Service light reset - confusion with flexible service interval (longlife)

[freeflyer]

I have just performed a service on my SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI 2015 (oil, oil filter, fuel filter and air filter) and I reset the service light by holding the 0.0/SET button and turning the ignition on etc.

The service interval is supposed to be a flexible service interval (longlife), but when I look at the service setup in the Car menu of the radio it shows the oil change service is due in 9400 miles / 365 days...

When I bought the car a year ago I had it serviced by a garage when the mileage was at 48,206 miles. The service due warning appeared the other day when the mileage was 66,833 which is a difference of 18,627 miles.

So why does it now state the oil change is due in 9400 miles, since I reset the service light ?

Is there a way to tell what the service type is set to i.e. is it set to fixed or flexible service ?

I have an OBD11 which I borrowed but its not the PRO version (I used it to prime the fuel system after replacing the fuel filter).

 

[BillyCool]

I can't give you specifics but the car is meant to monitor the oil and suggest an oil change when it thinks it is due.

Your car certainly seems to think it needs an oil change in 10,000 miles time for some reason. Not sure if that is the car being `smart` or a specific setting.

What sort of driving do you usually do? This is VW's view on the servicing options:

https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes

I have a FR TDI 184 and bought it with long-life servicing, thinking it meant one service a year. Happy days. Although I do 20,000 miles a year, I don't do the motoreway miles that I used to do and lot of it is A roads etc. My mechanic said that they would never leave oil in a TDI for 20,000 miles and it's a bit of a gimmick from VAG to keep costs down for fleet buyers.

Due to DPF regens, lots of shorter journeys etc, the oil quality can degrade quite a lot and need changing sooner.

I now do an oil/filter change every 5,000 miles (a lot of private TDI drivers do the same) and the car runs better. I always use VW 507.00. At 20,000 miles or 2 years, it also gets an inspection service.

You should be able to check what plan you are on. If you search the various forums, there seems to be a lot of advice regarding how to find this out.

I got sold on the long-life service plan but realise it's not actually that great for me personally.

 

[freeflyer]

Thanks Brian Gordon-Stables, since the last service (a year ago) I've been commuting 300 miles a week (approx 14k miles a year) not including all the other mileage pottering around (approx. 20k a year in total). My commute has been a combination of motorway driving and A roads. I was surprised it lasted as long as it did without a service due.

I know the engine management monitors driving and conditions to calculate when the next service is due when using long life oil/flexible servicing (I used to own a Golf Mk5 TDI which used the same type of service method).

For this service I used Castrol Edge Long Life Engine Oil - 5W-30 (from Euro Car Parts) and Wix filters (oil, fuel and air).

The cambelt and water pump have just been changed at a SEAT main dealer (this comes with a 5 year warranty).

 

[BillyCool]

Thanks Brian Gordon-Stables, since the last service (a year ago) I've been commuting 300 miles a week (approx 14k miles a year) not including all the other mileage pottering around (approx. 20k a year in total). My commute has been a combination of motorway driving and A roads. I was surprised it lasted as long as it did without a service due.

I know the engine management monitors driving and conditions to calculate when the next service is due when using long life oil/flexible servicing (I used to own a Golf Mk5 TDI which used the same type of service method).

For this service I used Castrol Edge Long Life Engine Oil - 5W-30 (from Euro Car Parts) and Wix filters (oil, fuel and air).

The cambelt and water pump have just been changed at a SEAT main dealer (this comes with a 5 year warranty).

Sounds like you do similar driving to me. I *think* I got mine changed to 10k but not sure.

I have used Castrol 5W-30 and also Quantum and more recently Mannol. All are VAG 507.00 spec. As someone else said to me, if you change your oil every 5,000 miles, as long as it's 507.00 spec, the brand is less relevant.

Look at you using main dealers! Mine is just having new thermostat and housing (2 week wait for parts) and will then have cambelt/pump done soon. It's a one man band (£20 per hour and no VAT), so won't be paying dealer rates. I'm also changing the heater matrix as mine is clogged up and causing coolant loss.

I love the car but it's about to cost me a lot of £££'s.

 

[freeflyer]

I loathe using main dealers and got several quotes from other approved garages for the cambelt and water pump. However, the other approved garages were only about £100 cheaper for the cambelt and water pump, the thing that swayed me to using a main dealer was the 5 year warranty i.e. the life of the cambelt. So I paid the extra £100 for that peace of mind.

When I had the Golf I had the cambelt and water pump changed at an Audi dealer - and a week later whilst driving on the motorway the tensioner bolt sheared and caused £2000 to £3000 of damage to the engine. Fortunately Audi paid for the repair, recovery and a courtesy car. So the 5 year warranty on the SEAT is reassuring after that experience.

I try to do all other work myself (I've been working as an automotive engineer for the last 20 years but for electronics and software for controlling revolutionary transmissions and engines for R&D mainly) but try to avoid touching the cambelt as any mistake can destroy the engine and you need all the right tools (though I've changed a head gasket and cambelt on a 1.2 Peugeot 206).

 

[BillyCool]

I loathe using main dealers and got several quotes from other approved garages for the cambelt and water pump. However, the other approved garages were only about £100 cheaper for the cambelt and water pump, the thing that swayed me to using a main dealer was the 5 year warranty i.e. the life of the cambelt. So I paid the extra £100 for that peace of mind.

When I had the Golf I had the cambelt and water pump changed at an Audi dealer - and a week later whilst driving on the motorway the tensioner bolt sheared and caused £2000 to £3000 of damage to the engine. Fortunately Audi paid for the repair, recovery and a courtesy car. So the 5 year warranty on the SEAT is reassuring after that experience.

I try to do all other work myself (I've been working as an automotive engineer for the last 20 years but for electronics and software for controlling revolutionary transmissions and engines for R&D mainly) but try to avoid touching the cambelt as any mistake can destroy the engine and you need all the right tools (though I've changed a head gasket and cambelt on a 1.2 Peugeot 206).

Blimey - I think I would have paid £100 more for that as well. What was the total cost?

My guy says that he would need a new cam locking tool? (or something) as they've changed something with what you need. I find modern engines need an IT degree and VERY small hands! I just do oil/filter and let my guy do the rest.

My experience of main dealers is that my eyes water as soon as I walk in the door.....

 

[freeflyer]

Cambelt and water pump was eye watering too, it cost me £588.

The water pump was on its way out as it was making a chirping noise at idle (I put other posts up trying to diagnose the noise and it turned out to be the water pump) so I had to act fairly quickly before the pump failed.

Details are here...

https://www.seat.co.uk/content/dam/...service-and-maintenance-brochure-feb-2020.pdf

This is the part which swayed me...

I did think about doing it myself but a) I would have to buy all the specialist tools (like the locking tools and even an engine support brace) b) I’ve no one nearby to help (even to pop out if I need to get a part etc) the closest help are my parents who live 90miles away c) I need the car for work in the week so it would have to be done in one weekend d) if I need a part chances are places will be shut at weekends e) if anything goes wrong it could write the engine off

I just happened to come across this 2 hour video which is a very similar engine and it shows how involved the job is...

 

[BillyCool]

That sounds about right. My guy gets a camblet kit for less than £200 and then charges me a days labour to fit. So about £300 all in. Can't complain. He has said that my car will need the new locking tool though.

I'd never go near doing it myself.

Good video.