First service at 7,500 km?

[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]

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

[Flighter]

Wow, this is a confusing topic. At the risk of making it more so, here's my experience.

I collected my new car recently, and noticed that it had a service sticker stating 7,500kms. When I asked about why it didn't say 15,000, the dealer said that it wasn't mandatory to change the oil that early, but was recommended. As I expect to only do about 10,000kms a year, I figured I'd just go the whole year between changes (keeping it topped up of course), so he suggested using VW 504 rated oil (e.g. Castrol SLX Long Life III) instead of the more usual VW 502 grade (e.g. Castrol Edge Sport 5W-30).

I've no idea what's in the crankcase now, but I sure wish I did!

Flighter

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.

[Mk6 GTI]

I'd sit in the middle of Maverick and the dealer and the owners manual.

I'd say just get the thing serviced every 15,000km/12 months, but change the oil and the filter yourself every 7,500km/6 months. The spares/service dept will be happy to order you a few spare filters and bottles of oil. Or you could source them somewhere else if you wanted.

This way you still have the log book stamped appropriately for your warranty and resale, plus the piece of mind of having fresh oil and filter

Wont doing it yourself void the warranty??

[MurphyTheElf]

Aww, chin up Mav.

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

As usual, more pointless drivel from you in an otherwise informative thread. I see your "Moderator" title has promptly vanished after the rubbish you've posted in the past few days. I call that a good start....

Thanks to everybody else's input - it shows people really care about their cars. It also provides me with some tips on what I should be paying attention to when dealing with the service centre in the not too distant future. As long as each post has some form of constructive discussion (or a fun comment), then I'm rapt to be a part of this forum. Others just do their best to f@ck it up for everybody.

[Deano]

[QUOTE=Maverick;430051]Based on what?QUOTE]

A customer that had to pay the bill even though the vehicle was still in full waranty, (not goodwill) due to the service book having been stamped with service @ 7,500km's.

[Maverick]

[QUOTE=Deano;430292]

Based on what?QUOTE]

A customer that had to pay the bill even though the vehicle was still in full waranty, (not goodwill) due to the service book having been stamped with service @ 7,500km's.

I really doubt that it's as clear cut as you're suggesting and there would have to be more to it. What sort of repair was it?

Many VW dealers perform services every 7500kms. The manual itself says that is ok. And there are plenty of people all around the world that service their car early.

In the US all cars up until MY09 had a 5000mile oil change followed by a 10000mile service and 10000mile intervals thereafter.

If the oil wasn't VW approved on the other hand I can see them refusing warranty.