

I disagree as this very much depends on the climate, annual milaege and type of driving - but let's not turn this into a fixed vs. variable thread.

The oil sensor measures permittivity, which can be loosely related to a limited number of oil qualities that define how much life it has left. It is just another input to the algorithm used by the ECU to calculate probable remaining oil life, with other inputs coming from fuel economy, engine loading, time etc.

The miles/days thing comes about because service interval is defined as xx,xxx miles OR nnn days, whichever comes first. In your case clearly the mileage will come up before the time limit.

That's quite interesting it was the dealer who told me it was fixed

When was the car serviced?

It's mileage or days, they won't tally up exactly.

My car has been serviced twice before and this will be the third service in 14 months, it isn't unique to the Yeti my A4 also showed low miles to service and lots of days. So a service about every 4-5 months.

silver 1011, I don't want a fixed or variable debate, I am just saying I always use variable, I have a car for three years, I do about 45k to 50k annually and I have to say the Passat and A4 gave better mpg in the third year, the Yeti is also showing improvements now it has 55k on it, so the variable can't be all that bad?

The oil sensor measures permittivity, which can be loosely related to a limited number of oil qualities that define how much life it has left. It is just another input to the algorithm used by the ECU to calculate probable remaining oil life, with other inputs coming from fuel economy, engine loading, time etc.

The miles/days thing comes about because service interval is defined as xx,xxx miles OR nnn days, whichever comes first. In your case clearly the mileage will come up before the time limit.

Thanks, I can get my head round that - interesting.

Not really interested in other people's maintenance regimes, but that information may answer my question and satisfy my curiosity.

Everybody seems to quote 10,000 miles for the fixed service, but in reality it is 15,000 km which is nearer 9,000 miles - 9,375 according to my calculator.

Which ties up with what the OP's car is telling him.

Oh, and I have feeling that the days bit is every 2 years, about 730 days.

So it doesn't mater how many miles till the next service, the days will always be from the last service as I understand it. If that makes sense.

Everybody seems to quote 10,000 miles for the fixed service, but in reality it is 15,000 km which is nearer 9,000 miles - 9,375 according to my calculator.

Which ties up with what the OP's car is telling him.

Aha, it probably all makes sense now.

I'm fine with this, as our driving is predominately urban with the odd frantic rally marshal stuff thrown in - frequent oil/filter changes are good with this regime.

Long distant rep type driving is also more suited to less frequent servicing - each to their own