The Service Schedule specifies a 1 year (or 10,000 miles) oil change frequency. All my acquaintances who claim to "know about cars" reckon the oil should be changed every 3,500 miles. Who's correct, SkodaAuto or my know it all buddies ?:confused:

The Service Schedule specifies a 1 year (or 10,000 miles) oil change frequency. All my acquaintances who claim to "know about cars" reckon the oil should be changed every 3,500 miles. Who's correct, SkodaAuto or my know it all buddies ?:confused:

Skoda.

Skoda i'd say as they build the car..lol

Also cars on variable servicing (not the Fabia) can go 20k+ before its first change.

All boils down to better build quality and much better oil.

3,500 miles if you use the car for racing perhaps!! That sounds far to frequent to me. With decent synthetic oils 10,000 miles changes would be fine. I've never really understood why people who "know about cars" claim that oil should be changed so frequently. My Pug 405 passed 200,000 miles, using the dealer recommended servicing, with no problems at all. I also have many friends/colleagues who have achieved similar mileages. If it means the difference between the engine making 300,000 or 400,000 miles then I don't really care. All the extra cash spent on 3,500 mile oil changes could be better saved for a new car! Sounds like a money-making ploy to me...

Exactly my thoughts - the way that modern synthetic oils are advertised I'm amazed the oil change interval isn't 100, 000 miles !

I agree, standard intervals will be fine under normal conditions. As said, modern oil is sooooo much better than it was a few years ago. If you use your car on the track or give it some serious abuse then changing it half way between intervals may not be such a bad idea. Changing at 3.5k is just chucking money away IMO.

I have always changed my oil at halfway through service intervals, i.e. 5000 miles in my fabia.

It only costs 30 odd quid, and gives me peace of mind, and surely shiny new oil is better than the black sticky stuff that gets thrown away.