Service intervals

[Blackdakdak]

Finally read thru all the reams of booklets i got with car. 132tsi. My car code matches the long service interval in the service schedule booklet, but the dealer seems to want me to do regular 15k services.

Should i question this? Or is the long service thing just done overseas?

The booklet also seems to say that bugger all is done at most services so i'm wondering how much the first 15k basic oil change should cost if that is all they do. Hope you guys can give me some feedback.

[Diesel_vert]

How unusual, I thought that Australian delivered vehicles were set up for fixed service intervals. Anyway, I'm sure the dealer can reprogram the vehicle if you wish.

Alternatively, you can just leave it as is, and see just how far the vehicle says it can go before needing a service. I reckon it'd be an interesting exercise for sure - the vehicle might even say it's due for a service before you reach 15,000 km/1 year!

The big proviso with variable service intervals (LongLife) is that you must use or top up with an approved 504/507 oil. A forum search should enlighten you.

And remember, there is nothing preventing you from booking the vehicle in for a service at 15k/1 year, even if the vehicle says you can go longer.

[Transporter]

How unusual, I thought that Australian delivered vehicles were set up for fixed service intervals. Anyway, I'm sure the dealer can reprogram the vehicle if you wish.

Alternatively, you can just leave it as is, and see just how far the vehicle says it can go before needing a service. I reckon it'd be an interesting exercise for sure - the vehicle might even say it's due for a service before you reach 15,000 km/1 year!

The big proviso with variable service intervals (LongLife) is that you must use or top up with an approved 504/507 oil. A forum search should enlighten you.

And remember, there is nothing preventing you from booking the vehicle in for a service at 15k/1 year, even if the vehicle says you can go longer.

That's very truth, I've my T5 set on variable service interval and I can't get much over 6,000km

[gecko2k]

Is there a 'better' type' of service intervals which is recommend when you want to hang on to car for lets say about 10 years?

[Blackdakdak]

Thanks guys. Sorry I wasnt clear. The car is set by the dealer for 15k intervals on the MFD, but the owners manual has a sticker with the longlife code. I don't mind doing regular services at each 15k if it is best for the car. I drive around 900k a week, plus regular long trips, so around 45k a year.

Just wasn't sure why my car had a longlife service code in the owners booklet and the dealer set it to 15k servicing. If I'm doing all long trips, I wondered if I could (or should) stretch it out....assuming my particular car isn't one of the prolific oil burners. The last thing the dealer gave me after signing away my bank account was a Castrol brochure telling me my new car 'might' burn a lot of oil. As my previous Subaru never burned much at all even after 300000km this was a shock.

The Forester was at 12.5k intervals, so it felt like I was always at the (crappy) dealers getting a service, so 15k is better than that.

I'll ask the dealer at the first service. Any rough ideas how much a 15k oild change service will cost in NSW?

[MGV]

I thought 15000 WAS a long interval! I'm doing 2 in-betweeny oil changes myself (every 10000) & going to the dealer/independent every 30000 for the more 'involved' services...

[idaho]

Our Golf had the longlife codes and was set for long servicing when new. After 11 months and just under 12000 km the service display showed Service in 1 month or 18000 km so the service calculator was obviously thinking that the car was getting an easy life. But after the 12 month service the dealer set it to 12 months / 15000 km. So maybe VW isn't so confident about cars getting the correct oil in Aust and swaps cars to the fixed intervals to be sure.

[Blackdakdak]

But after the 12 month service the dealer set it to 12 months / 15000 km. So maybe VW isn't so confident about cars getting the correct oil in Aust and swaps cars to the fixed intervals to be sure.

Thanks Idaho, that makes sense. At least with regular 15k services thru the dealer, they can never complain it wasn't serviced correctly for any warranty issues. The 'longlife' code raised my hopes that I wouldnt have to visit the dealer so often - but reality is that regular oil changes protect the car better. Subaru dealers really put me off dealer servicing in a big way - hope VW ones are better.

Just hope mine isnt a major oil burner. LOL, VW probably should market that as a 'self oil-draining feature' and charge extra for it.