Service advice

[boardtc]

I have never owned a car that was in KM before. The rule of thumb for me before was service every year / 12,000 miles (19,000 km). I usually settled for 1 per year doing around that mileage.

 

I bought the car last June with 132,835K. The garage put a sticker on the window to service by 29 May 2024 or at 147,000k. I did not notice this until the computer came up with an oil change message at 151,673k last month:


I WFH and don't consider myself to do much mileage but I am currently at 153,196k! I have not done the oil change yet.

What is the recommendation for the oil change/service frequency?

Many thanks.

Edited 20 February by boardtc

[Stonekeeper]

"The rule of thumb for me before was service every year / 12,000 miles (19,000 km)."

 

"I bought the car last June with 132,835K"

 

"I am currently at                           153,196k"

 

=                                                         20,361km 

 

 

 

Skoda website states OIl  and inspection service every 10,000k after 3yr/30,000k

 

https://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/servicing-maintenance-fixed-price

 

 

Skoda dealer site

 

https://www.winchestermotorgroup.co.uk/skoda/servicing-offers/skoda/

 

 

The garage that serviced it last suggested 12 month or  around 14,000k?

 

You are currently beyond your own rule of thumb and two Professional's advice.

 

 

I have my  car serviced every 12 months regardless of mileage a month before it's MOT to ensure a pass the following month.

 

i don't do more than 6,000 miles a year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 20 February by Stonekeeper

[xman]

In the UK Skoda services are reset on the OBD to either fixed regime 15,000km/9300 miles/372 days or variable/extended regime 30,000km/18600 miles/744 days. Your choice.

There is some leeway if warranty is involved.

[varaderoguy]

For us imperial folk here in the UK, that's a 93k mile service.  Firstly, don't rely on any stickers.  Secondly, whilst you can have fixed interval servicing, I wouldn't recommend it (especially if you are planning to keep the car long term).  The car should be on variable servicing and @Stonekeeper is right.  Best keep the oil changed every 10,000 miles.

 

To show you the remaining service schedule before servicing due, go to the MIB system, go to Vehicle/Car and go to Settings.  Now go to Servicing.  This will show you how many miles you have before you are due a next service.  If you car gets all shouty (because that's what it looks like its just done on you), book the car in for a service right now.  At least get the oil and filter service done if nothing else.  Discuss your service schedule with your Skoda dealer.

[SC03OTT]

Why would you not recommend fixed servicing? 

[Ootohere]

I do wish people could understand Oil & Filter Serving, maybe Fixed or Variable, and Servicing & Maintenance.

 

Some do Interim Oil & Filter changes.  all about annual miles, type of use.  Location location location.     Car manufacturers do not know you or where you are.

 

Old system.

Some still do this. 

 

New UK regimes, some have no idea what is being done. 

[varaderoguy]

21 minutes ago, SC03OTT said:

Why would you not recommend fixed servicing? 

Of course you can do whatever you want for your car and for low mileage owners, fixed servicing is probably fine.  I just fret about the mechanics of the vehicle.

Ideally, everyone should rely on the oil condition sensor in the vehicle for determining when a service is due.  That's my perspective. @Rooted it is good to be reminded of the schedule and the difference....and yes, my brain is probably wired the old way of doing things.

[Ootohere]

These oil condition sensors seem to be amazing things.  Bl00dy fantastic. NOT.

You can be on Variable / Flexible Servicing with a TDI and the oil like clotted cream and it is still showing what the Service Indicator was set at, 18,000-20,000 miles / 372 days from set.   If you can not get booked in for 6 weeks then you might be over 20,000 miles and no oil change since the PDI, 

or actually 6 months earlier when the car was built.  Even a year before pre WLTP certification or Covid Lockdowns.

 

VW talk a good game.

Service older cars.  Not that old, 3-5 years.  5-10 years are more interest to many.

 

Try getting a booking though.  Even for a Warranty job, or a Recall Campaign / Recall Action, or a full SAFETY Recall.   Very very busy. Pretty damn expensive.

 

 

Edited 21 February by Rooted

[varaderoguy]

I have to deal with Western Volkwagen in Edinburgh and West End Skoda for our Golf and Octavia (although it would be lovely if I could take the Octavia to Western VW in Fort Kinnard as its soo much easier to get to).  In terms of booking; West End Skoda were operating 6-8 weeks out, Western VW were operating 4 weeks out. 

You can already get servicing packages for Skodas up to 10 years old anyway - nothing new there.  It just that VW's were only restricted up to 7 years old for servicing packages.  I don't think the screenshot above is much more that VW acknowledging that the owners cannot afford to buy new cars and that the 3 years and swap-car routine that has been pervaded for the past x years model is now broken.  They are just adjusting to the market conditions.....and anyway....we [in this section] love our MK3/3.5 Octavia....so long may they roll on.

[boardtc]

Thanks all. It's a relief to see I am not the only one confused!
@rooted, "Location location location" is a normal reference for owning property but how does it apply to cars? Are you referring to say rust by the sea? Or that garages are more expensive in say London?

@varaderoguy looking at the table @rooted posted that a filter service is not needed until 32,000k (20,000 miles) so just an oil change now.
Do you guys all use a Skoda dealer? Is that because that adds to the resale value with a clean service record with a dealer? I've never used a dealer before just my garage.

Edited 21 February by boardtc

[SC03OTT]

I use my dealer for basic, annual servicing. They seem ok at carrying out that task. Plus I can walk home after dropping it off. Any other work I then go to a specialist. The lower cost then offsets the inconvenience, for me. 

[Ootohere]

3-5 year old is not 'Older cars'  they can still be on Extended Warranties.

Skoda Fixed Price Servicing and Maintenance at Participating dealers in the UK was on cars 3 - 10 year old.

 

7-10 years and older is Older cars, Models will have changed Generation from 7 years, had face lifts at 3-4 years.

 

Servicing and Maintenance and pre and post winter care is much more than many ever get done with 'Main Dealer Servicing.

A Full Main Dealer Service History if a full history can show how cars were not serviced or maintained to Manufacturers Guidelines, Recommendations or even schedules, even when on a Service Plan. 

 

@boardtc

Location location location.

A City car or a rural car, short cold start trips, maybe blocked dirty air filter from City Traffic / Busses / Taxis. eg Edinburgh.

Live near a quarry or Oil Seed Rape fields.  Pollen filters.

Near the sea, damp pollen filters, air filters, rusty discs. Like living in the hills where roads get salted. 

 

Some guys / gals in the Czech Republic or Gemany know nothing about how or where you drive, how your Hygroscopic Brake Fluid will be as you drive.

Where you park or how often the car moves.

 

So they give general advice, you just need to think.  Do you tow, do you do 20,000 miles, or 12,000 or 5,000 miles a year. 

Edited 21 February by Rooted

[varaderoguy]

20 hours ago, boardtc said:

@varaderoguy looking at the table @rooted posted that a filter service is not needed until 32,000k (20,000 miles) so just an oil change now.
Do you guys all use a Skoda dealer? Is that because that adds to the resale value with a clean service record with a dealer? I've never used a dealer before just my garage.

I suppose it depends on whether you plan on keeping the car long term and whether you are worried about retail value etc.

I personally use Skoda / VW dealers as their all-in-plans tend to be a cost effective way of keeping the cars working as they should, but of course, it is entirely up to you.  I think the niggles are when there is an issue and getting the specialist knowledge.  Another alternative is finding a good VAG specialist.

 

If you just want to do a oil change and filter, this is relatively easy to do yourself (a pair of front ramps and the correct tools - its not too hard) and the service light can be reset without too many issues. 

[boardtc]

Thanks very much for the info on service plans, news to me. I checked with my regular garage and they were charging €200 for a service so I ended up signing up for the 2-year plan at €10 per month with an booking for a minor service at the end of March was the next available. The wraning light for oil service is on now but hopefully it wil be ok with another 500k.

[TheClient]

On 21/02/2024 at 09:49, varaderoguy said:

For us imperial folk here in the UK, that's a 93k mile service.  Firstly, don't rely on any stickers.  Secondly, whilst you can have fixed interval servicing, I wouldn't recommend it (especially if you are planning to keep the car long term).  The car should be on variable servicing and @Stonekeeper is right.  Best keep the oil changed every 10,000 miles.

 

To show you the remaining service schedule before servicing due, go to the MIB system, go to Vehicle/Car and go to Settings.  Now go to Servicing.  This will show you how many miles you have before you are due a next service.  If you car gets all shouty (because that's what it looks like its just done on you), book the car in for a service right now.  At least get the oil and filter service done if nothing else.  Discuss your service schedule with your Skoda dealer.

Surely you meant to recommend fixed rather than variable when reading your subsequent replies about fretting for mechanical longevity? Fixed is 12 months or under 10k miles, 16,000km. 

 

There is no oil quality sensor. Full stop. The variable service approach to oil quality, is an algorithm only. Takes into account cold starts, mileage, engine temp etc, etc.  The only sump sensor is oil temp and oil level. Because it is an algorithm, it is not perfect. It is also slanted towards fleet approach to minimise cost of ownership for the first few years potentially to the detriment of later years.

 

As @Stonekeeper mentioned, they, he, she,  use a change interval of 6,000miles / 12 months and I would say that is not excessive and does no harm and may do some good knowing how much carbon build up and oil clogging you can get using long interval - variable servicing.

 

I try to aim for 6,000 miles / max 12 months. 19K km or 20K km is too much in my opinion, although may be permitted if the vehicle has the variable service algorithm turned on. But it does not give you guaranteed good engine health. Far from it.