Variable Servicing - Are 2023 Scala oil servicing set to this by default?!

[Skoda_martin]

Hi All,

 

We have a 2023 Scala with very low mileage.  14 months old and only 2,000 miles. 

(Fortunately long drives mixed in with short journeys.)

 

 

However, I got a 'oil change' message come up recently.

 

On investigation, the dashboard info on 'servicing'' shows the below info:

Inspection in 17,900mi or 245 days.

Oil Change Service in 10,900mi or 19 days.

 

 

Do I just go by the 'Oil change by 10,900mi' and not worry about the 19 days???

 

 

I'd happily get a service done this summer, like I did with my Mk5 Golf, so if any issues / Breakdowns, at least the weather will be warm then if waiting on the roadside for the RAC man etc. 

 

Hope you can advise.

 

Regards

Martin

 

 

 

 

PS:

I had the same issues with our old M5 golf - The dashboard always got the variable servicing reminders wrong / early.  Software Gremlins.  In the end, had the car serviced every 2 years, even though low mileage, so the car was at least inspected periodically as well, on top of the MOT etc.

 

 

PPS:

I'm always nervous of getting servicing done by a new, unknown to me, garage - and potentially introducing new issues from having a perfectly running car worked on.  This will be our 1st service on the Scala, done by a Skoda main dealer.  Our Golf was serviced for over 15yrs by our trusted local small garage.  I was not impressed with the VW main dealer servicing when the car was new.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AGFalco]

17 minutes ago, Skoda_martin said:

On investigation, the dashboard info on 'servicing'' shows the below info:

Inspection in 17,900mi or 245 days.

Oil Change Service in 10,900mi or 19 days.

 

 

Do I just go by the 'Oil change by 10,900mi' and not worry about the 19 days???

Which ever is first. eg. 19 days not 10 900 miles.

 

It would be better for your car to be on fixed servicing with the mileage you do, within 19 days.

 

Thanks. AG Falco

[Ootohere]

The Cars leave the Factory on Variable / Flexible Service Intervals and in a 'In Transit' setting.

18,000 -20,000 miles / 24 months.

 

At the PDI there are places that re-set the Service Regime to Fixed Service Intervals. 9,400 miles.  372 days (365 days now with some).

Some mess up the Oil Change Service & the Inspection miles / time, mess up various things.   There is no just 'Inspection' due at a time different from what in the UK 

is now called 'Oil & Inspection Services'.    @ 1 year or miles if Fixed,  or first @ 2 Years & Miles if Variable.

 

Low annual miles is the owners choice if they want the Servicing changed, the supplying dealership should ask and not just do.

 

Fixed Regime.

[Skoda_martin]

 

 

Thanks for both sides of view on this guys.

 

Hell, I will stick with plan "a" and get it serviced in the summer - may even get up to 2,500 miles by then! 🤣

 

Really love the car, it is perfect for what we do, but it mostly sits on the driveway.

 

Had the Golf for 20 years on variable servicing - The car was fine for what we do as well.... The Scala is just better! 😄

 

 

Best wishes

Martin

 

 

[Yetiherts]

Cam belt at 50k miles I think this has been changed dramatically according to VAG, way over 100k

 

 

 

 

 

[Ootohere]

180,000 miles.

 

Cam Belt Guidance change (1).pdf

Edited 23 April by Rooted

[SurreyJohn]

Seems unusual to get oil change at 15 months when below the mileage limit.

 

@Ootohere is usually the expert commentator about fixed or variable, so might be able to explain the 15 months for low mileage option.

 

 

[Ootohere]

It looks that someone co-cked up at the PDI resetting the Factory Variable Servicing interval of 18,000 - 20,000 miles / 24 months to Fixed 9,400 miles /372 days and leaving an Inspection at 24 months / 20,000 miles.   They should have been set to be at the same time.

(If the customer was asked what they wanted, changed to Fixed or left on Variable.  With only 2,000 miles fixed is correct IMO.)

 

The question is how long before hand over was the PDI actually done, was it more than a week or 2 before the OP got the car.?

[rum4mo]

I'm sure that on variable service setting, the ECU is continually assessing the "remaining time/miles to service", the miles bit is easy, the time bit gets calculated from "engine use and oil temperatures" so that many short journeys "knock down" the remaining days more than just calendar days.

My wife's old 2002 VW Polo, while it was outside warranty and still on variable servicing used to give out a service reminder after roughly 19 months, the way she used that car - though I was changing the oil every 12 months, and eventually changing the servicing to "fixed". 

So it looks like your exceedingly frequent use on very short journeys has prompted that "early" service warning, which, if I was you, I'd be taking on board and get the car serviced ASAP, and probably get the service scheduling changed to fixed.

[Skoda_martin]

On 30/04/2024 at 07:37, Ootohere said:

It looks that someone co-cked up at the PDI resetting the Factory Variable Servicing interval of 18,000 - 20,000 miles / 24 months to Fixed 9,400 miles /372 days and leaving an Inspection at 24 months / 20,000 miles.   They should have been set to be at the same time.

(If the customer was asked what they wanted, changed to Fixed or left on Variable.  With only 2,000 miles fixed is correct IMO.)

 

The question is how long before hand over was the PDI actually done, was it more than a week or 2 before the OP got the car.?

 

Hi Ooto,

 

Apologies for delay in reply!  😀

I didn't see any notifications for reply to this thread.

 

 

Yup, quite possible 'someone co-cked up at the PDI resetting' - it was a bit of a rubbish 'pick up the car' experience.

 

It was ex demo, and I we picked it up weekend after.  Really didn't look like they did much to it when I picked it up.

 

Service booked for July, and I asked specifically to get the car set to 'variable' servicing.

 

Cheers

Martin

 

 

 

 

[Skoda_martin]

On 30/04/2024 at 10:33, rum4mo said:

I'm sure that on variable service setting, the ECU is continually assessing the "remaining time/miles to service", the miles bit is easy, the time bit gets calculated from "engine use and oil temperatures" so that many short journeys "knock down" the remaining days more than just calendar days.

My wife's old 2002 VW Polo, while it was outside warranty and still on variable servicing used to give out a service reminder after roughly 19 months, the way she used that car - though I was changing the oil every 12 months, and eventually changing the servicing to "fixed". 

So it looks like your exceedingly frequent use on very short journeys has prompted that "early" service warning, which, if I was you, I'd be taking on board and get the car serviced ASAP, and probably get the service scheduling changed to fixed.

 

 

Nah, car is fine 😀

 

We literally do short trips 1 or 2 times a week, and maybe a 60 miles round trip one a month

 

We are treating it same as the old 20 yr old Golf - no issues with that car either for 20 years!

 

[rum4mo]

Maybe the trend is to manufacture more service demanding cars than what was the case 20 years ago.

Your actual car use per year is probably very low, but you have chosen to own a car for “when you need it”, that is basically what our younger daughter and husband have done as they live on the sub’s of London, and only use their car for essential and leisure use. Doing that is sensible and stops them adding to the local traffic congestion - but as they are not “car people” I feel it leaves the car a bit “under serviced”, but it is their lifes and their money. They would probably spend less on motoring if they hired a car when they needed it.

 

Edit:- I’m probably doing the opposite ie doing too much servicing of especially my car for the use I put it too, it will not suffer from that, just keeps me occupied!

Edited Thursday at 14:40 by rum4mo