VAG variable servicing is it good or bad?

[DickP]

I’ve not long since purchased a 3.5 year old Skoda with around 50k miles on it. It’s currently on the variable service schedule and I do around 20-30k miles a year, probably at least 2/3 of that on motorway.

I don’t really understand how the newer engine oils work or how the car determines if the oil is due changing (is this sensor or driving behaviour?). I come from a history of cars where the book said 12k miles tops for an oil change so you should be able to appreciate my confusion.

With the miles I do is the variable servicing okay or should I have it changed to fixed?

Thoughts welcome!

[halo34]

I don't think the cars are that complex in determining the need for a service, it will be based on some loose parameters, like mileage etc.

For that reason I switched to fixed on my VW from the car having variable when I got it.

Its peace of mind if your keeping long term and through an Indi costs me the same for 2 services as it does one from a main stealer.

IMHO of course.

[_Mja_]

I used to feel the variable servicing thing was a gimmick to help sell new cars on perceived cost savings. I still; think that is partly true but oil and engine build technology has moved on massively in the last decade and it's unlikely for a modern engine to fail if it's seen some servicing in its life - electronics and cost prohibative suspension/drivetrain repairs will write off most cars these days.

That said as cars age it would be beneficial to switch back to annual servicing as you stand more chance on other consumables that would have been fine for the first 5-8 years to be checked more regularly - I'm thinking the cooling system, brake fluid leaks and that sort of stuff. If it's in a garage annually you stand more chance of it being picked up and repaired before the problem gets a lot worse.

[The Road Crew]

I've done approaching 300k on various vag diesel cars all set on variable servicing.

I change oil and filter every 8-9k (ie halfway point of the 18 variable max limit). I DIY it so it costs less than £50.

Never had any engine problems. Nor dpf issues either.

After all those oil changes the cars have NEVER increased the mileage to next service on the dash display itself. The car doesn't monitor oil quality in terms of viscosity, particle content imho. It just use an algorithm based on number of starts, trip distance, total mileage etc to predict oil change interval.

Say whatever you like about oil advances in technology but 20,000 miles is a lot of punishment for just 4 litres of oil!

If you only keep from new to three years old stick to variable x abs get rid of the car. Anything you intend to keep for longer then change oil more often.

[Limpet]

On a car I intended to keep a long time, I would always do an annual oil change as a minimum.

I don't think it's a coincidence that the manufacturers who enjoy the best reputation for reliability and longevity (Honda, Toyota, Lexus etc) have never gone in for these extended / variable service intervals that the Germans in particular seem so keen on. They have resisted what must be considerable market pressure, and stuck to the traditional fixed yearly or x miles (whichever comes first) basis. This has to be engineering led, given it amounts to a competitive disadvantage in many eyes.

Of course, people will say they've put 250,000 miles on cars with 10 oil changes, and good luck to them, but given that you're completely on your own by the time any problems arise, and the manufacturers won't get involved by that point, I'd prefer to play it safe.

YMMV of course.

[wyson]

Isn’t the variable service interval about 18k miles or 2 years whatever is sooner? And fixed is 10k miles or 1 year, whatever is sooner?

I’d be tempted to stay on variable considering the sort of mileage you do. It would be a pain to go on fixed servicing and have to go in 3 times a year. At least with variable this will be once every 9 months to a year.

I’d be worried about component failure between 80k and 100k plus miles. VW has said the design life of a lot of their components is 8 to 10 years assuming 10k miles a year.
Sounds like you will hit this in a year, definitely 2.

Maybe inspect your car more frequently?

I wouldn’t worry about the oil lasting between the variable service intervals. Jason Fenske on the engineering explained youtube channel did a video on this. Modern fully synthetic oils are well capable of handling 18k miles.

Edited by wyson on Friday 11th June 20:52

[shtu]

DickP said:

I do around 20-30k miles a year, probably at least 2/3 of that on motorway.

The least-stressful use you can put it to, and ideal for getting that oil right up to temp and keeping it there for a while.

DickP said:

With the miles I do is the variable servicing okay or should I have it changed to fixed?

I'd leave it on variable myself. Engines and oils have moved on a lot since the 1970s.

[randomeddy]

The oil is probably up to it but the last time I changed mine the filter was in a right state.

[DickP]

Thanks for the comments everyone. Much appreciated.

As you have managed to demonstrate, this is why I am utterly confused to what I should do without spending unnecessarily.

I remember the days of the old PSA 1.6 sludging up its pickup and killing turbos (amongst other bits), but then know things (should) have progressed since then and don't think VAG ever had sludging problems before?

I guess is if variable wasn't very good then we should see plenty of dead VAG cars as consequence by now?