High Mileage TDI PD Longlife Oil changes - anyone doing it?

[jtmac]

I've had a good search and I seem to have gathered the following.

All Seats have Fixed 10K Mile (15k KM) oil/oil filter change intervals.

They can't be changed to variable because either:
There is a sensor missing;
Or You can only go variable to fixed not fixed to variable (and all Seats start fixed).

Can re-mappers reprogram the service indicator to variable?

Is anyone out there doing there own long interval oil changes anyway (with 507.00 oil of course). Ignoring the service indicator and just inventing their own interval? If so how far have you pushed it?

 

[cordoba lad]

The sensor will be checking how much fuel and debris is held within the oil and it will then indicate when you need to service the car. I would assume that it isn't present and is held back for the audi's and VW's because of them being "premium cars". If you are doing short trips all the time then you will find that you will be servicing the car a lot more often than the once every 10k. Some people change there oil every 5k which I think could be a bit much but it depends on how the car is driven. Incidently you can change the fixed servicing parameters using VAG-com the number of days gets counted down along with the miles. However I don't think that you will achieve much by stretching the service interval out because you may save a few pounds in oil and filter but it could cost you in increased engine wear.

 

[allh2k]

wouldn't the performance dip slightly on the MPG as well as wear

 

[mrcoyote]

Some Skodas have variable servicing as well so it's just Seat that don't do it.

Strangely though, the Ibiza Cupra TDI needs 506.01 oil which is the long life stuff...

 

[S3 AKR]

Skoda's are switchable - my Octy II VRS (petrol) came with a "3 years free servicing" offer but the downside was that the car had to be set to fixed servicing. I researched it and was told that you can switch back to variable through VAG-COM.

The Seats do have a missing sensor so they have to be fixed intervals. I would stick to that regime even with the long life oil as your service history will be all over the place and if I were buying a car with gaps between services more than those specified in the schedule, I'd walk away.

Saying that, not everyone is as anal as me!!

 

[NinjaFlavour]

I was advised by the garage that did my last service that if you do a lot of miles (which would be most of us here on a car enthusiast site) then stay away from longlife services.

You should really be servicing it every 10k, you're going to have to change the filters and so on that often anyway.

 

[Memphis]

I am running on a Long Life servicing plan. Volkswagen advised me to use it as I am currently spending 60/70% of my time cruising down the motorway. Upto 20k miles or 2 years whichever is sooner. Although I was advised to do it around 15k which for me will be about 10 months.

 

[jtmac]

Memphis, You are ignoring the indictor on the dash of your Leon and changing oil at 15K at the recommendation of a VW garage?

If I switched to every 15K I could be servicing every 7-8 months instead of every 5.

How long has your Leon been on this plan? I take it it is out of origianl warranty.

 

[Memphis]

Memphis, You are ignoring the indictor on the dash of your Leon and changing oil at 15K at the recommendation of a VW garage?

If I switched to every 15K I could be servicing every 7-8 months instead of every 5.

How long has your Leon been on this plan? I take it it is out of origianl warranty.

I think I was told that the service indicator had been reconfigured to variable servicing. Either way they advised for me to get my next service at about 15k. My service history did not start out well. Due to a big mess up at the dealer I bought it from (cough, Stoneacre Doncaster) it had missed it's first service at 10k. They lied about this. When I bought it it was on about 24k so I had a full service done then, with 506.1 oil. I had my next service done at about 37k in August 08 by VW which was a full variable service, again with 506.1 oil. They said that the services that had been done were very similar to those that would have been done had it been put on a variable plan from the start. So far I am on 45k and have had no problems. I'll get my next service done in about June time I think.

Yes, my car is now out of it's manufacturers warranty.

Of course, I still service my car regularly myself. Checking oil, tyres, fluid levels, and so on.

Give your local VW garage a call. I spoke to several people at my local and one in a neighbouring city and every engineer said the same. They said that most SEAT's are put on fixed 10k servicing plans but said they can be changed. Depending on how many miles you do a year and where the majority are clocked up you may be best on a variable plan. I was told by these engineers that changing to variable in my case would not have a negative effect on the car.

Hope that helps you.

 

[PDaddy]

Does anyone know if the Altea 2.0 can be serviced at long life intervals, is the sensor that checks the oil in the SEAT 2.0 TDi.