1.6 TDI Service intervals

[Asketi]

Hi All

 

I run a Fabia 1.6 TDI Elegance that I have owned from new and is 4 years old.  My Fabia is the most reliable and best value car I have ever owned by a considerable margin. 

 

I do approx 110 miles a day on two motorway trips morning and evening where I sit at 70(ish) mph all the way.  

 

I am on a fixed service schedule (every 10k miles) and think I need to change to variable if I can.

 

What would Fabia forum members recommend?  Go for variable? Service ever 15 or 20k miles

 

All the best

Tim

 

 

 

 

[Ootohere]

Welcome.

If your car is a keeper and it seems it is i would change the oil every year or at least every 10,000-12,000 miles with the Long Life oil it uses and not go to 15,000 -18,000 miles with it.

You can do Oil & Filter changes when ever you want, do not mix up oil / filter with Servicing and Brakes, Steering, Tyres, Suspension checks and Brake Fluid etc.

 

How many miles on the car now.

Was the Brake Fluid changed last year?

Was the Pollen filter changed at 2 years and maybe due now, and has the air filter been checked or getting checked or replaced soon?

Edited 6 October, 2018 by Offski

[Asketi]

Hi

 

Many thanks for your reply. 

 

I am just shy of 100k miles, and I meticulously maintain so yes all the above have been done and more regularly than they really need. 

 

The reason for the question is that my local garage who is not a Skoda specialist but is very good said stick to 10k mile services.  However my best friend on variable is getting flagged for service at 14k miles and does lots of stop start driving.  

 

All the best

Tim

 

 

 

[Ootohere]

Do the oil changes at 18,000 miles if you want then since the mileage is so high.

 

Good if he is getting flagged at 14,000 miles then if he has a diesel with the correct oil and on variable servicing.

http://volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes

 

[spartacus68]

Personally I'd stick to 10k miles and use fully synthetic 5w-30 oil. Fuel filter, change every 20k miles, air and pollen filter every service. Timing belt is due ever 5 years, along with water pump. Brake fluid is every 2 years. I change the glow plugs every 40k miles.

 

At this mileage (I have the same car) at 90k miles, then suspension maybe getting tired. I had to do rear bump stops a couple of months ago as they'd deteriorated, plus I am away to do front wishbones (worn bushes) and droplinks in a couple of weeks.

 

Brakes (fronts are straight forward) as it's discs and pads. Rear is drums and shoes. I've constantly to adjust handbrake. It's had 2-3 sets of shoes in its life plus replacement brake cylinders. The adjustment is necessary as the rear hubs are worn. Only proper fix is to replace the hubs. I also find it eats rear bearings.

 

 

[Ootohere]

The 1.6TDI requires VW 507 and that is Full Synthetic and Long Life oil.

 

Brake Fluid is first at 3 years and then every 2, but then you can check the H20 content with a tester.

 

?

Fuel Filter & Air Filter every 20,000 and Pollen / Cabin Filter every Service!  Seems a bit much and un-necessary for many.

Especially for someone doing 20,000 miles or more a year.

 

Any reason for doing that in Scotland with good fuels and pretty clean air or do you drive in the City?

 

Edited 7 October, 2018 by Offski

[spartacus68]

6 minutes ago, Offski said:

Fuel Filter & Air Filter every 20,000 and Pollen / Cabin Filter every Service!  Seems a bit much and un-necessary for many.

Especially for someone doing 20,000 miles or more a year. Any reason for doing that in Scotland with good fuels and pretty clean air or do you drive in the City?

 

No particular reason. The pollen filter, even the genuine one with charcoal isn't particularly expensive. The air filter is pretty crucial on this engine given the catalogue of issues the 1.6 TDI seems susceptible to, so it's a preventative measure rather than anything else. Driving in Scotland is no different to anywhere else. I sit in traffic jams like the rest of us in Aberdeen and Dundee, so it gets dirty.  The fuel filter is easy to access, and again isn't expensive if you use Mann parts.

[Ootohere]

Everything is important but you can throw money at cars that is not necessary.   You can pay Main Dealers and nothing gets checked or done.

Nothing is that expensive, fuel being the most expensive when doing 20,000 miles a year.

Then labour if others are doing your work and their hourly rate is higher than your hourly rate.

That £20, £16, £18, £25 twice as often as is required is still more than a days pay for many.

 

I am cheap, i do others cars for free on a barter basis.

I get parts pretty cheap to almost for nothing.

 

I sit in that traffic as well, in Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh.   Behind busses in Edinburgh being the worst.

But then i check the air filters, and vacuum Pollen Filters, clean the air intakes and change if required.

 

Edited 7 October, 2018 by Offski

[xman]

Sit in traffic, engine off, fan off or recirc on and you'll save a bit on filters. 

[Ootohere]

Plenty places where you have no choice but to stop taking air in from outside.

The George Street area of Edinburgh being one place i regularly do it if a Bus or Taxi or 5 around me.