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!

[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?