How do you know if you are on fixed or variable service?

My log book shows the previous owner had the first service done exactly 12 months later and on 8994 miles (the book said 10k or 12 onths, which ever came first). The second service was done exactly 12 months later again and on 15009 miles.

The book shows to have the third service i'm now due on 25009 miles or 12 months later i.e. should have been the 26th Jan. (booked in in a week or so).

So i guess it's every 10k or 12 months, which ever comes first?

Sorry if this question has already been asked!!!

The second service was done exactly 12 months later again and on 15009 miles.

The book shows to have the third service i'm now due on 25009 miles or 12 months later i.e. should have been the 26th Jan. (booked in in a week or so).

So i guess it's every 10k or 12 months, which ever comes first?

Sounds like you're on fixed (oil change every 10K or 12 months, whichever comes first. If it's on variable, the mileage is up to the car (upto a max of 20,000 for a petrol), or 24 months, whichever comes first. Your car will be able to do either - the dealer can program it - but it'll cost a bit more to go onto variable as they have to use really expensive oil.

The fixed services just have an oil change every 10K/12 months, and it's only every other service (20K/24 months) where they do all the other stuff. Variable (with its special oil) misses out the in between oil changes and and only does the full services.

The sticker in your log book with lots of letters on ... some of those refer to whether the car was supplied as fixed or variable service iirc. Fraid I can't remember which letters it is, and there's no guarantee that it hasn't been changed since new. I'm sure a dealer can tell you which letters it is...

I can sympathise with this Alex. Our Octvaia 1.9TDi was sold to us on the understanding that it is set for variable servicing, and indeed I would say it is. But - at the last service - when I was less on the ball that I am this year - they appeared to do a fixed interval service on it and filled it with normal (non-longlife) oil.

This year we have booked it into a different dealer and they are going to do a normal variable service with the correct longlife oil and check / set it for variable servicing. They have advised that the correct service book "next service entry" for a car on variable servicing is not to quote a date or mileage at all but to just enter "variable". Previously ours had dates and mileages like yours (including one with a completely inexplicable interval of 11,000 miles or 11 months!!)

It's all very confusing and annoying. And indeed even if the data sticker says "QG1" (for variable servicing) it doesn't mean it hasn't been changed to "QG2" for fixed intervals (either accidentally, on purpose or - perhaps - "accidentally on purpose"!)

QG0 is fixed, QG2 is extended (not used in UK as far as I know).

Just had mine changed to fixed servicing as i have always dropped the oil every 10k anyhow..... i always change Fuel/pollen/plugs and oil and filter @ the variable service, but had heard and seen (cheers APS) the internals of a 20vt on longlife:thumbdwn: to see it looks like cooked on chip fat on the components is an understatement:eek:

All my previous RS Fords had oil changes at 6k mainly because i could....... its my job you know:D

HTH

Phil