I've read (and commented ) on many of the fixed vs. variable threads as I'm a fan of fresh oil at least once a year.

Since my mileage is around 30,000 miles/year variable servicing on my PD170 vRS is a must.

With this mileage I'd expect to average around 1.5 variable services per year - assuming the "up to 2 years or 20,000 miles" claim from variable servicing.

Now I've read the threads with disapointed owners claiming that they haven't been able to get anywhere near this mileage or time in their Octavia's and I'd always assumed that their driving type/style perhaps consisted of mainly shorter journey's which reduced the interval accordingly.

I had the car last serviced at 49,263 miles on the 5th July 2012. Up until this point the car was regularly covering 10K a year and was set to fixed (previous owner). This latest service however was a variable and they were adamant that they changed the service indicator to match.

The other morning I was therefore quite surprised to see a message in Maxidot saying "Service in 1,600 miles or 607 days".

The current mileage is 60,400, or in other words 11,137 miles and 138 days since the last service.

My daily commute is a 130 mile round trip of 60 to 80mph A and B roads. No city or stop/start driving. It isn't used at weekends so I would have expected to be closer to 20,000 miles rather than 10,000 miles?

I guess the '607 days' confirms it is set to variable, add the 11,137 miles already covered to the 1,600 miles left to go and I'm looking at 12,700 miles out of a variable service.

Given my type of commute is this normal?

Driving style influences the interval, If you accelerate hard on a regular basis it will reduce the mileage between services apparently.

I do give it the beans on a long, clear uphill stretch each morning, just shy of the red line in second and third in an effort to give the turbo a clean after being sat at a steady 70mph for an hour.

Other than that I'm a proper steady eddie!

imo every 10k.

I've always done that on my old cars and will continue to do on my vrs.

Obviously not changing leads and fuel filter etc every 10k but oil change, oil filter, air filter and plugs every 10k minimum

I too am a fan of the 10K oil change, but as I'm doing 30K a year then three oil and filter changes seems excessive.

Hence I was hoping if variable got me into the late teens I'd be changing the oil every 10 months or so...

could the reduce miles be due to diluted diesel in oil when the car goes into regen to clear the DPF? as my PD140 did 18k on variable before the service light came on

I used to hammer my 140 CR MK6 Golf GT and it religiously did 18k between service intervals, somethings amiss

If there is someone near you with VCDS then they can check the car and see the full service interval information.

The local Audi car garage somehow managed to sets my dad's A3 to 2 years or 10k miles, whilst trying to change from variable to fixed, god knows how.

My daily run is 40 miles each way.35 of which are M25, 4 the A25 and 1 "others". I bimble along trying to keep to 60mph wherever possible. The odd "fun" run thrown in.My service interval has been around 18,000 miles on the two times I've had it serviced so far. Roughly the same as the previous owner.

I've had my pd vRs 2 and half years and do about 17k p/a, its on varible so you would think that I should not see any dashboard lights...

Well for the last 2 services, the light has come on at about 12k and 9/10 months after the last service.....not happy so I just service it every 12 months, I have even changed my oil at 6 months when's its done about 8k and I still get my service light on at 12k when the oil has only done 4k !

Fixed or varible....I try not to think about it....it gets serviced every 12 months with a oil change at 8k and 6 months in, that's good enough for me...

And hopefully the car !

could the reduce miles be due to diluted diesel in oil when the car goes into regen to clear the DPF? as my PD140 did 18k on variable before the service light came on

Hmm, don't say that!

The car has history, the PD170 engines were all recalled to have their injectors replaced, the problem being my delaer screwed it up and I had issues with diesel mixing with the engine oil. I also noticed the DPF for the first time at this point too with regular regens which I suspect was related.

It was eventually fixed and has had two oil changes since then and the regens have calmed down. The oil level doesn't rise (or drop either to be fair) between services now either.

Does anyone have the definitive answer of what data inputs the car uses to decide when it needs a variable service?

1) Distance driven?

2) Average journey duration?

3) Engine RPM's?

4) No. of cold starts?

5) Ambiente temperature?

6) Engine temperature (oil/coolant)?

7) No. of DPF regens?

8) Oil viscosity?

Any others?

I have a PD 105 with 111,000 miles on the clock. Lately (for the last 6 or so years) I have been doing about 14k pa but I have my car "Longlife" serviced annually just because it suits me and gives peace of mind. Dave at DSB Autocare Nottm.- (NO CONNECTION - OTHER THAN BEING A SATISFIED CUSTOMER!!!) looks after my Octy very well indeed. My advice is to take your car car to your local trusted independent and talk to him/her about what your needs are (in the nicest possible way of course!).

Dave