Hi there,

I'm clearly not the first person to post a variable servicing question / dilemma. but here goes ...

We bought our old shape O4 Octavia 1.9TDi secondhand about 18 months ago. As far as I was concerned it was on variable servicing (service book printout shows QG1 in the left-hand corner).

It asked for a service at the beginining of last year (2006) and we had it serviced at the local Skoda garage on 23/01/06. The worksheet is headed "inspection according to variable service display", but the service book is entered as next inspection service due at 29574 miles or 23/01/07 (10,000 miles or 1 year later). Also, the receipt for the work shows that "GTX" was used as the oil.

The previous service was completed at 13868 miles on 22/02/05.

It has now just over a year since the last service, although he mileage is only 25671 - it hasn't asked for a service. We have booked it in for one in a couple of weeks but basically I am unsure whether it needs one. If it is on variable servicing it obviously doesn't until it says so, but why the entry in the service book? And is "GTX" the correct longlife oil for variable servicing?

It's all very complicated this - what would people advise I do? Can I check what servicing regime the car is set for? Should I have it serviced as planned? Should I wait until it asks for a service?

Grateful for any help or advice.

My '02 vRS had been changed from variable to fixed servicing by a previous owner (a service manager for a different manufacturer). When I took it in for a service I asked about putting back on variable as I don't do huge mileage on it. The indie that serviced it (inde-tech uk in Milton Keynes, recommended) said it was better to leave it on fixed so I have. According to them VAG were moving away from variable servicing because of problems especially with long life oil.