First service at 7,500 km?

[harbour2929]

Well guys for what it is worth I have actually contacted Volkswagen in Germany asking them about oil change intervals and associated "severe" conditions. I was driven to that action because of all the contradictory info I was reading and hearing. The Germans were very polite and said that they appreciated my concerns and that they had passed my enquiry to Volkswagen Australia for them to answer my questions.
Uh-oh I thought - here we go - on the merry go round... never to be heard from again..... BUT... I was pleasantly surprised and contacted by a customer service rep to discuss and work out a solution to my concerns. I told him that I was worried about 15,000km / 12 month servicing as I considered my car operated under severe driving conditions. (90% of trips are of less than 15 minutes duration).
He said he would talk to his technical people to see what would be appropriate for my car. The end result was that the car should properly be serviced at the 15,000km / 12 month interval. The oil in the car's new engine was indeed a special running in oil and was not to be changed prior to the specified interval. The engine and the oil are designed to operate efficiently and safely under the recommended schedule. It is interesting to note that this advice was exactly the same as I received from my selling dealer when I queried it with them some months ago - at the beginning of this saga.
So, I guess, take it or leave it - I used to change the oil in my WRX and Forester XT at every 2500kms - overkill to be sure.... I still have nightmares about leaving the oil in the engine for these new long periods, but at the very least I have names and written documents to support the advice if ever something happens in the future. Of course I desperately hope that it never comes anywhere near to that....I have to place my faith in those engineers and oil technicians and rely on the fact that they don't spend millions of dollars on research for no reason.... My 2c worth folks......

[Diesel_vert]

10 bucks sez at the next service, the dealer asks you to come back in 7,500 km/6 months


But if you feel uneasy about extended drain intervals, I recommend changing the oil filter every six months (sounds like you don't do big mileages) or 7,500 km and top up regularly - even small amounts of top up oil will greatly help prolong the life of the oil. I think this is a smarter use of your resources.

[harbour2929]

10 bucks sez at the next service, the dealer asks you to come back in 7,500 km/6 months


But if you feel uneasy about extended drain intervals, I recommend changing the oil filter every six months (sounds like you don't do big mileages) or 7,500 km and top up regularly - even small amounts of top up oil will greatly help prolong the life of the oil. I think this is a smarter use of your resources.

Hi and thanks for that info - very much appreciated.....

[Golf Mark 6]

He said he would talk to his technical people to see what would be appropriate for my car. The end result was that the car should properly be serviced at the 15,000km / 12 month interval. The oil in the car's new engine was indeed a special running in oil and was not to be changed prior to the specified interval. The engine and the oil are designed to operate efficiently and safely under the recommended schedule.

So correct me if I'm wrong, but VW Australia actually stated that the oil in a new engine (like mine) should actually run for the 15,000km because that's what it was designed for?

You see the problem I have is not strictly financial (though I promise you I won't be returning to my dealer to pay $300 for an oil change), it's the fact that the dealer is seemingly disregarding the instructions from the manufacturer to make a profit.

So far I have to say that I ABSOLUTELY love my car. With all it's tweets, little boot bumps over speedhumps and everything else, it's a fantastic piece of engineering. I'm completely sold on VW.

I'm NOT sold at all on the pathetic customer service I have received. You'd expect the service to be the same level as the car itself, but it seems this is not the case.

It shouldn't be too much to ask for the dealership to communicate exactly what the manufacturer does. How am i supposed to trust these guys with servicing my car if they make up their own rules?

[gti]

I've serviced my gti at 7,500 and 15,000km and plan on getting the oil changed again at 22,700.

[chilliman]

well my gti has a sticker for 15000kms initial service so that's what I am doing. Mind you the rate I am going that'll be in 8-9 months time!!

[Deano]

if you change your oil before 15,000 km's and have oil usage concerns later on within the waranty period VW can refuse to cover costs of repair and the 7,500 service is just a money spinner.

[Maverick]

if you change your oil before 15,000 km's and have oil usage concerns later on within the waranty period VW can refuse to cover costs of repair and the 7,500 service is just a money spinner.

Based on what?

The manual says different and elsawin says different as well.

As for the 7,500km oil changes just being a money spinner, that's your opinion and those that like to care for the engines see if differently.

[Blitzen]

Well guys for what it is worth I have actually contacted Volkswagen in Germany asking them about oil change intervals and associated "severe" conditions. I was driven to that action because of all the contradictory info I was reading and hearing. The Germans were very polite and said that they appreciated my concerns and that they had passed my enquiry to Volkswagen Australia for them to answer my questions.
Uh-oh I thought - here we go - on the merry go round... never to be heard from again..... BUT... I was pleasantly surprised and contacted by a customer service rep to discuss and work out a solution to my concerns. I told him that I was worried about 15,000km / 12 month servicing as I considered my car operated under severe driving conditions. (90% of trips are of less than 15 minutes duration).
He said he would talk to his technical people to see what would be appropriate for my car. The end result was that the car should properly be serviced at the 15,000km / 12 month interval. The oil in the car's new engine was indeed a special running in oil and was not to be changed prior to the specified interval. The engine and the oil are designed to operate efficiently and safely under the recommended schedule. It is interesting to note that this advice was exactly the same as I received from my selling dealer when I queried it with them some months ago - at the beginning of this saga.
So, I guess, take it or leave it - I used to change the oil in my WRX and Forester XT at every 2500kms - overkill to be sure.... I still have nightmares about leaving the oil in the engine for these new long periods, but at the very least I have names and written documents to support the advice if ever something happens in the future. Of course I desperately hope that it never comes anywhere near to that....I have to place my faith in those engineers and oil technicians and rely on the fact that they don't spend millions of dollars on research for no reason.... My 2c worth folks......

If this isn't a defintate answer, I don't know what is...I think that no amount of Google searches can overrule the what the manufacturer states in personal contact, or the operators manual.

[gregozedobe]

If this isn't a defintate answer, I don't know what is...I think that no amount of Google searches can overrule the what the manufacturer states in personal contact, or the operators manual.

Unfortunately the MANUFACTURER of VWs (VW in Germany) did not say any of that.

This is all based on verbal advice from VW Australia (an importer and distributor of VWs). AFAIK this new "Australia only" policy was agreed on at a gathering of some Australian VW service personnel earlier this year in response to issues with excessive oil consumption in some VW engines.

I was told about this special "initial fill of special 'running-in' oil" and not changing oil at 7,500Km despite clear instructions to do so by VW germany (via the owner's manual) if the car is being driven in severe service conditions a few weeks ago.

I was quite skeptical, so I asked if I could have a written copy of this advice. The service manager I was talking to declined to give me anything in writing. Make of that what you will. I have strong doubts that there is any official advice from VW Germany supporting this approach.

If I had a new VW that I used for mainly short trips I think I'd be insisting on official written advice from VWA specifically telling me NOT to change the oil at 7,500Km before I would ignore what the manufacturer advises me to do in the owner's manual. That might shake things up a bit at VWA (or at least lead to some fancy weasel words justifying why they won't back up their verbal advice with written confirmation).

Of course I might be totally wrong and VW Germany actually do fill VWs with a special running in oil and definitely don't want you to do a 7,500km oil change even though the car is being driven in severe service conditions

Maybe one of the VW techs or dealer reps that are on this forum can give us more information about this issue.

[Maverick]

If this isn't a defintate answer, I don't know what is...I think that no amount of Google searches can overrule the what the manufacturer states in personal contact, or the operators manual.

The manufacturer didn't state anything, someone at VWA told him verbally and last time I looked VWA has their customer service handled by a third party. And to answer your petty little google attack the main information doesn't come from Google but Volkwagen themself.

1. The MANUAL (written by Volkswagen (NOT VWA) in conjunction with their engineers) states that in Australia we have 12 month and/or 15,000km services EXCEPT under severe conditions under which parts of the service need to be performed earlier.

Severe operating conditions
If the vehicle is used under severe operating conditions some jobs will have to be performed before the next service due or at shorter service intervals.

Severe operating conditions as defined by Volkswagen.

• Regular short trips or stop and go operation in urban traffic
• High percentage of cold starts
• Vehicle is used in areas with winter temperatures over a long period
• Regular long periods of idling (e.g. taxis)
• Vehicle is often driven under full load or towing a trailer
• Using diesel with elevated sulphur content
• Regular operation in areas with high levels of dust

2. ELSAWIN also has the same information. Elsawin is the factory repair, maintenance and information source.

3. US Service Manuals, they get the same factory fill that we do. On call cars prior to MY09 they had an oil change at 5,000m, 10,000m and after this at 10,000m intervals (except if operating under severe operating conditions).

4. Oil Analysis done by the US guys. Heaps of info on the oil and the quality after 5,000 and 10,000 miles.

Feel free to actually contribute something useful Blitzen instead of taking the opportunity to have a go at someone.

[Sales @ Mentone Skoda]

15,000km 12 months

Hi Guys,

I know coming from a dealer this will get shrugged off as unsubstantiated dribble but i can assure you that the recommended servicing schedule is and always has been 15,000km/12 months from VGA. There is an option of doing a 7,500km service for those who are adammant the car needs it but in reality it is a waste of good money and the oil is designed to be in there for 15,000km/12 months without any fear of damage or developing issues under normal operating conditions (which would be 80% of owners in OZ). Irrespective of the views given on OS websites, the warranty is honoured by VGA and therefore you should be going by what they deem to be the parameters and that is a minimum of 15,000km or 12 months whichever comes first.

The occassional top up is not uncommon but the car will let you know when it and if it is required.

For a dealer to say that VGA recommend the 7,500km service this is wrong and misleading.

[gregozedobe]

Thanks for that MS, I don't think many dealers are pushing owners to change the oil at 7,500Km/6 months, this discussion is about dealers actively discouraging owners from doing it then even if they do frequent short trips where the engine doesn't get warmed up properly and/or lots of cold starts (see the definition of "severe operating conditions in the owners manual) ie the other 20% of owners in Oz. The type of oil put in for the initial fill is a related issue.

I'm guessing VGA haven't/won't give out anything official (in writing) to owners on either point:

1 Initial fill is a special ''running-in' oil (ie it is different in some way to the normal oils supplied for subsequent servicing),

2 Do not change oil at 7,500km even when driving is "severe service conditions" (which doesn't really make sense when you consider we are required to change it at 12 months, even if you have only driven 2,000Km in that time). This verbal advice directly contradicts what VW Germany say in our owners manuals (and Elsawin etc).

JMO

[Blitzen]

The manufacturer didn't state anything, someone at VWA told him verbally and last time I looked VWA has their customer service handled by a third party. And to answer your petty little google attack the main information doesn't come from Google but Volkwagen themself.

Aww, chin up Mav.

Feel free to actually contribute something useful Blitzen instead of taking the opportunity to have a go at someone.

Hahahahahahaha...This is rich coming from you...Maybe you should consider your own advice sometimes too.

[Corey_R]

Hi Guys,

I know coming from a dealer this will get shrugged off as unsubstantiated dribble but i can assure you that the recommended servicing schedule is and always has been 15,000km/12 months from VGA. There is an option of doing a 7,500km service for those who are adammant the car needs it but in reality it is a waste of good money and the oil is designed to be in there for 15,000km/12 months without any fear of damage or developing issues under normal operating conditions (which would be 80% of owners in OZ). Irrespective of the views given on OS websites, the warranty is honoured by VGA and therefore you should be going by what they deem to be the parameters and that is a minimum of 15,000km or 12 months whichever comes first.

The occassional top up is not uncommon but the car will let you know when it and if it is required.

For a dealer to say that VGA recommend the 7,500km service this is wrong and misleading.

Thanks heaps for that advice and taking the time to post in here