Having just read some stuff on the Honest John column of the Telegraph website, I am thinking of converting from variable to fixed servicing on my Octy Mk1 (when it tells me it needs it's service - am at 13k miles and no warnings yet).

I wondered if there has been a poll about what people decided to go with, and what their reasoning was.

The Honest John article is this:

My VW Golf has done 14,000 miles on its original lubricant. Based on your frequent comments about longevity, I called my main dealer but was told no oil change would be necessary until the service indicator said so. The engine is apparently fitted with sensors that measure oil performance (contamination and degradation).

B.S., via e-mail

As I keep repeating, for many years the best of all synthetic lubricants has been Mobil 1. To prove its qualities, Mobil ran a BMW 325i on the oil for one million miles. Despite the car running in near-ideal conditions in order to achieve the mileage, the Mobil 1 was changed every 7,000 miles.

Europe is the only place in the world where ordinary motorists are conned into buying ridiculously expensive oil in the belief that their engines will last if the oil is changed at 20,000 to 30,000-mile intervals. Part of the con involves engines that consume as much as a litre of oil every 625 miles - by 20,000 miles the owner will in effect have changed his own oil four or five times at an astronomical cost.

If the oil lasts the distance with perhaps only four to five litres added in 20,000 miles, the engine won't last much beyond 100,000 miles. Half the new cars in Europe are sold for business use and fleet managers appreciate low maintenance costs. T

hey are not the slightest bit interested in how cars endure once they dispose of them after a few years. And when cars are out of warranty, manufacturers want them to fail so they can make a fortune from selling replacement parts (or a new car). In America, oil is routinely changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

Erm I'm on variable in a TDI and havn't had to put too much oil in (Less than a litre).

The car does mostly motorway crusing, and has done about 25k from the last service. I was thinking of changing the oil alone more regularly, but i shall see whats what at the next service.

I'd certainly agree that some of the VW service items are a bit optimistic.

Once the car is out of warrenty then i think the millers PD or similar will be making changes every 10-15k Miles.

What I would say is that a citroen BX i had required changes at 5k, and the millers came out of that at 6 still in excellent condition. The 306 with the same engine but turbocharged was on 6k and that was run on Mobil 1 TD with absolubtly no problems.

I'm never quite sure as I know the car does have sensors to determine when a change is required, and fuel is cleaner and oils are better. However I don't know if an oil is 20-30k good as I certainly want my diesel to last over 150k miles.

Best people to speak to are the Taxi drivers. Seen some in b'mouth with over 300k miles on them, so whatever they use will work at looking after your eninge at a guess.

Our TDi is on variable, just had its fourth service at 105000 miles, car runs like a dream & it was remapped at 8000 miles.

as for consumption ours uses something like 3/4 litre between services, that equates to one litre every 33000 miles

I think Honest John once again has shown his lack of knowledge !!

My Octy(vRS) does 19k between services and hasn't required any oil to be added. TBH I cant quite see the point the HJ is trying to make, apart from griping about the cost of oil. :confused:

Just go for the variable one if it's longer intervals, but change your oil yourself inbetween services.

I wouldn't run any car on the same oil for those kind of miles. I do mine every 6k.

The parents octy apparently had a service before they got it, however the oil was dark and horrible. Dad's going to change it due to this, however *apparently* it doesn't need it. B.S.

Changing oil yourself costs peanuts and it worth it for the peace of mind IMO. Then take it in for a service at maximum intervals to keep the service history and lower depreciation.

Dad's going to change it due to this' date=' however *apparently* it doesn't need it. B.S.

.[/quote']

And he will find the oil is still black and 'dirty' looking after he has done it. Changing the oil and filter on a diesel doesnt instantly remove all the dirty oil and carbon deposits in the engine,

I went with variable, my now ex. octy has now had three services in 5 years and still runs and drives superbly and still needs no oil topups in between. Car was remapped at 20K and is now on 53K I think, my brother now owns the car.

The reasoning was mileage, I drive around 20K miles per year to work and back so that would mean 2 services. Having just one helps keeps the TCO down.

As an aside, my Mondeo now has 152,000 miles on the clock and to be fair is neglected in the mechanical department. still uses no oil between services and doesnt leak or anything. I only fix things when they break and have the car serviced at a local tyre place.

And he will find the oil is still black and 'dirty' looking after he has done it. Changing the oil and filter on a diesel doesnt instantly remove all the dirty oil and carbon deposits in the engine,

No, but more regular oil changes will help keep the oil a decent colour. I think it was originally changed at 22k, then again when they bought it at about 45k. With 22'000 miles between services I'd expect there to be lots of carbon deposits in there... change it more often and there'll be less.

I'd definatley prefer to do it more often anyway, people may say it's not needed, but it's not going to do any harm that's for sure.

I must be circa Honest John's vintage - give or take a decade - and I believe that he is stuck firmly in the past with a lot of his advice. Europe is leading the way for the world in reducing oil wastage by developing LongLife oils which currently allow service intervals of up to 30,000 miles for some engines while at the same time giving far better lubrication and protection than 'ordinary' oils. Mobil 1 was the first fully synthetic oil sold in the UK and has been around since at least 1973 when a friend of mine used it in his E-Type. I wonder if Honest John is claiming that it has been the best synthetic oil because it has been around the longest?

Interesting comments, thanks everyone.

I was leaning strongly in the direction of going for fixed 10k mile servicing after my first service, but you've made me reconsider.

I checked oil at the weekend (13k miles) and it looks ok - not black but hardly nice and fresh, but for 13k miles I'd say it looks pretty good. I do about 8 - 10k miles a year, so I guess variable should save me some pennies in the long run - not sure.

I have he4ard that once you go off variable, if you go back th4e car will drink a lot more oil.

Not sure how true this is, but something to think of if it is.