[Hugh Jass]

Has anyone taken their EOS into Volkswagen for a regular scheduled maintenance? Someone has told me that maintenance is expensive. How much for a basic oil change? I haven't picked up my EOS yet, but this is something I would be interested in knowing.

Thanks!

 

[GOgg]

I have not taken mine in for a service yet because the UK models (petrol)all seem to come with a 20,000 mile interval or 2 years. The engine is filled with synthetic oil which is very expensive in comparison with the normal stuff anyway. From what I understand it will cost about the same as two normal 12,000mile services.

 

[schoolhousefred]

Hi There,
Car uses synthetic oil, so it costs a little bit more for the oil. With taxes, it comes to around $100 Cdn for regular service. No big deal and definitely worth it to keep the car ship-shape.

 

[Hornet9]

Hey GOgg,

Are you sure it's 20,000?

My service manual says 10,000.

Ian

 

[neh321]

Hey GOgg,

Are you sure it's 20,000?

My service manual says 10,000.

Ian

According to my dealer it's not specific. Spanner graphic will appear on the instrument panel when it's time and it could be anywhere between 10 and 20K depending on your driving style.

 

[trampdog]

Hi
Unless you have opted for longlife servicing, then a service is due at 10,000 miles or after 12months.

Paul..

 

[schoolhousefred]

Hugh,
I thonk these chaps are all driving turbo-diesels with different service standards ... suggest you check your Canadian manual. I believe that VW recommends servicing the car, with synthetic oil change, every 8000 kms. Seems quite frequent, but probably excellent long term insurance!

 

[GOgg]

I didn't get the option it came with "long Life service" interval of 20k miles or 2yearswhich ever comes first.

 

[GOgg]

Not a TDI but TFSI petrol. If you change your synthetic oil after only 8k kms it will be expensive and unnecessary. You could just use ordinary oil and save a packet. Have you considered the environmental imapct of what you are stating.

 

[Hugh Jass]

GOog,

In my previous vehicle I used semi-synthetic and changed oil every 5000 KM as recommended by a mechanic. I think I will do the same in the EOS. What environmental impact are you suggesting? the fact that there would be more used oil? We recycle our used oil here in Canada. There are many practical uses for used motor oil. A primary use is to rerefine it into a base stock for lubricating oil. This process is very similar to the refining of crude oil. The result is that the rerefined oil is of as high a quality as a virgin oil product. In fact, rerefining used oil takes from 50 to 85 percent less energy than refining crude oil.

 

[GOgg]

I agree entirely with your point of view. However, the difference here is that what I am talking about is not semi-synthetic it is 100% man made, it lasts 3-4 times longer consequently does not need recyled 4 times as often.

http://sowhatcanido.blogspot.com/2006/05/consider-synthetic-oil.html

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/in_business/measurement_tools_syntheticoil.shtml

Looks like we could be speaking about two different things here.

 

[Hugh Jass]

I guess it depends on who you talk to or believe. My mechanic suggests changing every 5000 KM regardless of whether it is regular oil or synthetic. That theory seems to be in line with the oil manufacturer Quaker State, who states in the FAQ (that I got from your first link) that:

Myth #7

Synthetic oil lasts longer than conventional oil or extends the oil drain interval.
You can go longer (i.e., 25000 miles) with synthetic oils.
Using synthetic motor oils can double your oil drain interval.
Synthetic motor oils can be used twice as long as conventional motor oils.
Changing only your oil filter every 3000 miles and topping off the oil can extend drain intervals.

Fact
Quaker State® does not recommend extending oil drain intervals beyond the “severe service” maintenance interval of three months or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first. Also, we are unaware of any automobile manufacturer in the United States that currently recognizes using any synthetic oil beyond the recommended oil change intervals outlined in their owner’s manual. We emphasize severe service since the majority of motor vehicles are operated in severe driving conditions such as short trips (under 10 miles), dusty or sandy conditions, cold weather, extended idling periods, trailer towing or other harsh conditions. Under ideal conditions, however, such as a dust-free climate, highway driving, light loads, perfect engine performance, etc., the oil drain interval may be extended to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended “normal service” period (generally between 3,000 to 7,500 miles). Contamination by normal wear particles, water, fuel, and other combustion by-products, as well as additive depletion, are the main reasons for changing conventional oils on a regular basis. Synthetic oils are equally susceptible to this problem. The only way to remove these contaminants is to change the oil and filter within manufacturers’ recommended intervals.

So, based on this information, regardless of what type of oil Volkswagen suggests using in the EOS, I will be changing it every 3 months or 5000K as recommended by my mechanic and Quaker State. But I agree that using conventional oil would be much cheaper over the life of the car.

 

[GOgg]

Hi Hugh,

As a chemical scientist I tend to go by experimental results so I trust the lab figures that are available. The information posted above of course does not mention the oils capacity to carry large quantities contaminents whilst still maintaining its viscosity, and lubricative properties. They have a vested interest in selling the stuff so I am always beware of manufacturers statements.

In the UK anyway, VW state that the service intervals is 20k miles or 2y which ever comes first. I would not have thought that VW would get this wrong and possibly end up with warranty claims or perhaps its a mechanism to get you to buy a new car cause the engines stuffed. Can't see them staying in business long if that is the case.
(By the time I get to 20k miles its time to change the car anyway! so my own oil change would be about 6k miles)

As you say its up to individual preference and for security of the engine life you can't go wrong with your change every 5k klicks.

Thanks for the good going debate.

Best wishes

Graham

 

[pdog]

As an engineer in the Heavy Goods Vehicle industry I thought I would add my thoughts and experience to the debate, most of the major manufactures of HGV's (in Europe and UK at least) run their engines on fully synthetic oil and their oil drain intervals are usually in the region of 100,000km, and I personally am aware of quite a number of vehicles that have covered over 1,000,000km without any issures on 100,000km drain intervals, whilst I realise HGV's are a different ball game long drain intervals on synthetic oil are the norm.

Paul

 

[Laura H]

From new they all have long life oil in them.
I have opted for fixed cost maintenance which allows me to send my car in ever year for an oil change. I can not do over 10,000 miles in that year on the contract I went on, which I know I wont. But Im having it changed requently for piece of mind and because I do short journeys.

Laura

 

[Mike]

I just checked the manual..... in the US for a 2.0T the first service is @ 5000mi, the next at @ 10000 mi then every 10000 mi after that. They pretty much just change the synthetic oil and empty the water seperator the first couple of service visits. (Makes sense to me. Clean out the any bits of dirt and wear-in particles.)

What I didn't see is regular required maintenance for the convertible rubber seals, so I bought my own Krytox.

 

[neh321]

Hi Hugh,

As a chemical scientist I tend to go by experimental results so I trust the lab figures that are available. The information posted above of course does not mention the oils capacity to carry large quantities contaminents whilst still maintaining its viscosity, and lubricative properties. They have a vested interest in selling the stuff so I am always beware of manufacturers statements.

In the UK anyway, VW state that the service intervals is 20k miles or 2y which ever comes first. I would not have thought that VW would get this wrong and possibly end up with warranty claims or perhaps its a mechanism to get you to buy a new car cause the engines stuffed. Can't see them staying in business long if that is the case.
(By the time I get to 20k miles its time to change the car anyway! so my own oil change would be about 6k miles)

As you say its up to individual preference and for security of the engine life you can't go wrong with your change every 5k klicks.

Thanks for the good going debate.

Best wishes

Graham

My 2.0 T-FSI told me on its screen about 2 weeks ago 'service in 1000 miles'. The car has now done about 12500 miles and the message is down to 'service in 400 miles' now, so it looks like about 13000 miles before its first service.

 

[eismeerblue]

From my personal experience. I bought my 1990 Vanagon new and switched to full synthetic oil called Synthoil (no longer available as far as I know) at 30,000 miles. Thereafter I changed the oil every 50,000, filters at 3K to 5k miles. Around 178k miles the heads were leaking (a very common problem with the WBX engine) enough that I needed to replace the heads. When the engine was torn down the pistons and cylinders were clean as a whistle. I am still driving this van and it now has 185k and I use Mobil 1 fulll synthetic.

Here in the U.S., recommended service is 5000 miles. I called my dealer to schedule my 5000 mile service, but told him I only had 4000 miles, but was taking a 1000 mile trip soon and wanted to be sure there was no problem. He told me that the Eos uses synthetic oil and going over 5000 miles wouldn't hurt a thing. Steve

 

[Pepino]

Has anyone taken their EOS into Volkswagen for a regular scheduled maintenance? Someone has told me that maintenance is expensive. How much for a basic oil change? I haven't picked up my EOS yet, but this is something I would be interested in knowing.

Thanks!

To answer your question my 5000mi service was $50. oil change and something like a 10pt check. I have the 2.0T.

 

[EosEnthusiastNB]

In the US its 5000, 10000, 20000, 30000, etc. Oil Change Myths is an interesting read. I also read a site at some point that was a guy who went as long as he could on changing his oil as a scientific study. He sent oil samples to a lab every 5000 miles and kept his oil topped off. I believe he went a long long time before the oil actually ended up needing to be fully replaced.

That being said, I would rather spend the money on regular maintainance instead of emergency repairs =).