A6 C7 Service interval

whomitconcerns

So I have seen a fair few threads advocating a service after 10K KM. I have done 12k since i bought in december (last service when I bought it same time).

When i called audi to book in they said it was not needed and to call back after 2yrs or 30K km. Does this not seem a long wait? I am under warranty till July of next year if that makes a difference.

urajoke

whomitconcerns wrote: »

So I have seen a fair few threads advocating a service after 10K KM. I have done 12k since i bought in december (last service when I bought it same time).

When i called audi to book in they said it was not needed and to call back after 2yrs or 30K km. Does this not seem a long wait? I am under warranty till July of next year if that makes a difference.

It's in a long life service interval of 30000k or 2 years which ever is the sooner. Audi and others have invested a lot of time and money into this they know what they are talking about a few other boardsies will be along in a moment to tell you to service it every time you have driven it but I prefer to pay attention to the manufacturer.

George Dalton

If it was my car I would do it every year or 15,000km. The manufacturer specified long life intervals are too long IMO.

GavMan

George Dalton wrote: »

If it was my car I would do it every year or 15,000km. The manufacturer specified long life intervals are too long IMO.

While I tend to agree, especially with a diesel, why do you think they are pushing long service cycles?

Hit you with a bigger bill?

George Dalton

GavMan wrote: »

why do you think they are pushing long service cycles?

Lower maintenance costs for the fleet companies.

mickdw

George Dalton wrote: »

Lower maintenance costs for the fleet companies.

Without doubt.
On a side note, My local dealer appears to set everything to 15k km servicing when being prepared for sale when new. When I bought new, I had a terrible argument with them as I was intending just doing an oil and filter change myself between longlife services and as such would still have a good history from main dealer.
They really talked alot of crap even though the spec sticker in the car is clearly coded as being on longlife service.
We recently got a new passat from the same dealer and the same thing is done again.

bazz26

urajoke wrote: »

It's in a long life service interval of 30000k or 2 years which ever is the sooner. Audi and others have invested a lot of time and money into this they know what they are talking about a few other boardsies will be along in a moment to tell you to service it every time you have driven it but I prefer to pay attention to the manufacturer.

That is a very disrespectful comment to make against regular posters here who offer good advice and know what they are talking about especially those who work with cars on a daily basis and have a wealth of experience and knowledge on these subjects.

As for paying attention to manufacturers because they know best, well best of luck with that line of thinking. It wouldn't be the first time a car manufacturer revised their guidelines due to large scale problems despite previous servicing guidelines being followed. It wouldn't be the first time some of these manufacturers let their customers do their field testing for them.

I'd rather be over cautious around servicing, especially on modern cars with overly complex technology that is still relatively new.

whomitconcerns

well as its under warranty till July next year so will have it done before then and they can pony up the bill if there is one for extras

Moanin

I'd do it every 15k kms, and change the fuel filter every second service.

R.O.R

We're running practically all VAG diesels to 30k service intervals.

Not heard of any issues caused by this, and it's been done this way for years.

Whether it will affect the cars as they get older, I don't know. As long as they don't cause us major hassle for 3 or 4 years, we're happy.

We run everything to manufacturer's schedule's, so Opel & BMW are at 30k intervals too - possibly others.

sunnysoutheast

whomitconcerns wrote: »

well as its under warranty till July next year so will have it done before then and they can pony up the bill if there is one for extras

The issue is that any problems caused by extended service intervals probably won't become apparent until the car is out of warranty.

If the correct-spec. oil is used, particularly if it requires regular top-ups, it will probably be OK for the 30k interval. The oil filter, particularly on a diesel, will be in a poor state though I would expect.

The advice I was given (by an independent BMW specialist) is to stick with the 30k intervals only if you are covering that distance in a year or so, the oil filter won't last two winters. I understand VW now do not recommend long life unless the usage pattern of the car supports it.

George Dalton

R.O.R wrote: »

Whether it will affect the cars as they get older, I don't know. As long as they don't cause us major hassle for 3 or 4 years, we're happy.

I reckon the consequences only become apparent as the cars get older and head for high mileage territory. That is when the benefit of the regular oil changes becomes apparent. Now obviously this isn't relevant to you guys (except in certain cases) and may not be relevant to the OP either. By the time the problems start happening it will be someone else's car and someone else's problem.

For me though I just couldn't bring myself to leave oil in an engine for 30k, I have seen first hand the stuff that comes out the other end of a modern diesel after a 30k interval and you couldn't even accurately call it "oil" at all.

whomitconcerns

what he told me was that it was fully synthetic oil used and should be fine for 30k or 2 years..im doing 2k a month at least so i guess i do it next March, and then I suppose do one more in July just before warranty is out for a final check!

jimgoose

whomitconcerns wrote: »

what he told me was that it was fully synthetic oil used and should be fine for 30k or 2 years..im doing 2k a month at least so i guess i do it next March, and then I suppose do one more in July just before warranty is out for a final check!

All modern turbodiesels need fully synthetic oil, and personally I'm not happy about leaving the same oil in an engine for more than a year, regardless of mileage or manufacturer's recommendations. Of course being under warranty you'll probably be told to sod off it you present for servicing "inside" the documented interval.