Octavia Servicing

[Socceroo]

Hey Guys,

I'm just about to near 10k in my Octavia Elegance TDI and was wondering whether its best to take the car in for an early service even though the book says 15k.

I'm just worried that there will be a lot of gunk in the engine considering its still bedding in, and it didn't require the 3k service like petrol cars do. I'm still not sure how to treat a diesel engine.

Interested to see what everyone else has done.

[Graybags]

From my understanding with more accurate and better machining methods and more advanced metallurgy you don’t have the same need to run engines in as you did years ago hence the oil will not need changing until the recommended time. Besides, my opinion is the oil needed changing for two reasons after the first few hundred k’s
1- Blow by past the piston rings because they were not sealing yet contaminated oil.
2- Microscopic metal filings contaminated the oil that should be caught in the filter or sink to the bottom of the sump anyway.
Think about it, 10,000 kilometres is a long way for an engine, all the running in was done in the first few hours and now any wear it called wearing out or loosening up.
My2c

[K1W1]

If the book says 15k then do it around 15k. The car manufacturers pay engineers a huge amount of money to work these things out and it's not up to us mere users to second guess them.
Obviously if you like spending money unnecessarily then have services done as often as you want.

BTW: Have you been checking the dip stick oil level? I was told by a Service Manager that the small VW diesel engines can use a bit more oil when they are running in that they do when they are fully seated.

My last two diesel engined vehicles have both not felt truly run in until the 12-15,000km range. If the Skoda TDI goes as well as it does now with 500km on it I can't wait to see what it will be like when it is run in.

[Transporter]

Hey Guys,

I'm just about to near 10k in my Octavia Elegance TDI and was wondering whether its best to take the car in for an early service even though the book says 15k.

I'm just worried that there will be a lot of gunk in the engine considering its still bedding in, and it didn't require the 3k service like petrol cars do. I'm still not sure how to treat a diesel engine.

Interested to see what everyone else has done.

IMO, if you plan on keeping your car for long time 7-10 years and longer, you should change your oil every 7,500km, especially if you drive short trips (driving under severe driving conditions). If you upgrade within 5 years it's waste of money.

[brad]

I just do mine every 15,000km/12months (whichever first). I have no idea how long I intend to keep the car - might be 3 years (70,000km) - might be 10.

Transporter is right, severe service needs 7500km oil changes. Severe Service definitions are in the owners manual.

I could give you my CV of 30 years automotive & engineering quals & experience but from my knowledge of forums, in the end you'll do what you thought in the first place anyway