had my oil analysed

[brad]

An FYI for those that were wondering if 15,000km intervals were a bit long.......

Background:
I'm an ex-mechanic & in the past tended to over-service my vehicles because it cost me nothing but time (my boss was always happy to supply consumables as a bonus).
These days I run maintenance programmes on major plant & tend to try maximise service periods for operational efficiency.
So i was happy to run 15,000km oil change periods but was having doubts due to a number of reasoned arguments saying that 15,000km was fine as long as i didn't intend to keep the car long-term (except I do intend to keep it).

History:
car is now 60,000km old. The oil level on the stick drops maybe 2mm in 15k. I drive lots of motorway kilometres & only get-up-it occasionally.
15k service = Castrol Edge 5w-30 (VW502)
30k service = Valvoline SynPower XL-III 5w-30 (VW 504/507)
45k Service = Valvoline SynPower XL-III 5w-30 (VW 504/507)

At 60,000km (ie the oil was 15,000km old), after a short 15km suburban run, I took an oil sample & sent it for analysis. The results came back this morning & I'm amazed at how good the oil still is. The lab gave it a big smiley symbol
Metal contaminants (iron, chrome, lead, copper, tin, nickel, aluminium) are negligable.
Additive pack seems to be still going strong.
Negligable water, soot, fuel dilution.
Viscosity @ 100c is 11.19 (new is 11.5)

Conclusion: YMMV, but for my usage & driving style, I'm more than happy to continue with 15,000km oil change periods using 504/507 oils.

[team_v]

Awesome!
Always good to hear this kind of information.

[Jarred]

Wow, very interesting to hear.

I'd be interesting to compare those results with someone one does alot more short trips, and in lots of stop start traffic.

Where, who etc did you go to get the oil analysed?

[brad]

i'd post up the report but I can't work out how to obliterate identifying info in the .pdf they sent me.

[team_v]

i'd post up the report but I can't work out how to obliterate identifying info in the .pdf they sent me.

print screen, then edit it in paint or something.

[brad]

Wow, very interesting to hear.

I'd be interesting to compare those results with someone one does alot more short trips, and in lots of stop start traffic.

Where, who etc did you go to get the oil analysed?

I do about 500-700km a week. 75% would be motorway but lately the motorway has been a bit of a carpark for 30% of the time (ie 45min trip takes 80mins), so I'm still doing a fair bit of stop/start & 30kmh crawl (didn't get beyond 2nd gear from M5/M7 interchange to Padstow the other day).

Oil was analysed at OilCheck Pty Ltd. My contractor uses them for hydraulic fluid analysis (which usually comes back with a grumpy face). It was about $35 (bought it ages back & I borrowed the contractors special syringe thingy ($100) but you could use a medical syringe. Fill & double stopper the supplied 100ml container, place in a ziplock bag. Fill in a form & place form & sample inside another supplied container & drop it in the post & they email the results.

I've satisfied my curiosity enough that I'll probably wait another 60,000km before I check it again.

[brad]

[G-rig]

Wow, very interesting to hear.

I'd be interesting to compare those results with someone one does alot more short trips, and in lots of stop start traffic.

As well as people that drive the car a bit harder.

Also turbo cars tend to generate more heat/run hotter don't they or shorter life span?

[Lance B]

As a matter of interest, you say you used a syringe to obtain the sample, so did you get the sample from through the dipstick tube or did you get it from some other area?

[brad]

As well as people that drive the car a bit harder.

Also turbo cars tend to generate more heat/run hotter don't they or shorter life span?

RH column - 1.8TSI

Knowing the performance of this car & how i drive compared to the rest of the populations, I think that I could safely say that for the bulk of owners with TSI engines (1.8 & 2.0), they could feel quite comfortable using 15,000km changes when on 504/507 oil (which is designed for 30,000km changes).

I'm positive that 7500km changes don't do the engine any harm & I'd guarantee that 7500km oil is in better condition than this oil but none of those that proclaim "a kitten will die if you do your oil changes at 15,000km" have ever shown me evidence that this is the case. I was wavering & thinking of going to 7500km oil changes (can do them at home) but will stick with 15,000km now.

[brad]

As a matter of interest, you say you used a syringe to obtain the sample, so did you get the sample from through the dipstick tube or did you get it from some other area?

Yes, got the sample through the dipstick tube using the flexible tube supplied in the kit. If it was a decent sized engine with a big mofo oil capacity, you might take a sample from several areas but in this case, i couldn't see the point. As long as the oil was hot & it was within a few minutes of shutdown (so that particles stay in suspension), it should have been a representative sample.

I used a brass version of this thing - the tube (not shown) runs through to the sample container & therefore there is reduced risk of contamination but a syringe from the chemist would be fine too - maybe suck up 100ml & dump it & then take a 2nd 100ml for the test sample.

[Lance B]

Thank you for your very detailed response, Brad. Much appreciated!

[onyertod]

Great work Brad. Many thanks for sharing.

[Transporter]

An FYI for those that were wondering if 15,000km intervals were a bit long.......

Background:
I'm an ex-mechanic & in the past tended to over-service my vehicles because it cost me nothing but time (my boss was always happy to supply consumables as a bonus).
These days I run maintenance programmes on major plant & tend to try maximise service periods for operational efficiency.
So i was happy to run 15,000km oil change periods but was having doubts due to a number of reasoned arguments saying that 15,000km was fine as long as i didn't intend to keep the car long-term (except I do intend to keep it).

History:
car is now 60,000km old. The oil level on the stick drops maybe 2mm in 15k. I drive lots of motorway kilometres & only get-up-it occasionally.
15k service = Castrol Edge 5w-30 (VW502)
30k service = Valvoline SynPower XL-III 5w-30 (VW 504/507)
45k Service = Valvoline SynPower XL-III 5w-30 (VW 504/507)

At 60,000km (ie the oil was 15,000km old), after a short 15km suburban run, I took an oil sample & sent it for analysis. The results came back this morning & I'm amazed at how good the oil still is. The lab gave it a big smiley symbol
Metal contaminants (iron, chrome, lead, copper, tin, nickel, aluminium) are negligable.
Additive pack seems to be still going strong.
Negligable water, soot, fuel dilution.
Viscosity @ 100c is 11.19 (new is 11.5)

Conclusion: YMMV, but for my usage & driving style, I'm more than happy to continue with 15,000km oil change periods using 504/507 oils.

I remember reading on tdi.com that people were doing UOA regularly, right up to 80,000km engine and oil samples came OK and then suddenly engine had massive wear in the valve train components and some even worst than that (these were TDI engines and they were not using VW approved oils).

Unfortunately UOA don't monitor other important things like deposits inside the engine, sludge, varnish and particles and contaminants trapped in the oil filter. Also VW tests the oils for approval bit differently than the oil companies usually do, so sticking to VW approved oil is vital, IMO.

But as you said, for your driving condition it could be sufficient to change the oil every 15,000km.
Good work, thanks for posting your UOA. I will make shortcut to this thread in the Lubricant section of the forum.

[woofy]

Have you been told when your chain is due for replacing? Since the belts are done anyway instead of just inspecting I'd be curious as to what gets done at 60k