My car is a year old but set for 2 year/18000 miles service intervals. I am advised that the car will tell me when I need a service if the oil has deteriorated to the extent that one is required. Does this actually work? I have done less than 3000 miles in total since new.

Due to your low mileage it will count down the days instead so after 2 years regardless if you have only done 6,000 miles it will tell you the car is due a service. Mine was serviced at 18 months and 18,500 miles, so mileage determined when and not time in my case.

Engines are supposed to prefer frequent oil changes, I've kept to the 9,000 mile routine in preference to the long life oil option, I suppose only time will tell whether it was worthwhile or not.

I put long life oil in mine but change it annually, I only do around 5k miles per year🙄 the MFD says I must change the oil in 180+ days or 17k miles😀

 

I'm a bit OTT when it comes to servicing, same with my other car, for the price of a few pints of oil and filter it keeps the engines running sweetly.

My 1.2 broke it's turbo at 26k, having serviced it in complete accordance with the long life regime @ 18k / 16 months. Stuck to 10k / 12 months ever since with both 1.2 and 1.0

Edited 27 September, 20196 yr by camelspyyder

I agree, Turbo cars produce pressures and temperatures that are harsh for oil. If you drive gently, warm it up and then do a lot of steady motorway cruising you are probably ok with 2 year oil changes. Very low mileage typically means a lot of journeys where the oil doesn't get hot enough to evaporate any condensation that has formed in the motor. Low mileage drivers should definitely think about an annual oil change. Like MickA said, a few quid on oil and a filter has to be money well spent.  

My Roomster is on variable service. The car was last serviced May 2018 and the car has only travelled 7,000 miles since and had 150 days until next service so under those figures it would have not lasted the full 2 years or 18,500 miles. Last month I travelled 2,000 miles on a continental trip over 2 weeks. Now the display says 188 days so the service date has been extended. This shows that the engine management module computes when a service is due and the driving conditions are taken into account. Driving short distances will shorten the variable service date so do not worry unduly.

Unless checking the car myself regularly and pre and post winter i would not be waiting 2 years to have it professionally looked over / looked underneath.

 

Then i would not leave the oil for 2 years if i owned the car and was doing such a low mileage and if doing short trips and not getting the engine to operatimg temp regularly.

Even with Long Life oil, or actually especially with Long Life factory filled oil.

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

 

On 26/09/2019 at 14:57, Robbydazzler said:

My car is a year old... I have done less than 3000 miles in total since new.

 

3,000 miles per year?

 

You should be on the fixed service interval (15,000 km's (9,300 miles) or 12 months, whichever is reached first).

 

This guarantees fresh oil once a year.

 

Variable servicing (which you're currently on), is better suited to high annual motorway mileage.