Good evening,

I drive a November 2011 Superb diesel estate, which has covered 15,000 miles, but the service indicator in the MFD still has not come on for its first service. I called the service manager at our dealer, who told me this may not happen until 2 years or 20,000 miles. I'm happy to hear this, but wonder if it would be a good idea to change the oil sooner, perhaps at mid-point between services. Does anyone have any more information, or has anyone experienced any problems in this area?

Alan

This question often generates a healthy debate.

Two options for the way the car is set-up for servicing...

1) Fixed. 10,000 miles or 12 months - whichever is reached first.

2) Variable. Up to 20,000 miles or 24 months. The car uses its sensors to measure the viscosity of the oil, number of cold starts, journey duration etc.

There are two sides to this debate, one who doesn't feel that an engine should go 2 years / 20,000 miles on the same oil and another who is confident in the advances of modern engine oil, it's ability to provide the required lubrication and the ability of the car to determine when it thinks it needs a service.

I'm actually on the fence. I firmly believe in option one but my Skoda OCtavia is set to option two due to me doing 30,000 miles a year.

My situation (variable) actually still allows for fresh oil at least once a year.

If my mileage was below 15,000 miles I'd be on fixed to ensure fresh oil once a year'ish.

The only answer for you depends on your own personal thoughts on the above!

Pretty much what silver said above. I would add that a lot of the impetus for these extended variable service intervals came from Company Fleet Managers, who wanted to cut their running costs, bearing in mind that Coy. cars are normally changed at 3 years / 75,000 miles, before the warranties expired, and any long term problems were still in the future.

In my case my 140 bhp, 2.0 PD Superb (reckoned by "the Experts" !!!! to be the most fragile engine in the VAG range) has done 171,000 miles in 5yrs 8 mnths i.e. approx. 30,000 miles per year.

It's used only approved 507.00 fully synthetic oil in that time on variable servicing, and having checked, the service intervals come up around every 9 - 10 months, at intervals of around 17,500 miles.

Variable longer term servicing certainly seems to suit her in this scenario.

TBH, I do however agree with silver. If I was doing lower mileages I would push for a service (not just an oil change) at least every 12 months. Apart from oil and filters there isn't much else to change on a modern engine, but the simple fact of sticking her up on a ramp and getting an independent Mk I eyeball run over her once a year is worth the £175.

In the maxidot menu, scroll to 'vehicle status' and it should tell you how long until the car wants a service, it should say 'service in xxxxx miles or xxx days'

From memory, the maximum variable (QG1) service interval is 18,600 miles or thereabouts.

I've just bought a Pela oil extractor pump so i'll be doing more frequent oil changes regardless - 25 minutes to change the oil and filter

This is in the Octavia brochure, which you might find helpful as they use the same engines, though strangely I can't find the same info in the Superb brochure. It all depends on the type of journeys you do and your driving style.

Service Intervals

When you order your Octavia, you can choose whether your car is on a fixed or a

flexible service regime. Your retailer will help you decide which regime suits how

your car will be driven, enabling your car to stay in the best possible shape.

Fixed regime: Service every 10,000 miles or one year (whichever comes first).

This is recommended if the vehicle is likely to be used in the following way:

> Driven fewer than 10,000 miles per annum and/or

> Mainly short journeys, drive mostly in towns or cities and/or

> High vehicle loading/towing and frequent hill climbs and/or

> Heavy accelerating and braking, using high revs

Flexible regime: Sensors in the engine detect when a service is needed. You will

be informed of this by a service light which will show at any point between 9,000

and 20,000 miles, up to 24 months (whichever comes first).

The flexible service regime is recommended for vehicles with a daily mileage of

more than 25 miles where the vehicle is driven regularly and mainly at a constant

speed with minimum vehicle and engine loading, minimal towing and driven in an

economical manner.

Many thanks, in particular to dstev2000 for the tip regarding the display, I'll check it today.

I did about 14,000 miles in the first year of ownership, so I suppose that is right on the fence regarding which regime I should use.

Regards,

Alan