Oil change intervals - Golf R

[Diesel_vert]

Any work needs to be undertaken by "suitably qualified personell". If you fit that description (eg: have an MVRIC ticket in mechanics), then go for it.

One should be sufficiently competent to ensure that any work done to the car by the owner during the warranty period should be inconspicuous to the dealer or VW or whoever.

In the instance that a warranty claim is denied due to incompetent work done by the owner, well clearly, what else should one expect?

Yeah, I don't know about this... I've heard this claim before (when the missus bought an '02 Beetle).

Lets look at it this way... If this were true, then why is it that when you ask for top up oil within the first 15k, any VW dealer would recommend the standard 504.00/507.00 compliant oils.

If they used a special oil, then surely any top up in the first 15k should be done only with this special oil?

Heh, the mystery continues...

[Transporter]

Heh, the mystery continues...

...or, he could be an ideal candidate to have a proper UOA done, not the $36 one.

Shame really that he is not in SA, I would make a trip and get the oil tested but at 15,000km, since the VW persist with 15k km oil change.

But really, I mean, ... the man or women you talk to at the service desk and who is giving you an expert advice, doesn't even have to be a trained mechanic?

[brad]

...But really, I mean, ... the man or women you talk to at the service desk and who is giving you an expert advice, doesn't even have to be a trained mechanic?

No, not these days. It appears the main qualification is to be able to add all the big numbers on the invoice, repeat the same thing over & over again & cop the abuse for the shoddy work of the apprentices.

[Transporter]

No, not these days. It appears the main qualification is to be able to add all the big numbers on the invoice, repeat the same thing over & over again & cop the abuse for the shoddy work of the apprentices.

Maybe you've just been lucky or others unlucky, but there are some signs in the forum that indicate, that I might be right.

[dave_r]

Anyway back on topic sorta.... Got access to a hoist so doing an oil change myself (done around 9k) isn't too bad of an idea and not a hard job.

Will pickup a genuine filter from parts, not sure what oil I'll use yet but will price up what my dealer uses (Castrol something). I know on my last car I had to replace the sump plug washer. What is the go with the R? Is there anything specific I need to know about these, done my own cars before.

[Transporter]

The sump plug washer is made of steel and I have the original one after almost 90,000km in my T5 and it was out probably 15 times.

It's good idea to get the oil from the dealer, but you can get Liqui Moly for less.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f24/...tml#post676882

[dave_r]

Never heard of that Liqui Moly stuff. Easy to buy online, will have to double check my manual for required quantity before ordering from motoractive unless there is a forum sponsor that sells it?

Will grab a filter and oem plug (if price is negligible) from the dealer. Your one looks bloody long hehe, good idea though.

[DreamensioN]

Ok so...going all the way back to the first post on the first page.....

...What's the deal with changing oil mid-interval? I too am a believer that the first batch of oil in an engine should be dumped out. Lots of engine parts bedding in...lots of metal rubbing and filing down. Where does that go?....into the oil. Sure the oil filter gets most of it - but then the oil filter would be "clogged" up with this stuff.

Surely it can't hurt and engine to have fresh oil in it. And I don't buy this "we put a special oil in from the factory" nonsense - it's a normal oil. And they just use Castrol beacuse that's probably who they have a contract with. Just like how Ferrari uses Shell. It's not because Shell oil is superior - it's because they're a sponser.

So oil change at 7500km - yes or no? And why DO VW dealers tell you to get lost if you ask for it? Seriously. Like...don't they MAKE money if I take my car in for an $200 oil change?

[Diesel_vert]

I too am a believer that the first batch of oil in an engine should be dumped out. Lots of engine parts bedding in...lots of metal rubbing and filing down. Where does that go?....into the oil. Sure the oil filter gets most of it - but then the oil filter would be "clogged" up with this stuff. Surely it can't hurt and engine to have fresh oil in it.

There's lots of information on the internet on oil changes, wear particles, etc, etc. You can draw lots of conclusions from collective analysis, but the long term benefits of a very early oil change haven't really been made conclusively clear (to me anyway), or such studies are difficult to find in the public domain.

If it was absolutely mission-critical to the engine's operational capability, perhaps they would've mentioned it in the owner's manual (or am I being too hopeful?) Not that there'd be any point mind you, since it appears that 95% of owners don't even read it anyway...

Many people do it, but many more don't. At the moment, I personally think it has a very small impact on the overall life of the engine.


TL;DR - Can't hurt, assumption is that it's beneficial, but actual long term impact is unknown (or data/proof is unavailable) to us plebs.

I don't buy this "we put a special oil in from the factory" nonsense - it's a normal oil.

No one other than the VW engineers in Germany know for sure. However, given that this is the internet, a lot people have nonetheless made their own conclusion. So here's mine - I personally think the first-fill oil is not too dissimilar to any 504/507 oil that you can buy from the shops.

And they just use Castrol because that's probably who they have a contract with. Just like how Ferrari uses Shell. It's not because Shell oil is superior - it's because they're a sponsor.

It certainly wouldn't be out of the question that they'd have contracts with numerous suppliers (e.g. Fuchs is a very common OEM supplier to German manufacturers), though not all of them would be advertised as broadly as they have done with Castrol.

So oil change at 7500km - yes or no?

Depends on what conditions the vehicle is operated in, how it's operated, and the quality of the lubricant.

E.g. Highway usage at legal speeds in mild conditions would favour longer oil change intervals (OCI). On the other hand, constant start-stop or city/suburbia journeys, constant use of full throttle, extreme conditions (hot or cold), or where the majority of trips are done where the oil doesn't get up to temperature, would all favour a shorter OCI. A high quality lubricant could increase the OCI all round, whereas a lower quality lubricant would limit it.

And why DO VW dealers tell you to get lost if you ask for it? Seriously. Like...don't they MAKE money if I take my car in for an $200 oil change?

Lol, no idea. Just go somewhere else.

[Transporter]

Ok so...going all the way back to the first post on the first page.....

...What's the deal with changing oil mid-interval? I too am a believer that the first batch of oil in an engine should be dumped out. Lots of engine parts bedding in...lots of metal rubbing and filing down. Where does that go?....into the oil. Sure the oil filter gets most of it - but then the oil filter would be "clogged" up with this stuff.

Surely it can't hurt and engine to have fresh oil in it. And I don't buy this "we put a special oil in from the factory" nonsense - it's a normal oil. And they just use Castrol beacuse that's probably who they have a contract with. Just like how Ferrari uses Shell. It's not because Shell oil is superior - it's because they're a sponser.

So oil change at 7500km - yes or no? And why DO VW dealers tell you to get lost if you ask for it? Seriously. Like...don't they MAKE money if I take my car in for an $200 oil change?

LOL, our Tiguan hit 10,000km and got its 3rd oil and filter change today. The first one was at 1000km
Not all metal filings get trapped at the oil filter, otherwise I wouldn't see them in the oil I've drained.
I have enough prove that frequent oil changes extend the life of the engine and more importantly the engine stays at the peak power for much much longer.