How often do you service?

[Rawcpoppa]

On taking delivery of my Jetta the dealer gave me a flimsy looking paper with some info:



What do you guys think? Particularly those of you on city miles.


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[Diesel_vert]

In Australia, service intervals are every 10 000 miles or 12 months. Some of us also change the oil in between at 5 000 miles or 6 months, but that's it.

My best guesses for why the service intervals in Trinidad are so low, include:

- Fuel quality (high sulphur content for petrol and diesel)
- Tropical climate (temperature, humidity)
- Local driving conditions (low average mileage, frequent short trips, maybe dust)

Mind you, dealers over here have been known to 'recommend' more frequent service intervals than is needed, so best to double-check with the head office in your country.

[Rawcpoppa]

Thanks for that. Makes sense what you said.


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[Diesel_vert]

Though I must say, the time interval (every 3 months) does seem very frequent.

Is that normal for most cars in Trinidad?

[Rawcpoppa]

This is my first vehicle purchase so I don't have servicing schedules for vehicles in Trinidad. However the few people I have spoken to here tend to proclaim that the 3 month schedule is a grab for money by the dealer so I don't think 3 months is normal. I was leaning more towards 6 months or 5000 miles as my interval due to basically city miles, dust, temperature. I did not factor humidity and fuel quality though. I will have to find out about out sulphur content.

[ziggyboy]

You should make sure whatever you follow does not void your warranty!

I'm a little surprised your warrant is only 2 years though...

[Rawcpoppa]

VW policy in Caribbean it seems to offer two years mechanical warranty.

Spoke to my mechanic recently. He basically said that all dealers here do that 3 month service so it's not just this dealer being greedy. Just all of them lol.


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[Rawcpoppa]

The max sulphur content for 95 ron gasoline here is 500 ppm or .05 % by mass. Is this considered high?

[Diesel_vert]

The max sulphur content for 95 ron gasoline here is 500 ppm or .05 % by mass. Is this considered high?

I would say so, yes.

In Australia, for regular unleaded (91 RON) it's 150 ppm and for premium unleaded (95 RON or higher) it's 50 ppm.

In Europe, the max. sulphur limit is 10 ppm for all grades of petrol.

[aacars2012]

i do every 6 months in AU......