VW/Skoda long service intervals vs short?

Stallingrad

Our 2016 Skoda Superb petrol is currently on 15000km service intervals, the problem is we seem to be racking that up in 8 months, mostly motorway miles.

So thinking of switching to VW/Skoda long live oil and their longer 30k service intervals. Just a bit nervous that this is too long. We intend to hold onto the car for at least 5 years so wont be neglecting servicing.

Any advice?

Bmw123d

Stallingrad wrote: »

Our 2016 Skoda Superb petrol is currently on 15000km service intervals, the problem is we seem to be racking that up in 8 months, mostly motorway miles.

So thinking of switching to VW/Skoda long live oil and their longer 30k service intervals. Just a bit nervous that this is too long. We intend to hold onto the car for at least 5 years so wont be neglecting servicing.


Any advice?

Being in the mechanic game for a long time. I would not use this at all as the oil should be changed at make 12000km but I’d do mine every 8000. And then again the car should be serviced at least once a year.

Stallingrad

Stallingrad wrote: »

Our 2016 Skoda Superb petrol is currently on 15000km service intervals, the problem is we seem to be racking that up in 8 months, mostly motorway miles..............

Any advice?

I'd use very decent oil but get it serviced annually.
That'd be 12/13k miles on decent oil in a petrol engine with a turbo (presumably)...... be grand.

George Dalton

Stallingrad wrote: »

So thinking of switching to VW/Skoda long live oil and their longer 30k service intervals.

Any advice?

It’s the same oil in either case. There is no magic “long life” oil.

It’s your car so it’s your decision. Personally I would stick to the 15,000km interval.

enumbers

George Dalton wrote: »

It’s the same oil in either case. There is no magic “long life” oil.

It’s your car so it’s your decision. Personally I would stick to the 15,000km interval.

2nd this cant understand the logic of trying to save on a oil service on a car you intend to keep. Fine if its lease or pcp . I have commercial customers who are in every 3 months to protect there investment. preventative maintenance is cheaper in the long run if you intend to keep a car or do decent millage.

Toyotafanboi

It's down using the correct spec oil for your engine, if you do this it will do the 30k intervals no problem, particularly a petrol engined car.

I am doing 30k intervals on our Golf diesel and it's due it's 90k service in about 2 weeks. Although the oil is blackened its none moreso than you would exepect of diesel engine oil, it seems an ok consistency, not sludged etc. It has taken one oil top up between services for each of the three services, which I wouldn't consider excessive.

I was a sceptic but I'd certainly recommend.

As an aside, my Civic petrol also recommends an oil change every 10k kms but I've been using a fully sent 5w30 and changing it every 20k kms for the last 4 services and the oil still looks quite good coming out of it and it doesn't burn a drop between services and it runs great.

Being overly conservative with maintenance can only be a good thing but the boundaries can definitely be pushed safely.

Bmw123d

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

It's down using the correct spec oil for your engine, if you do this it will do the 30k intervals no problem, particularly a petrol engined car.

I am doing 30k intervals on our Golf diesel and it's due it's 90k service in about 2 weeks. Although the oil is blackened its none moreso than you would exepect of diesel engine oil, it seems an ok consistency, not sludged etc. It has taken one oil top up between services for each of the three services, which I wouldn't consider excessive.

I was a sceptic but I'd certainly recommend.

As an aside, my Civic petrol also recommends an oil change every 10k kms but I've been using a fully sent 5w30 and changing it every 20k kms for the last 4 services and the oil still looks quite good coming out of it and it doesn't burn a drop between services and it runs great.

Being overly conservative with maintenance can only be a good thing but the boundaries can definitely be pushed safely.

Defo wouldn’t be letting it go this long that’s crazy.

Leonard Hofstadter

For the sake of €100 for an oil and filter change, I'd stick with changing it every 15,000 km for sure. You'd spend more money on a good night out. You could probably stretch it out to 20,000 km if it's mostly motorway driving but I definitely wouldn't leave it go any longer no matter what the manufacturer says it can do between changes.

The only vehicles that can really do big mileage on the same oil are trucks and buses - but then again some truck engines have an oil capacity of over 40 litres - almost 10 times the amount of oil a standard four cylinder car engine needs!

Lantus

It's nuts to try and save 100euro on a 35k car by risking the engine. Getting oil changed is an easy and cheap way to keep a car running long term.

Toyotafanboi

Bmw123d wrote: »

Defo wouldn’t be letting it go this long that’s crazy.

It's clinically insane.

What are the risks? If the level is monitored regularly and topped up if necessary.

I'm not saying never change it, that's not good but doing 30k intervals with good engine oil in a modern engine is perfectly achievable with little to no additional risk to the engine.

CalamariFritti

I wouldn’t buy a car that don’t really like. I never buy anything thinking I’d get rid in a year or two or three. I like a good machine and I almost get attached a little. My last one (E39) I had for 14 years. I’d still have it only for tax and insurance going nuts. So I mind my cars. Service every year before the winter regardless of mileage which is about 12k km. Do all the filters and fluids and bits and bobs as required. If something goes I fix it or have it fixed right away.
Has worked really well fo me, never had any big repairs with any of my cars and they’re still fun to drive and look well after many years.
But that’s just me.

Stallingrad

Interesting to hear the differing opinions. I had assumed that if you go for the longer intervals you are getting an oil specified for that kind of use. I've always gone for 15k/annual intervals on my petrol Passat, but the OH's petrol Superb is racking up the mile more quickly, hence considering the longer intervals. They are not hard miles either, mostly M50.

At the moment the options an oil service every 7 months or every 14 month approx....

sundodger5

Had a passat as a company car doing 80k annually and it was on the long service interval.
Gave no trouble as long as i had it. Handed back at 235k

Stallingrad

Stallingrad wrote: »

.................

At the moment the options an oil service every 7 months or every 14 month approx....

Or every 12 months

Bmw123d

Stallingrad wrote: »

Interesting to hear the differing opinions. I had assumed that if you go for the longer intervals you are getting an oil specified for that kind of use. I've always gone for 15k/annual intervals on my petrol Passat, but the OH's petrol Superb is racking up the mile more quickly, hence considering the longer intervals. They are not hard miles either, mostly M50.

At the moment the options an oil service every 7 months or every 14 month approx....

As I’ve said over and over max every 12k so in ur case every 7 months. Don’t skimp on a oil change it’s the least u can do for your car.

jmreire

Bought a new Skoda 1.6tdi Octavia back in 2012. One of the selling points was 30'000 Klms service intervals ( Oil and Filter, mainly ) 6 mths into ownership, got a letter from Skoda, service interval has been reduced to 15'000 Klms. There was no explanation given for this, and I was getting it changed in any case at 15'000 Klms, so I just ignored the letter. Since then, have had another Octavia, followed by present Skoda, a Superb. All Skoda services are at 15'000 Klms intervals, officially. So I go by this, but with any other (Not New) car I have ever owned, I would change the oil at 10'000 Klms.
Nowadays, with a suction pump, and most filters being on the top of the engine, it's just 15 or 20 mins work....and no need to go underneath the car, so to me at any rate, it makes sense to do it like this. Plus on Amazon or E-Bay, it's possible to pick up good quality oil and filter service kits at a reasonable price. I can understand other people going with the longer oil change intervals, but I'm happier with the short intervals.

Toyotafanboi

jmreire wrote: »

got a letter from Skoda

From the dealer or the manufacturer? It's only natural the dealer would be keen to see you twice as often for a service in fairness.

jmreire

The letter was from the dealer, but the changes were from Skoda.. Seems that these engines ( especially when new) can use 0.5 Ltr /1'000 Klms ( and sometimes more ) and because people were taking the long 30'000 Klms intervals as being correct, a lot of engines were being damaged by running low on oil ( these were the ones where the owners never looked under the bonnet ) but also by the owners who regularly checked the oil level, and were not happy with putting that amount of oil in between changes, hence the reduction from 30'000 Klms to 15'000 Klms change intervals. It's documented on the Briskoda.net site. And now, the on-board computer on my Superb tells me when the next service is due, and it's always at the 15'000 Klms.
As can be seen from the comments here on Boards, there are lots of different opinions on which is the best option, long-life+ long Klm oil changes, or more frequent oil changes ( and maybe just using a "Standard" oil) But for me, I will use a long life oil, but change it ( and filter) at the 15'000 Klm interval. Most manufacturers recommend changing the oil at least yearly, even cars with small mileage, because the oil itself degrades over time.

corkgsxr

I've a primastar that is mainly city/suberb driving.

Interval is 20k klms. I do it at 15 which works out twice a year for me.

The apparently unreliable engine despite me upping the power is at 170k with no bother to it. No issues.

Now it has 8 litres of fully syt in it. And I've seen how that comes out at 15k. It's dirty and thin.

I can't imagine a engine doing 30k harm free to a service unless it's motorway constantly.

jmreire

corkgsxr wrote: »

I've a primastar that is mainly city/suberb driving.

Interval is 20k klms. I do it at 15 which works out twice a year for me.

The apparently unreliable engine despite me upping the power is at 170k with no bother to it. No issues.

Now it has 8 litres of fully syt in it. And I've seen how that comes out at 15k. It's dirty and thin.

I can't imagine a engine doing 30k harm free to a service unless it's motorway constantly.

I have seen and heard of many engines doing mega-mileages on frequent oil changes....but personally,I have never heard the same about any engines with a poor service history. Once owned a Ford Orion ( 1985 vintage ) had 400'000 Miles on it, and it was rust which finally finished it off, but engine was still going strong. Frequent oil changes are the life of any engine.