Apologies if this has been covered before but as my 6 month old 1.6 diesel is telling me it's due could I post these:-

 

1. The sticker in the boot says Q16 which means variable service interval - but the oil change warning appeared bang on 15,000km(I'm in Ireland, it equates to 10,000 miles). If the car is monitoring oil quality etc then why is it not a more random number; it looks like it's been triggered by the 15,000km mileage.

 

2. The dealer is telling me I could get it done now or it is possible to wait until 30,000km are done. Confusing or what - I believe I'm locked into dealer servicing for warranty purposes - I want to protect the car but don't really want to spend unnecessary cash so which is best?

 

 

Is it on a PCP, 3 year free service contract?

 

What oil was in it from new.

 

Did they provide a 1 litre top oil when you picked it up?

Edited 19 December, 201411 yr by vrskeith

Is it on a PCP, 3 year free service contract?

 

What oil was in it from new.

 

Did they provide a 1 litre top oil when you picked it up?

 

No

 

Don't know

 

No

 

I didn't go for the 3 year servicing deal as I thought, being a fairly sedate driver, it would be overkill. The dealer was going to let me know whether I could opt in at this stage but as ever he's not getting back to me...

Edited 19 December, 201411 yr by chelon

Just ask the dealer to set it on variable as it looks like they have set it on fixed at the PDI.

 

I'm not running another diesel on variable given the number of turbos I went through on my PD140 , I'd rather have the oil changed every 10K.

He said something like if the car didn't flag for an oil change before it hit 10k then the warning would appear anyway. Sounded like waffle to me, but is this the case? ie variable = fixed - if you don't drive like a lunatic?

 

So the diesel really needs an oil change every 10k - at €109 a time over here - ouch....

If set to variable you won't get a warning for an oil change at 10k. You are currently set to fixed servicing.

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If set to variable you won't get a warning for an oil change at 10k. You are currently set to fixed servicing.

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Interesting - the sticker in boot tells me Q16 so that's wrong. From your advice above though the variable option sounds like a bad option. It's just annoying having to pay the main dealer all the time for simple oil changes.

What kind of mileage do you do a year? If it is about 18k or more you should be fine on variable. My problems were with the old PD140 engine, not the newer CRs.

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I'm doing around 18k miles per year - maybe borderline. I'm sure there will be past threads re this topic so will take a look back.

Just looking at this again, I'm still a trifle confused...

 

Andyvee - you say >18k go for variable - the dealer is telling me the opposite - but he would say that wouldn't he....?

 

If the car is indeed capable of monitoring the oil, then why would you even think about opting for the fixed interval?

 

A question:-

 

Why the emphasis on "time elapsed" vs "mileage done" when they talk about service intervals? What is it that degrades and needs service purely due to elapsed time? Does oil go bad just sitting there cold in the sump?

Why not have a read on the publically available advice from Skoda on fixed vs variable?

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On my wife's Octy II, when it was set to variable, it would last no more than 14-15 months before requesting a service, but as she only does 5-6k miles per year I guess the oil is degrading quicker.  Not sure how the programme monitors the oil quality, probably more likely counting the number of starts?  We reverted it to fixed servicing plan to keep things simple.

 

On my Octy III, now that the free servicing has ended, I have changed it to variable as I do 24k miles per year so it will only need a service approx. every 9 months, rather than every 4-5 months.  I think that Andy's point was that irrespective of mileage, you should get your car serviced ideally at least once per year, so anyone covering more than 18k miles will still need to get a service at least once per year even when set to the variable programme.  In my experience, I would be surprised if anyone can get to the full two years on variable servicing without the service indicator coming on.  I suspect the variable service programme is geared to an optimum number of miles per start cycle, hence maintaining service revenue for the dealers! :think:

Thanks for the help so far guys but I've just read through the manual again and it hasn't really helped. Further questions if anyone could help:-

 

1. As asked above, why will a low mileage car still need an oil change every year? Does the oil degrade even if not in use?

 

2. If I'm reading the manual correctly, if you opt for the variable service intervals then a different spec of oil is used. However when you look up the oil spec it looks identical for both fixed and variable options (VW 507 00). Only the petrol engine has a different oil specified for fixed or variable. Is this correct?

 

Sorry for all the questions but I'm a little annoyed at having to shell out for servicing every 6 months - I was expecting a brand new car to need less servicing not more than previous cars I've owned.

At 18,000 miles I wouldn't say you were doing low mileage.

At your mileage you would be better on variable servicing.

Fixed servicing is designed for low mileage or regular short journey's. It is 10,000 miles or 12 months, which ever is reached first. At 18K you'll be changing the oil twice a year - overkill.

Variable is up to 20,000 miles or 2 years. The car monitors the oil viscosity, mileage, number of cold starts, journey times etc. And decides for itself when it needs a service. At 18K you will be getting fresh oil roughly one a year - ideal.

Remember the engine oil also lubricates the turbo. Yes modern engines and oils are designed to last longer but why spend all that money on the car and then scrimp on servicing.

As your car is fitted with a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) you need the highest spec oil (VW 507.01) regardless of if on fixed or variable servicing.

The reason the sticker in the boot says long life is because this is how they all leave the factory. A lot of dealers then change them to fixed before you pick up the car as this means they make more money as they'll see the car more frequently.

Also be aware that the extra parts listed under a major or variable service (air, fuel and pollen filters) are only fitted once the car reaches 60,000 miles or three years so be very careful what you are paying for. The amount of people who pay for a variable service and get no more than oil and oil filter is amazing.

Even a service plan (or rather lack of a plan) causes confusion! Variable, fixed, it's not become clear at point of sale for the consumer. My other cars are fixed 2 year intervals and the other every year. Simples. Only the skoda is confusing the issue but as it's free i dont care.

Low mileage + Reg short cold start trips  = Keep to the Fixed servicing BECAUSE the engine will wear more when cold (same reason you should warm up before exercising as muscles need to be warm to perform efficiently and without injury, and so does your engine sort of). If you drive 3 miles to the shops twice a week then the engine wont even register any engine temp except maybe in the hight of summer. Your oil will require a change at 10k miles min just because of the short trips, variable would not be a good choice.

 

High mileage & long mainly motorway journeys = Ask for Variable servicing as the engine runs very well when the oil is at its optimum 90*C -> 100*Cish. 

 

A 3rd example = A taxi driver will in a busy city start his car, do many short and longer trips in the city and suburbs (barely switching the engine off) and at the end of the night switch it off for good hot. He has done a high mileage trip with many starts & stops, but as the oil and engine are hot and optimally lubricated for 90% of his nights business then the engine wont wear anywhere as much as it will above. His brakes and clutch on the other hand will do as they take the hit in all taxi's.

 

I have travelled in a 2,555,000 km Merc E Class taxi here in Germany which drove well and sounded absolutely fine. It was a hot seat taxi i.e a driver gets out and another gets in on every shift change. It had an oil change on avg every 4mths as it was doing a scary mileage in that time as you would expect. Variable flagged it up when the sensors monitoring the oils condition tripped the signal which was approx every 4 mths. If the car had been set to 15,000kms (10k miles) they would have had to change the oil much more often even though the oil had lots of life left in it. 

 

I have mine on variable as my mileage is mostly long trips back to the UK to see family. I cycle to work and mein frau (wife) only uses the car when the weather dictates its with two small kids.

 

I am considering changing it back to fixed as i have done just over 6k in 9mths and with a new baby the short trips are beginning to mount up. Hmmmm, decisions decisions??? 

 

PS: as stated above, on request, you can specify that the car is set to Variable or Fixed servicing. Dealers defaults to Fixed as it brings them more business. You can check what servicing your car is on by checking via your infotainment display somewhere under Setup -> Service. It will state Next service due in XXXX kms / miles or XXX days, and "Next Oil change due in XXX days" (more than a year is variable depending how long you have had the car). 

Edited 6 January, 201511 yr by blahde2

My car has just done over 9000 miles, I do roughly 12 - 15k a year, more likely 15k since getting this car as we've had more long trips away due to having a nicer car.

 

I'm on a service plan so not sure if it's due it's first oil change at 10k or whether I just wait patiently for it to tell me it's due a service?

Have a look at the service info on the infotainment menu - it will tell you the distance until an oil change service and a service - if they are the same you are on variable, if the oil change is about 9000 miles less you are on variable.

Blahde2 - thanks, that does make some sense now. Like I suspect many drivers I do a mix of motorway and town driving and estimate next year I may do a little less at approx 15000 miles.

 

So it is hard to know what to do. Also quite shocking that the dealer would set the car to fixed intervals and also advise to keep it that way even though I've told him I'm doing 15-18k miles.

 

I'm sure he will say "err on the side of caution" = ching ching for him.

Put a call into Skoda head office this morning. Enlightening but also confusing.

 

Tells me the car left the factory set for variable, so dealer must have changed it.

 

Then I asked about different oil for fixed/variable. He said yes that is the case, but when I pointed out the docs say it's only different for the petrol engine he changed his mind and said " well it must be a different filter then".

 

I've decided to let the dealer carry out this first service then get it set to variable. I phoned him also - he tells me the oil he will put into the car is Castrol 5W30 and that they use this no matter whether the car is set to fixed or variable.

 

I have no idea whether this oil will be suitable but it appears to be equivalent to the VW 507 00 which is recommended in the manual.

It will be Castrol edge, the expensive one in a gold coloured bottle.   If you intend to keep the car long term I'd stick on fixed. If you intend to change it after 3 or 4 years then save a few pounds with variable.

Thanks Neil but now you've thrown yet another factor into the mix :sun:

 

I do intend to keep it long term but not sure why you advise fixed in that case. From what some people are saying it appears that the Skoda variable service schedule is not adequate to fully protect the car in certain scenarios. Hard to believe.

Edited 7 January, 201511 yr by chelon

Am I missing something here? Lots of good advice already given so I'm a little unsure where the confusion is coming from.

Ignore Skoda customer services, they are well known for getting it wrong. Different oil for fixed vs. variable? Not true - for the reason I explained earlier. Different oil filters? An all time new low!

At 15-18K you should be on variable. Simples.

If you prefer to be over cautious go fixed.

Edited 12 April, 201610 yr by silver1011

Am I missing something here? Lots of good advice already given so I'm a little unsure where the confusion is coming from.

Ignore Skoda customer services, they are well known for getting it wrong. Different oil for fixed vs. variable? Not true - for the reason I explained earlier. Different oil filters? An all time new low!

Also take what is in the manual with a pinch of salt, they too are well known to get it wrong. It is VW 507.01 now, not VW 507.00.

At 15-18K you should be on variable. Simples.

If you prefer to be over cautious go fixed.

I know the OP has a diesel, but petrol engines do use different oil according to the manual.

My suggestion is based on the (some say over) cautious approach.  An oil change, even at the dealers, is cheap and not inconvenient. By comparison against a hard to quantify but increased risk of a blown turbo and associated costs and inconvenience I suggest the cautious approach. The variable service interval is an advantage to high mileage and new cars.... So helps sell to lease companies and the like. Longer term show Skoda probably don't gain or lose financially - lots of older cars are serviced independently so the small loss of service revenue to Skoda doesn't matter and may be matched by revenue from repairs.  If you will keep the car the cautious approach won't cost much and might save a lot.

BTW, have you ever seen the state of the oil from a turbo diesel? after just a few 100 miles it is black. I struggle to believe the long life oils can manage anything close to 20k miles.