"severe operating conditions" - service indicator at 7500km

**ope126** · 09-01-2011, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Rob Burns

I'll amend it then.

If you change your oil before the 1 year/15k mark and VW Australia find out about it then you will void your warranty on the engine.

Are you sure about this?!
I highly doubt it...

I have changed oil / filter on previous VW's and have never had an issue with servicing or warranty.

Maybe if you put a non approved / wrong grade of oil in that does not meet manufacturers specs, that might contribute to engine damage, fair enough. For example, by not using a 507.00 in the newer engines (such as TDI's with DPF).

I would like to know where you have sourced this info from Rob.

**Rob Burns** · 09-01-2011, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by ope126

Maybe if you put a non approved / wrong grade of oil in that does not meet manufacturers specs, that might contribute to engine damage, fair enough. For example, by not using a 507.00 in the newer engines (such as TDI's with DPF).

The engines are filled with a special running in oil that is not the 504/507 oil that is recommended for oil changes. This oil is suppose to stay in the engine for the first 15,000km.

Originally Posted by ope126

I would like to know where you have sourced this info from Rob.

VW technican training.

Better yet, go here and ask.
http://volkswagenaustralia.com.au/contactus/

Originally Posted by barrenjoey owl

Please advise where in the warrenty document where it says that changing oil before the 1 year/15,000km period will void your warranty...

Your service book tells you that your first oil change is 1 year/15,000km.

**barrenjoey owl** · 09-01-2011, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by Rob Burns

The engines are filled with a special running in oil that is not the 504/507 oil that is recommended for oil changes. This oil is suppose to stay in the engine for the first 15,000km.

Except under special conditions. take a look at your manual.

VW technican training.

Indeed?

Better yet, go here and ask.
Volkswagen Australia

Why would I go there?

Your service book tells you that your first oil change is 1 year/15,000km.

As per my earlier point, as per my service book which says " an Oil Change at 7,500 kms may be required for vehicles operating under severe driving conditions.

Now many would say that daily driving in stop start traffic, short runs etc meet the definition which you would no doubt be aware of as you're are "VW trained".

As I said go and have a look at the fuels and Lubrication section and ou'll learn a lot.

HTH

**Rob Burns** · 09-01-2011, 06:20 PM

Having lived in Canada where it can be -40 in the winter, +40 in the summer, heavily salted roads in winter and high humidity in the summer I have a good idea of what severe conditions are like for a car and the service requirements for such conditions.

I might consider short runs to be slightly more severe than normal operating conditions if the vehicle doesn't reach operating temperature simply because cars run richer when cold and the extra fuel washes the oil off the cylinder walls. Luckily for us it doesn't get cold here so cars warm up very quickly and the effects are reduced. Stop/start traffic is normal operating conditions. Show me a city in the world that doesn't have stop/start traffic.

The only thing we get here that I might consider severe is the dust in the bush. This would require more frequent air filter changes but not oil changes.

**The_Hawk** · 09-01-2011, 07:52 PM

If I remember correctly (the manual is in the car) "servere operating conditions" covers pretty much everything... in fact here is a scan:
(taken from a Multivan, but I'm sure it's much the same for the other vehicles too).

It would be interesting to see what trip the warning in the car though since half our driving is stop start city traffic to work but then some decent runs (like Dubbo or Melbourne) as well.

**ope126** · 09-01-2011, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by Rob Burns

The engines are filled with a special running in oil that is not the 504/507 oil that is recommended for oil changes. This oil is suppose to stay in the engine for the first 15,000km.

VW technican training.

Better yet, go here and ask.
Volkswagen Australia

Your service book tells you that your first oil change is 1 year/15,000km.

Rob Burns,

Looks like you have some "Real World" experience here.
I will not flame you down.

Your information is very informative and good to know.
However could you please tell me / point me in the right direction as to where I would find written evidence from Volkswagen Australia that if I change my oil pre 15,000kms/1yr my engine warranty will be void.

Hopefully your dealership is not connected with the dealerships that have changed my oil pre 15,000km / 1 yr on my previous VW's...

It is always good to get some technical know how.

Thanks for your input Rob and I look forward to even more input from a "Techs" perspective in future posts.

**Rob Burns** · 09-01-2011, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by ope126

Rob Burns,

Looks like you have some "Real World" experience here.
I will not flame you down.

Your information is very informative and good to know.
However could you please tell me / point me in the right direction as to where I would find written evidence from Volkswagen Australia that if I change my oil pre 15,000kms/1yr my engine warranty will be void.

Hopefully your dealership is not connected with the dealerships that have changed my oil pre 15,000km / 1 yr on my previous VW's...

It is always good to get some technical know how.

Thanks for your input Rob and I look forward to even more input from a "Techs" perspective in future posts.

I added a link to contact VW Australia in the post you quoted. I recommend you fill it out and ask them yourself.

I'd like to think my dealership is not connected to whoever did your oil change before their time. If the dealer did an oil change without informing you that you've voided your warranty wouldn't they technically own any future mechanical issues the engine might have? Don't go quoting me on that one though. Perhaps another question for VWA via the contact page.

**barrenjoey owl** · 10-01-2011, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by Rob Burns

I added a link to contact VW Australia in the post you quoted. I recommend you fill it out and ask them yourself.

I'd like to think my dealership is not connected to whoever did your oil change before their time. If the dealer did an oil change without informing you that you've voided your warranty wouldn't they technically own any future mechanical issues the engine might have? Don't go quoting me on that one though. Perhaps another question for VWA via the contact page.

Rob you really have put yourself in a hole here.

Despite the fact many posters have disagreed with you, that evidence from a user manual recommending Oil Changes before 15,0000ks or 12months you try and deflect this by telling people they should check with VWA. May I suggest that YOU use the contact page or go to your Service Manager if you do indeed work at a VWA dealer(????) . If you are "VW trained" which at this stage is not completely apparent, your asertion that driving conditions in Australia don't meet ths criteria is clearly false and misleading. Any VW tech would know your statement is C**p.

We're all here to help each other, posting spurious information does no one any good especially you.

Regards

PS My posts have been polite and to the point.