To Change the OIL or not

[ian]

I have a 130KW Tiguan Diesel , Which i hardly drive as i have another vehicle ,
Well its due for a service and its only done 4,000km since the last one ,as its out of warranty should i change the oil and filter or just the oil .
Or just leave it untill i have at least 10,000km ,It seems a waste of good 507/504 fully synthetic oil ?

[Idle]

Oil (even fully synthetic) does go off with time, plus the standard filters are usually cheap paper.
My TDI had clocked just a bit over 2000km for the last 12 months — I still changed both oil and filter, let everything else go.
Will do a full service next time.

[Umai Naa!!]

I'd still do it at least annually, regardless of not doing the distance.

[Guest001]

My Polo has only done 24000 in 7 years but has had yearly services regardless of KMs

[gldgti]

Oil (even fully synthetic) does go off with time, plus the standard filters are usually cheap paper.

What evidence do you have of this claim?
Also, with regard to the paper filter - of what significance is this? THe paper flter holds up fine cycling temperature from ambient to 100C and back again thousands of times with oil running through it - what about cold static oil will be worse than that?

[Umai Naa!!]

I'd use an OEM paper filter over some of the better-known non-OEM garbage.

[ian]

I have been reading that Fully Synthic Oil has 3 times the shelf life of Mineral oils
so if its just stored in the sump of a car would it deteriate faster ?

[Umai Naa!!]

I'd still do it every year. In the sump, it is prone to moisture contamination.

An annual service, is not just an oil change. It's an opportunity to inspect other things that are prone to deteriorate with age, such as belts, seals, rubber fluid lines for brakes and fuel, CV boots, and to also test the battery, the cooling system, and brake fluid.

I've often found that the least-used cars, are the ones with the most problems. Perhaps consider moving it on?

[Guest001]

I have been reading that Fully Synthic Oil has 3 times the shelf life of Mineral oils
so if its just stored in the sump of a car would it deteriate faster ?

Probably as shelf life is usually described as being in a sealed unopened container
Was a discussion a year or so ago and supported the above.

[h100vw]

I've often found that the least-used cars, are the ones with the most problems.

I like to buy cars that have been used a lot.

A car that does 50000 in the city will have lots more wear in the clutch/DSG than one that has 200k on the highway.

One yard around the corner had a 2007 mk5 GTI, $22k with 11000km on it. Salesman was pleased to announce it was his dads pride and joy and had only one stamp in the book....

Not for me.

[gldgti]

I like to buy cars that have been used a lot.

A car that does 50000 in the city will have lots more wear in the clutch/DSG than one that has 200k on the highway.

One yard around the corner had a 2007 mk5 GTI, $22k with 11000km on it. Salesman was pleased to announce it was his dads pride and joy and had only one stamp in the book....

Not for me.

Reminds me of my mk5 tdi I bought.... got it with 240,000km on it. Put some poly bushings in the front and the damned thing felt like new again. Only other problem really was the drivers door wiring loom cracked at the hinge.

[Umai Naa!!]

Only other problem really was the drivers door wiring loom cracked at the hinge.

A sign of a properly used Mk5

[doc_777]

Take a sample of the oil and send it off for analysis. That will decide whether it needs replacement or not.

[Transporter]

I have been reading that Fully Synthic Oil has 3 times the shelf life of Mineral oils
so if its just stored in the sump of a car would it deteriate faster ?

The oil and filter is cheap, engine repairs aren’t.
Even if the synthetic oil is stored properly in sealed container, I still wouldn’t want it in my engine once is 2 years and older.

It’s completely different story once the oil is in the engine, it’s life is much shorter due to oxidation and all sorts of contamination.

It’s very rare to see the use by date on the oils, but the longest I ever saw was on 208L drum of Mobil1 ESP5W30 few years ago, and it was 5years from the production date. The oil companies usually don’t like to tell what’s the safe use by date of the oils.

If you drive just 2,000km per year or anything up to 10,000km, change the oil and filter every 6month regardless of km. Otherwise don’t keep the car longer than 5 Years.