15K service interval ?

**Melon Head** · 18-12-2012, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by kam

Maybe this is why new cars fall apart after 3 years

I have to disagree with this. I have a 2006 Suzuki Swift that has been serviced every 15000km. It now has 180000km on the clock without a single issue.

Regarding Turbos, yeah I agree that you need to be more carefull. I would not put anything less than synthetic oil in a turbo car. You can always do your own oil change between services.

**kam** · 18-12-2012, 07:58 PM

a few more people were a bit surprised by the 1st servie 15,000km interval

some have said its good to change the oil after the first 500km's, or 3000 km's, should i ?

**Transporter** · 18-12-2012, 08:12 PM

For many it's the decision: "OK, do I want to spend $200 or more for the oil change that is not scheduled?" Some may have other knowladge that supports their's first oil change at 15,000km. But, I'm from the old school and always do it between 1000-1500km incl. in new vag engines and never had a problem.

**Melon Head** · 18-12-2012, 08:32 PM

I also like to do the first oil change early, but I do it myself

**amazeer** · 18-12-2012, 09:23 PM

I know someone who got a territory as a work vehicle. After a while they bought another as the family car because the first one was so good. Sadly both have gone to poo. He reckons if it is made of plastic and it is part of a territory it will either squeak, fall off, or both.

I thought I was unlucky with my first falcon and bought a second. (1994 and 2005 models) yeah I'm an idiot. First one I couldnt keep central lock motors in it. The brake light switch broke. The black paint on the wipers fell off, the window rubbers went crap, the paint faded/went chalky while you watched. The second one rocked about on the rear suspension, the front end creaked, the paint still fell off the wipers, the bonnet cable breaking must be so common the parts guy knew the price off the top of his head, the ridiculous handbrake design needed adjusting every few months.

Ive got my 2nd of 3 lancers on ebay right now. 300,000K with barely any servicing and doesnt blow any smoke at all not even on startup. Only on its 2nd set of front pads, original rear shoes. Besides consumables in 15 years this car has only needed a replacement high beam flasher switch and the vent fan resistor. The flasher switch was probably due to the 3 times the car was broken into and had the steering column broken. The resistor the mechanic gave me for nothing. The only thing missing was the passion a VW badge gives.

**kam** · 18-12-2012, 09:46 PM

we have ford territorys as fleet cars at work:

. sometimes the car wont start in park - thinks its in drive or another gear: so you have go from P, all the way to D, and back upto P
. reverse sensor goes nuts randomly
. whole car shakes on cold starts, sounds like its running on 5 cylinders
. vibration + noise at 1500 rpm
. has the most vague steering, brake and accelerator of any car i have ever driven - a total boat

it is comfy as anything to drive, we nicknamed it the cloud, because its literally like riding around in one

all this, and not even 100,000km's -_-

**brad** · 19-12-2012, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by kam

a few more people were a bit surprised by the 1st servie 15,000km interval

some have said its good to change the oil after the first 500km's, or 3000 km's, should i ?

transporter is quite correct in everything that he says but he doesn't provide the warranty on your vehicle. Follow the manufacturers recomendation & at least they can't argue about warranty.

Alternately, as you seem so unconvinced, get the oil & genuine filter done but not at a VW dealer. Make sure they DON"T stamp your book.

As I said in my first post, does your driving meet any of the SEVERE SERVICE criteria in the manual? Have you looked?

**Transporter** · 19-12-2012, 09:34 AM

I never heard that someone was in the trouble because of the early oil change. It would be very brave from VW to argue that point. Regarding the warranty, I like to keep my cars longer than the warranty period and like my car to be in better condition than it would otherwise be, when the dealer put on the service sticker with 15k km or 12 months interval, disregarding driving conditions an the date of manufacturer. If they were so right about everything, people wouldn't have the oil consumption issues, DSG issues and so on.

But of course by anymeans disregard the above if you keep your car only for short time.

Sent from my GT-N8000