Hello everyone, hope you are all well.

 

I have just been told that my car has been given an allocation number at Emden and will shortly be loaded onto a ship.

(Sorry for those who have waited such a long time-I have no desire to gloat).

 

I asked about the servicing as I do about 10,500-11,000 miles per year and drive about 25 miles per day on the motorway.

It is usually just me in the car and I am a careful driver, with gentle acceleration etc. As a result of this, I honestly feel that the Flexible Service Regime will suit me best.

 

I know the Service Plan is about £528 according to my dealer, which is three services. Does anyone know what the service costs are on the Flexible Service Regime please? I just want to know what kind of costs I am looking at for the future, and can't find any information.

 

Thank you for helping.

 

Dean

Is this what you are looking for? 

 

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

Yes, that's great. Thank you for helping.

 

It seems that it will be a lot cheaper to stay on the Flexible Service Regime.

 

Thanks again.

 

Dean

Yes, that's great. Thank you for helping.

 

It seems that it will be a lot cheaper to stay on the Flexible Service Regime.

 

Thanks again.

 

Dean

No problem 

 

If you do higher mileage, flexible makes much more sense. I've always used it and it's never caused me any problems. 

 

The oil quality sensor will quickly tell you if the oil needs changing anyway. 

I have something similar on my current 1 Series.

 

The service intervals are officially set at 20,000 miles but I have not achieved that. My service due indicator came up at about 17,000 miles.

 

As I see it, the Skoda Superb will be using a very similar system, which has been absolutely fine......although the old fashioned part of me still thinks 17,000-20,000 miles between oil changes is way too long.

Having said that, oil technology has come a very long way since I started driving. 

 

My first BMW 3 series (1989 E30) had oil change intervals of 5,000 miles! And that still needed a new camshaft, followers and a lot more at a mere 80,000 miles. Not exactly the 'Ultimate Driving Machine'...  . Still, that was a long time ago.

Interesting that the link details a Skoda stamp in the service book. With no service book to stamp on the s3 doe we get a £1 discount?

I'm old fashioned. I still think 10-12k miles or annually is about right for an oil change.

Especially with a turbo engine. So many stories of engine wear which could be prevented with clean oil.

Guess it depends how long you are keeping the car for. If its only within warranty it doesn't matter.

Remember variable servicing has primarily been developed to keep fleet costs down, they dump the car after 3 years so they dont care if its knackered.

My previous Superb went way over 100,000 miles on variable servicing and was still on its original turbo etc. My current Superb is on 63,000 miles and is working perfectly.

 

I think the more important thing is to be sympathetic towards the mechanicals. Don't push the engine hard or load the turbo up until the oil temp reaches full temperature, and don't kill the engine just after some hard driving.

 

There are better safeguards these days, such as auxiliary coolant run on pumps and the like to help with thermal management. 

 

If the oil starts to degrade, the ECU will pull the servicing interval forwards as necessary. 

 

But I can't see the harm in doing a mid interval oil/filter change, as long as you stick to the correct VW spec of course. 

I've had several VW group cars over many years, all on variable servicing, had a turbo go on one but with 146k miles on it I can forgive it for that. Usually the engines on modern vehicles outlast the rest of the vehicle, they make them pretty tough these days, and with modern materials technology, tighter component manufacturing tolerances and modern oils/filters etc I find variable servicing fine.

 

The only damage to be done by doing a mid cycle oil and filter change is to your wallet. There are many people that would disagree, I think they remember the cars of the late 1990's or earlier when non synthetic oil was top technology.

 

As you say the oil sensor keeps an eye on things anyway and will let you know if it needs doing sooner.

 

A long way from the 1994 Astra 1.7 turbo diesel I had with an Isuzu engine that required an oil change every 4500 miles. I sometimes do more than that in a month!!!. 

I've had several VW group cars over many years, all on variable servicing, had a turbo go on one but with 146k miles on it I can forgive it for that. Usually the engines on modern vehicles outlast the rest of the vehicle, they make them pretty tough these days, and with modern materials technology, tighter component manufacturing tolerances and modern oils/filters etc I find variable servicing fine.

 

The only damage to be done by doing a mid cycle oil and filter change is to your wallet. There are many people that would disagree, I think they remember the cars of the late 1990's or earlier when non synthetic oil was top technology.

 

As you say the oil sensor keeps an eye on things anyway and will let you know if it needs doing sooner.

 

A long way from the 1994 Astra 1.7 turbo diesel I had with an Isuzu engine that required an oil change every 4500 miles. I sometimes do more than that in a month!!!. 

 

IIRC the Isuzu unit was the more powerful engine compared to the Vauxhall lump they also used in the Mk3 Astra. I had a company Astra with the Vauxhall 1.7TD and my mate had a purple TDS estate with the Isuzu engine - lucky so and so.......It was MILES faster. 

 

I think they also used the Isuzu unit in the Cavalier TD as well. 

 

Aaanyway...... I've never been a big fan of extra oil changes, I always wait for the car to tell me it wants some new oil in it. But each to their own I suppose.....

I had my S3 set to variable service intervals based on my old S2 having it set that way. She had a service in December 14, had done nearly 12k since that but still indicated another 7800 miles or 383 days till it thought it needed doing again? At the prices Skoda are now charging, I may well get it serviced every 10k. I always found with my older VAG motors that they seemed more sprightly after a good service. Maybe that was just wishful thinking?

I'm old fashioned. I still think 10-12k miles or annually is about right for an oil change.

Especially with a turbo engine. So many stories of engine wear which could be prevented with clean oil.

Guess it depends how long you are keeping the car for. If its only within warranty it doesn't matter.

Remember variable servicing has primarily been developed to keep fleet costs down, they dump the car after 3 years so they dont care if its knackered.

Having worked in the oil industry I confirm oil can be better quality, (but not if you buy the cheap stuff), however if there are bits of muck, particles of metal etc that get picked up as the engine wears then they will circulate unless they are big enough to get stopped in the filter.

My view is occasionally check the dipstick, wipe it, replace then check again, if the oil is starting to look black rather than golden, better off changing it than using for another 8000 miles. If it has any reflective particles in it, or is looking like treacle then change it. Otherwise something is likely to be wearing excessively and might fail after 5 or 6 years

I'm old fashioned. I still think 10-12k miles or annually is about right for an oil change.

Especially with a turbo engine. So many stories of engine wear which could be prevented with clean oil.

Guess it depends how long you are keeping the car for. If its only within warranty it doesn't matter.

Remember variable servicing has primarily been developed to keep fleet costs down, they dump the car after 3 years so they dont care if its knackered.

 

Agreed re low mileage oil changes . In addition, one thing to remember is compared to diesels of old modern versions sometimes inject extra diesel on the exhaust stroke during DPF regens (if required & during passive)  . Some of this makes it past the piston rings into the sump , unfortunately it's not a great lubricant and it doesn't evaporate

Edited 27 February, 201610 yr by bigjohn

So many stories of engine wear which could be prevented with clean oil.

Guess it depends how long you are keeping the car for. If its only within warranty it doesn't matter.

Remember variable servicing has primarily been developed to keep fleet costs down, they dump the car after 3 years so they dont care if its knackered.

Where are all these stories of engine wear?. Can't say I've noticed many on this forum at all, although obviously there will always be a few cases as the very nature of engineered components mean we'll never get 100% reliability.

 

I also think very few cars are knackered after three years. I drive mainly on motorways so the engine is revving no more than 1800rpm for mile after mile, very few gear changes, minimal brake wear, suspension movement, far fewer engine starts/stops, the oil heats up and stays hot for longer periods instead of constant heating/cooling etc, so despite company cars like mine showing a high mileage they are often in better condition than lower mileage privately owned vehicles. Every time mine goes in for a service I just ask them if anything needs doing just do it, (ok, costs don't come out of my pocket) I then know the car is as it should be. Not all company drivers look after their cars as well as I do but I'd say the vast majority do, they can be excellent second hand buys, warranty or not.

Where are all these stories of engine wear?. Can't say I've noticed many on this forum at all, although obviously there will always be a few cases as the very nature of engineered components mean we'll never get 100% reliability.

I also think very few cars are knackered after three years. I drive mainly on motorways so the engine is revving no more than 1800rpm for mile after mile, very few gear changes, minimal brake wear, suspension movement, far fewer engine starts/stops, the oil heats up and stays hot for longer periods instead of constant heating/cooling etc, so despite company cars like mine showing a high mileage they are often in better condition than lower mileage privately owned vehicles. Every time mine goes in for a service I just ask them if anything needs doing just do it, (ok, costs don't come out of my pocket) I then know the car is as it should be. Not all company drivers look after their cars as well as I do but I'd say the vast majority do, they can be excellent second hand buys, warranty or not.

Spot on. My Passat is only just over 3 years old, but I have 104k on the clock. It has not yet had brake discs or pads changed, given the amount of motorway mileage. Engine sounds sweeter by the day.

If I was a private buyer, id rather be looking at 100k+mile 3 year old ex company cars than a 7 year old 50k mile ex run around.

Not really problems with Skodas, but its quite common to read on forums about a private buyer with an ex company 4 or 5 year old BMW, Merc or Audi, and loads of wallet stretching work needed on new timing chain, turbo or injectors, dmf or dpf etc.

In my cynical opinion cars are built for the fleet market, 3 year warranty, after that they can charge us loads for new parts.

Sure there are exceptions.

Back to th OPs question, change the oil as often as you can, its a lot cheaper than a new engine.