They couldn't reset my service light on the 20 k service , so ive done another 20 k since and now the oil change light has come on. I'm going to take it to the local independent skoda garage this time

Ask them if they have the correct kit to reset variable servicing correctly on the MQB platform - not many places do as they are only just getting to see them outside of the dealer network.

Revisiting this, my car has now done 52,600 km

 

The Service screen tells me the next is due in 7,400 km - at 60,000 km

 

The last service was at 30,000 km

 

So 30,000 km - 18,600 miles between oil changes.

 

My mate who runs a garage says you'd be mad to leave it this long with a diesel, false economy, as others have stated above.

 

So with the "variable servicing" interval have Skoda got the sums wrong?

There is nothing wrong with covering 18,000 miles between oil changes as long as the mileage covered has been relatively stress free i.e. steady motorway mileage.

 

As the annual mileage is generally higher with regular motorway use the mileage between services will be higher but the frequency of the oil changes will be normal.

 

My golden rule is fresh oil at least once a year.

 

Those cars set to variable but that cover low mileage worry me the most, there is the potential that the car could go close to 2 years on the same oil, not good in my opinion.

 

My new Octavia is on a 2 year lease, I hand the car back at the end, I've therefore no interest in the long term health of the car, only that it costs me the least whilst in my care. Therefore my car (and thousands more) will be running older oil for longer.

Just to throw a little bit of curve ball.

Large HGV / military fleet users are now using oil dialysis instead of replacing oil - this system uses high filtration to return the oil back to a golden brown colour after removing the soot particles (from diesel soot particulates that contaminate the oil) and any metal. After 30000 km the oil still has lubricating properties, just that its contaminated. In addition diesel has lubricating properties too; that is one of the reasons why limp mode over fuels.

Sounds more expensive than fresh oil, but I'm guessing it is more environmentally friendly?

I do up to 17K a year (depending on work style). I'm on fixed servicing. Oil every 10K or 12 months. Zero confusion. HTH.

Sounds more expensive than fresh oil, but I'm guessing it is more environmentally friendly?

It comes down to cost. Some power packs have 50+ litres of oil. Also when operating in remote / hostile locations around the world, it is easier to have a filtration unit than drive truck loads of fuels and lubes.

My point being was that it won't be long before this is mainstream and the dealers filter the oil rather than replace it.

My 05 vrs diesel has 10k miles it is set on variable and is telling me I don't need a change until next Jan (two year anniversary).

I was going to change the oil myself but I can't find the oil filter, I want to make sure I can access it ok before I decide. It just doesn't seem visible from under the bonnet. I assume it must be accessible from underneath. Does anyone know for sure?

Edited 13 April, 201610 yr by Greetty

what engine?  on the tsi it is front( near radiator) drivers side, on the top.  its a paper element change, housed in a plastic case, you need a large socket or spnner to remove...i forget....42mm maybe....

oh and a 2p coin works well for sump plug removal

No it's the diesel vrs 2.0. I took the engine cover off and had a good look but no sign?

Also with recommended service intervals I agree to some degree that you should probably have a yearly service but not completely.

I think we would agree that if you do 20000 miles in a year the oil will be more 'worn' than if you do 10,000 assuming the car is driven every day with say 14 cold starts a week, but we probably agree that it won't be twice as worn, maybe 20% extra wear maybe 50% maybe 80% we just done know this. But I don't subscribe to the notion that the oil just ages if not used. What if your 10000 miles had only 8 cold starts a week (so average journey was similar to the 20k example, here I would argue that the oil is only 50% worn compared to 20k. Surely this is part of what the variable service indicator should be doing.

In my own case having recently retired my car doesn't move maybe 3 days a week, when it does move I usually go far enough to fully warm up the engine. When at work I used to drive it every day i.e 14-20 cold starts a week, now I probably do 8-10. So I don't think that just because my car is over 10k and over a year old if must have a service*

* having said this I am looking at an oil change as I think the first 10k of a vehicles life it experiences to most wear. But once past 20k I will be just going by the service indicator.

We are talking about a maximum of £139 for an oil and oil filter change...

 

http://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed/pages/default.aspx?gclid=CjwKEAjw_7y4BRDykp3Hjqyt_y0SJACome3TSCPbxhAW6qRLruQ4SitFG_Ez2TSlmJr_AKvEOZcjKBoCRxzw_wcB

 

Or £25 and a few hours if you can do it yourself.

 

It just isn't worth thinking about, just swap the oil once a year, ideally just before the winter where the 30 seconds post a cold start offers up the most engine wear.

My car originally said that an oil change was needed after 9,000 miles, which was done when the car was 8 months old (as a 'minor service'). I have now done nearly 14,000 miles and it now says that I am due:

 

• an inspection service in 6 weeks time (when the car will be 1 year old and have done) or 4,500 miles 
• an oil change in 8 months time (12 months after the last oil change) or 4,600 miles

It would seem to me that logically I only need an inspection service (I'm told that's a 'major service' and includes an oil change) when the car has done another 4,500 miles, which will be about 9 months after the 'minor service'. However, I don't want to invalidate my warranty. Should I therefore have an inspection service ('major service') when the car is 12 months old, even though it will only be 5 months and 5,500 miles since the oil change ('minor service') to comply with the car's computer?

 

Many thanks