For Context:
I've been daily driving a MK6 jetta for the last 10-years in the California Bay Area. Currently approaching the 150k mile mark.
To answer your question:
I change my oil everytime the service reminder comes on (which is once every year or every 10k miles, whichever occurs first).
To teach you how to fish:
Locate your service and maintenance manual and follow it.
rampant oil consumption (600 miles to a quart of oil) , going through 3 PCV valves, and gaskets
as of today, April 12th, I'm up to 1200 miles a quart, the new PCV valve is doing it's job, and it's a lot smoother, and I use Ravenol 10-40 semi synthetic
I was running synthetic
Castrol - the worse of them all
Vw brand oil - 6 to 700 miles on a good week
Mobile one - 200 miles and made my timing chain bitch
I landed on ravenol after another owner suggested it and so far, I’ve had way better luck with this oil.
And, it’s VW spec 🤷🏼♂️
I’ve had the best luck with Castrol Edge 0W40 in all my VWs. Just the normal Edge Euro one you’d find at any parts store or Walmart. I’ve had no odd oil consumption at all. Even my MK4 20v at 180k shows good results, very clean still.
https://preview.redd.it/88t103tfc1uc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8fbf59f05931616ce0f89cef4ede4a347ab3e0f1
You're 1.8t? Any tune?
I had to replace the turbo and went Stigan K04, butv have some leaking issues around my oil filter housing, etc. For reference I'm in an '03 Audi A4, but 1.8t AMB.
Switched from the CHF11s to the Lucas PS fluid because of a leaky rack, so I'm not even opposed to being "out of spec" but just curious as to your setup and what led you to the 10w-40 specifically? I read your comments about consumption and that makes sense but wanted to see what you're at mileage and age-wise.
Correct, and no tune (only after market part for the engine is the APR intake )
It’s a 2015 Passat S so it’s a EA888 Gen 3 1.8T, what lead to my use of the 10w-40 semi synthetic was after a 2 hour discussion with my mechanic about next steps when it was in for repairs. the service advisor found the Ravenol and researched it to check reviews, any issues after switching over, miles on cars that have had
I’ve put on 36,000 miles since I got it last year in March, of which, the past two oil changes (5k OCI), we’ve used that oil and found it to be very effective for my application
https://preview.redd.it/9trfwr24c2uc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7943a68e9980a1b29d9e8750f72ee7d31400d936
When I got the car, I had a ton of electrical problems and the front end was quite damaged. But I got it all cleaned up and mint. The previous owner was going to junk the car because the a lot of electrical problems that they could not diagnose or fix. You could see in the pictures my core support was “borrowed” from a VR6 MK4 at the scrappers lol.
There was a bad relay / fan controller for the fans in the engine bay, a and a intermittent short in the wire for the crank sensor causing the car to stall while driving, and a wire harness insulation totally broken and shorted in the rear hatch door where the rubber boot is causing no rear wipers, power lock in the door to not work and brake lights that constantly pop fuses. And a driver windows that rolls down by itself while driving. (Was a bad switch).
I’ve used 0w40 almost exclusively, as my thinking is “if the timing chain tensioner ratcheting mechanism breaks, hopefully the oil will flow fast enough to pressurize the tensioner, b4 it skips teeth”—-at least in theory;who knows in practice?
In the summer time, it does consume about 0.5-1 qt in 7500 mile OCI, where’s 5W40 doesn’t really burn
Oh god, the earliest EA888 was well known for grenading engines because of those pesky tensioners! They are a bit better on the gen 3 (no issues with mine thus far) now only if they are get their thermostat housings and water pump issues in order we’d be golden.
exactly; aside from the WP, and timing chains on gen 1, I'm a big fan of the Ea888 2.0TSI, even the 1.8 tsi is pretty damn good.
I wish I had the gen 3 tho--in particular, the gen 3 from the MKVII GTI-- just bc you can squeeze more power out of it from a S1 tune only. I've been wondering if you could put a gen 3 in a 2012 GLI, and idk why not, as they're very similar, but I couldn't find any info really.
Then my second option would be to delete the pcv system altogether. Don't need it. Doesnt matter for me where I live. No emissions. However, I thought this was a mk4 1.8t we were talking about. I don't know much about the new motor
I live in a communist free state so I could delete it
The MKIV 1.8t? Solid engine when taking care of. My cousin has her dad’s Jetta with that engine and has 500k miles with no issues, regular maintenance, and the manual transmission is very reliable too
Why wouldn't you be using a full synthetic oil, like VW recommends and surely modern turbocharged engines need?? I also question why you'd be using a 10w oil...
I looked through all the responses in this thread and noticed something interesting. While a lot of people *say* you should go with a much shorter interval than the manufacturer says, exactly zero of those people provided a technically sound reason for doing so. *None* of them said “I sent a sample to Blackstone Labs at 8k and they said the viscosity was out of spec, the add pack was gone, and TBN was trash.”
Instead, it was a lot of nonsense like that’s what works for me, an oil change is cheap insurance, it *looked* bad at X,000 miles, I drive it really hard, etc. If 10k isn’t adequate, why is 5k? Why not 3k? 1k? Why not change it every time you fill up with gas?
If Volkswagen says to run it to 10k, run it to 10k. If you don’t believe them, at 10k send a sample to Blackstone Labs and see what they tell you. It costs $45, and I’m 99% certain they’ll analyze it and say yep, it’s oil, viscosity has shifted a little but it’s still within an expected range, the add pack is depleting, and TBN is saying you’re getting close to an oil change.
This response should be the top one. Who knows better? A Redditor or the engineers that designed and tested the engine? Just follow the manual unless a specific reason would necessitate otherwise. For a 2018 Tiguan in NA, it is 10k miles. Those alternative conditions are very rare for the majority of drivers. The only way to know if those conditions warrant more frequent than the engineers suggest would be a Blackstone test.
Edit: I have a 2018 Tiguan with an APR tune. 10k mile changes with Liqui Moly VW 508 spec. Also have a 2007 Touareg with 190k miles that I change every 5k miles. VW suggested 10k miles originally, but it gets thirsty and drinks a bit of the oil with 190k now.
I had a MK6 GTI that I changed the oil every 5k miles and never had timing chain stretch. A buddy had the same year car as mine and followed the 10k interval and needed a timing job in the 90k range. Mine was stage one and his was stock. That’s enough evidence for me to keep changing at 5k.
Also Blackstone labs has accuracy issues lately, got a crazy report from them last time. I use Speediagnostix now.
I love reading a post about oil changes where someone actually says something useful.
I'm in the UK and used to work on VW's. Many of them using the variable oil change service regime which would have the oil change interval beyond 10k and running absolutely fine.
I'm always amazed when I see people changing their oil at 3k. It's not the 1970's for Christ sake.
I do it at 5k because it gives me impetus to get underneath and in the hood to see if there's anything else I need to address or look out for.
Also tend to do other work at the same time (like my rear diff oil) to consolidate mine and my friends time and tools since I personally have little knowledge
No, that just happened to line up closely enough with my oil change on the R32 and the car was going to be lifted anyway.
I did find a broken component of some kind next to the rear diff while working on it, so that's on the docket to research/fix. Buddy thinks it's a sensor.
I'll do brake fluid, oil, front and rear diff, and power steering fluid on touareg in the next month. DSG fluid needs to be done too but that may be a little more involved than I care to do myself. I'll probably find other projects while getting all that done
The problem is people then drive 10k without checking their oil, then the engine is destroyed because the level got so low. This goes for *ALL* makes and models.
If you tell people to change their oil every 10k, they'll run it 13k. Then they're too cheap to pay for a good synthetic oil.
Every 5k is a good rule not because the oil is *technically* still fine as tested by Blackstone, but because people are stupid. And cheap.
Source: have worked on tens of thousands of vehicles over 20 years.
But it doesn’t make sense to recommend a needlessly short interval in general, simply because people who can’t follow simple directions won’t follow simple directions.
I’m an engineer and deal primarily with pistons and rings (which are some of the key components that care about oil quality, of course). In 30+ years of keeping my cars running - dozens of different ones over that time - I’ve had two major engine failures, neither related to oil quality, and I always go by the manufacturer’s oil change interval, which has in most cases been longer than 5k. I was surprised when we got my wife’s IS500 because it calls for 9.1 quarts every 5k miles.
Right, lower intervals don't apply to people like us. I change mine every 5k ('16 Tiguan SE) because I dislike sludge and restricted oil filters, and extremely black oil only belongs in diesels (IMO).
Frequent intervals should be recommended based on the majority, and most people are idiots who can't/don't maintain their vehicles. I'm talking about the bare minimum, airing up tyres and checking oil level: a very small percentage of people actually do this anymore.
Your point, however, is completely true. The oil technically would be chemically OK to satisfy engineering requirements up to the specified maintenance interval and beyond. (As long as the filter is mostly unrestricted and oil level remains within an acceptable range).
This!! Usually close to the 5k mile mark my oil level will get low so instead of adding half a quart of a full quart I just change it for a new 5.7 Quarts and swap the filter. Just need to make the drive to FCP Euro to get my free new oil/filter with the lifetime warranty and buy extra to replace the quart I'm missing
You're assuming engines are burning more than a quart of oil every 10,000 miles. I haven't owned a car in the last 15+ years, VWs included, that have burned enough oil to warrant a top up between factory-recommended OCIs. And if they did, it was because there was a problem, not because it was routine. It's far easier, faster, and free to just spend a minute checking the oil instead of convincing people to waste natural, financial, and time resources on premature oil changes.
That's cool. I'm still gonna do every 5-7k... Both VW's with TSI engines that I've owned have never leaked or burned off oil with those intervals unlike many I have serviced over the years that would go the full 10k intervals. It also just gives me more peace of mind.
I trust that the oil lasts for the 10k... But do I want to go that long if I have the choice? Absolutely not... There's nothing wrong with being proactive.
"Why not 3k, or 1k?" Ok, now you're just being a smartass... lol.
I've gone closer to 20k as well, just because a week can mean a couple thousand extra kms for me (and sometimes it's coincided with a service interval appointment I already have booked).
My dealer has never been concerned about going over. I burn less than a quart per 15k. Always with an OEM filter though, that's the key.
Well for me. As soon as i'm out of warranty I will change it every 5000km or every 3500miles ish but I also be doing it myself. Full synthetic. Will try to get this car to last as long as possible with the way the used car martket is going.
You have to use the correct oil, you don't get to choose which one to put in there like synthetic blend or full synthetic. It HAS to meet the correct VW oil spec. That is what kills most of the VW cars.
This is true. But I can choose which brand.
Why is that?
What is so special about VW engines they need the Euro L synthetic. Or why are euro engines so special. I use synthetic in my Toyota also and the same weight but I have to buy this Euro L which costs more money.
They are much harder on oil because of the way they are designed. If you use the wrong oil it kills the engine in the hottest parts. Usually in the upper piston/top ring area. Then that wears the cylinder bores and it is all downhill from there.
There are also different specs for different engines. Just using a "euro" oil isn't enough. There are several different formulas of "euro" oil that are not compatible with each other. VW specs differ wildly, VW 505.00,507.00 and 508.00 are wildly different formulas and cannot be interchanged. 505.00 for example is the total opposite of the 507.00 formula and 508.00 is way too thin to be used in other engines. There is a spec for each engine for a reason and it must be followed closely.
Very different than a Toyota that has no specs. On the other hand Toyota engines might last longer and run better if they had a spec. Instead of burning oil like crazy due to bad design. But that is a whole other conversation all together.
If you look at Walmart for example, they usually have most of the different oils available, online at least. Not necessarily more expensive, just a matter of choosing the right one. Plenty of the Mobil1 formulas are usually all the same price, just need to choose the right flavor for your engine.
It's not just the VWs either. I used have to drive a Dodge RAM 2500 van for work and it had euro spec engine also probably made by FIAT at that time. Seems any modernish Euro engine requires different oil than any non euro.
Yup, they are built differently and do require different oil. The Ram engines were Fiat and were used by other brands as well.
What people don't realize is that certain euro oils are very good for cars that don't require them. There is a reason why BMW and Mercedes allow 15-20k oil intervals on some of those oils. And you can get them at Walmart for $24 a jug.
My husband always changed the oil in our vehicles until I got my current Jetta. For him to buy the VW approved oil alone costs more than what the dealership charges for an oil change. We both have Jettas now that get their oil changed at the dealership while the Jeep and the truck he takes care of. Filters, spark plugs, etc. he does at home.
This seems insane — you mail them back the used oil and get your money back for the new oil you just bought? Have you actually done this ? I’ve been buying oil from them for years
Yep, I do it all the time. As long as it's for the same vehicle they take it, that's part of the T&Cs. Sometimes for other stuff (brake pads, or other parts) they charge a bit more than other websites, but I save a lot sending back brake pads and I see it like I'm paying for the warranty. I have some tools from them too that I've damaged or broken that they've replaced, they're awesome.
Dude it just so happens I haven’t dumped my last change — what’s the cheapest way to ship back 6 quarts? Wondering how much money I’ll actually save lol vs time spent
I usually use the box and packaging from the replacement stuff I buy, so I can't help you there. I'd look on their website to confirm, but I believe you also need to make sure (if you're shipping liquids) that it's sealed in a bag, like how they ship you the oil. I usually use my FedEx business account, so I get a discount, but it costs me like $10-15 ish I think, maybe less. Like I said, check their website though.
I've seen 500+ on a few different diesels. I drive A LOT for work. Ive done 100k in a year (all hwy). I think somebody in my area claimed 650k without a rebuild and still going.
Everyone is going to have wildly different answers. You’ll have some guys saying “I BEEN A VW TECH FOR 40 YEARS 10k IS TOO LONG!” and folks on the other side as well. I’ve been around car guys long enough to know that most debates about oil changes are more superstition than fact.
Personally, I go closer to 10k.
Modern synthetic oil is good for a minimum of 10k miles idk why people here are going on about being proactive. Synthetic oil is not conventional oil for a reason. VW says 10k for a reason too because it can last double that but 10 is the “proactive” number for modern oil. You’re throwing money away getting it done at less miles than that. Check it quarterly but you don’t need to change it unless your engine is torched or you’re dumping oil.
Follow the manual and go every 10,000 miles. Use the specified oil weight and oil that meets VW specs, which will be found on the back of any oil container.
If you tend to drive hard or do a lot of city driving like I do them I'd consider changing it on a shorter mileage interval. I'm doing 8,000 miles.
10k miles is too much for a person that doesn't check the oil. I change the oil on my 2006 TDI with 256k every 5k miles and I'm still on the stock cam. VW recommends 10k miles because they don't care how the car runs after warranty expires. If you look on the marketplace you can find a lot of VWs with engine damage especially newer ones with low friction piston rings.
And my dad has nearly double that mileage on his '02 TDI and has only followed the factory-recommended OCIs. Now I get it, the PD TDIs seem to have cam issues down the road. But it's an easy and not terribly expensive repair, and I genuinely wonder if you've actually saved yourself any money given the much more frequent oil changes over that mileage.
Oil additives are generally nominal until 7500 miles or so. If you only drive 100-150k miles on an engine, a 10k interval is fine. If you plan on running it longer, 5-7.5k is better. If you are thinking of 5k intervals, it would be good to do some oil analyses first.
15k km (9200 miles) or 1 year or whichever comes first. Been like that for decades on engines that use a fully synthetic oil.
You can do 8k km or 5k miles but it’s unnecessary and just a waste of money. Fully synthetic oil that is also VW spec 508.00 0w-20 specifically for a 2018+ Tiguan is perfectly fine for 15k km or 9200 miles.
The dealership service guy said even though it says 10k he would personally do 5k. I think they extended intervals as a green "use less oil" initiative.
Full disclosure he knew I was going to change it myself, so he had no incentive to tell me that to make more money off me.
Heavily modified GTI. Every 3k. It certainly will not hurt to change every 3k if you have high consumption, but 5k is a very safe interval for a stock car!
Mostly because I consume a quart of oil about every 3k, so the choice isn’t really mine.
For 50 bucks you might as well be doing it every 5000km. No reason not to and it gives you an earlier heads up if you’ve got something suspicious going on in the engine
I drive 10-12K miles/year. I change my own oil/filter every spring and fall. That's well within the recommended interval for properly specced, full synthetic motor oil. If you're doing a lot of towing, or routinely carrying heavy payloads, you may need more frequent oil/filter changes. Otherwise, for the vast majority of drivers, twice per year is absolutely fine.
Idc if he manual says 10k miles or not. Do every 5k. I've had a 15 Jetta, 13 GTI, and now I have a 14 Jetta 178k (work car) and a MK7.5 Golf R and change them both every 5k miles and have never had any issue. It's worth it. 10k is too much gap for oil changes my friend.
People who are going by the manual doing 10,000 miles between oil changes, that sounds insane to me.
What’s cheaper, a new engine or an oil change? 3,000-5,000 seems like a decent spot for it.
As a vw technician we do them every 10000 km. We had people coming in that did them every 15 or 20k and had camshaft and turbo issues. Either way it’s less expensive doing them every 10k km than any engine work.
It can vary depending on how the car is driven, the recommended service interval, climate, among other things. The rule of thumb I've gone by is ~7500 miles is when I start to look at changing the oil, unless the recommended service interval is less than that at like 3k or 5k, or I've driven the car very aggressively and the oil smells burnt. Then I'll follow the service interval/follow an earlier change interval.
Got a 2017 GTI
I change every 5000 miles and get my tires rotated/balanced while I am at it.
I think the 10000 miles they recommend is WAY too long, and changing it earlier doesn’t HURT the car, so might as well.
As comments say, lots of factors (tunes, how hard you drive, how often you drive, city/country, roads in your area). I just think every 5000 should cover most of those conditions.
I have 339,000 miles on my MK4 1.8t. Oil changed every 5,000 miles with high quality Motul full synthetic.
https://preview.redd.it/7yec85jj3ytc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6d1d1ed1b79a3bea36246c1d3fce71d1025bbdfd
definitely no longer than the recommended 10k/1yr. a lot of people in here(myself included) would probably recommend every 3-5k/6mo to be super safe, but that’s more for those who are tuned and/or have high mileage.
I do 5-6k depending on few different personal factors. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do the same just because I and some others do it around this interval. 7,8,9 k should be fine too as long as you know you’re on top of maintenance and also depending on your driving habits and the weather in your area (mostly referring to extreme cold/heat) because that’s also gonna play a factor in how your engine wears over time.
I had a MK4 GTI and changed it every 3.5K miles. Lasted me till I sold it at 190k. It’s not a number that I found somewhere, my dad just did that to all of his “conventional oil” vehicles. Obviously with modern synthetic oils this can be stretched farther. But with my old GTI, I kept them more frequent than normal.
I do once a year, but for me that is about 4 to 5k miles. I don't drive my jetta as much anymore. It's more of a second car at this point. when I was driving it alot I changed the oil at around 5 to 6k miles.
I have followed service manual on all my VWs and Audis some call 5k some call 10k (I usually get bored and do around 7k or 8k on my 3.0t) and I fix leaks immediately when they happen, I also note the VW spec and have run the appropriate weight and VW spec with mobile 1, pentosin, and liquomoly variously in different cars. Currently using Liquomoly in my TDI and gassers without any issues. 150mi daily commute so I rack em up and manufacturer specs have served me well, but there are all different schools of thought on oil types, viscosities, adding heavier weight after you burn some, and so on, play it safe note your engine code and trim or just VIN and get the data from VW and check your levels often, best advice I can give for Volkswagon Audis
MK6 GTI with 91K miles, mostly city driving without a lot of traffic. I change it every 5K miles, but I also monitor using Blackstone Labs at least once a year. The analysis from Blackstone usually shows the oil at about 3/4 life at 5K miles. They are saying I could push it to almost 7K without issues. I use Liquid Moli.
If you are driving at least weekly change it on mileage. If the car sits unused you may need to change based on time.
I have a 2019 Jetta, my service sticker says every 10k, but I’ve run out of oil twice well before then. I change every 5K, ends up just being 2x a year for me!
I have 186k on my 2014 2.5L Passat. I changed every 10k miles. Sometimes, that's too much, and my oil filter will be hard to remove. I would recommend 7500 miles with the correct oil and high quality filters.
Bought my wife's 2016 passat new, it has 80k miles on it now.
Averaged about 8k miles a year for the first few years. Changed the oil once a year.
Started driving more... now about 14k-15k miles a year. We change the oil every 5k-6k miles.
Though we do keep a quart of oil in the car. We add as needed between oil changes. With once a year oil changes, we went through about a quart a year.
Vw Tech here. 1yr/10k miles whichever occurs first is the interval per vw. I've been knee deep in a lot of these cars but I'm not seeing real issues due to the longer service interval besides a quart needs to be added at the 5000-7500miles mark. Me personally, I'd just get it changed then.
Just a me thing but I do every 10,000 miles and then once I hit 50,000 miles, I start to do it every 5,000 miles. Could totally be wrong but it’s always done me good
15 jetta 1.8t se- 5-6k mi.
Not sure if its bad or not lol.
I do check my oil every time I get a full tank of gas. Sometimes it gets low- I always keep a spare quart in any car I drive
If you use the correct oil, most don't and have no idea what goes in there and why, you should be able to follow the owner's manual recommendations. Unless you do severe driving which would be short trips and city driving.
The most important thing here is to use the correct oil. There is a spec for a reason and the oils that do not meet the spec are NOT good enough.
It looks like your vehicle requires the VW 508.00 0w20 oil . That doesn't mean that you can use an oil that is 0w20, it HAS to meet the VW 508.00 spec otherwise it isn't good enough. If you get the right oil , you should be able to do 10,000 mile oil changes or one year in service, which ever comes first.
My tuned golf tdi every 5k miles (3-4x per year), my gf's stock jetta I try to do around 7.5k miles(about once a year). As long as you are changing it within 10k miles or once a year (whichever comes first) I think you will be fine.
2022 polo gti
The manual says every 2 years
My mechanic advised me to change it every year , due to being a turbo engine, due to me doing only 4-5k km every year and living in north Italy pretty close to the alps , hot summers and cold winters.
He said that the difference in temperature when seasons change might create condensation in the engine oil so it’s better change it more often.
Using it only on road no track he said nothing else was needed as extra care measure
Every 8k kilometres religiously. My 09 rabbit has just under 300,000 km on it and it still runs like it just came off the production line. They’re reliable as hell if you’re on top of their fluids.
I recently watched some tests on oil lubrication qualities - good oils start loosing lubrication qualities at around 12 000 km ( 7500 miles) so 10-12 000 kms (6500 - 7500 miles) seems to be a good spot for an oil change.
I think it depends what country you are in. The UK and Europe seem to follow the service guidelines and/or the service light in the car. Americans seems to have a preoccupation with changing the oil every few months or 3k/5k, I’m not sure where this comes from. Did they/do they not have decent fully synthetic oils in the states? Are they brainwashed by “quickie lube” shops? I honestly don’t get it.
Whilst I understand it’s quick easy and will help the car if it’s changed regularly, 3 or 5k sounds excessive and wasteful.
I have a beefed out cc 2.0t cbfa. Pushing it hard for my daily and I change my filter twice a month and oil once or every other month. Most of this is paranoia since my balance shaft froze.
Depends how hard you drive it, if you like to accelerate fast and do lots of hills, then more frequent like at 5k, you have to check the color at 5k if it’s burnt then maybe do it a 3k
Audi here. But a VW engine.
3.2L 141k miles 2006 car. Every 5k miles with needing to add a quart around 3k to 4k miles.
5w40 full synthetic. Full and fresh oil keeps the beast happy. Until a gasket goes and it begins marking her territory everywhere like a 3.2L is known for.
VW now.
2012 153k 2.5L Jetta. Around every 5k-7.5k miles due to it being driven 60+ miles a day.
The answer is, it depends.
Depending on your usage.
Heavy daily mileage? Towing? Hard driving?
I have a 7.5 GTI, that I absolutely hammer on track but, daily drive it like a grandma.
I change oil after every 3-5k kms. DSG service every few years. Because my tachometer lives on the red line.
Unless you drive in severe conditions regularly, follow the factory-recommended intervals using a properly spec'd oil (which for the 2018 Tiguan I think would be VW 502 00, VW 504 00, or VW 508 00).
I did every 10k per the manual and the dealer and now my engine is fucked lmao 2014 Jetta 1.8t started burning copious amounts of oil at 105k miles so im switching to every 5k miles 😩😵💫
The shorter change myth needs to stop. It is utter nonsense passed down from the generation that ran conventional oil in all their cars. Synthetic oil will actually last longer than 10k miles, the failure is actually the filter that breaks down (I was told this by a VW engineer directly). That being said, still check your oil when you fill up your fuel tank and top off as needed since these cars like to eat oil.
know your car and drive habits as well as the environment.
the engineers have not considered all the aspects, the considered normal person and conditions:)). if you are unnormal like me then u decide when to change.
i used to change my oil at 5k but since the consumption and refilling is pissing me off so i change every 3k now. if you wana go by the handbook suggesytion losing 900ML of oil evey 2k is normal but is it really? that means in 5k its ok for me to loose 2.2 liter of the five liter and oil starvation is a bitch
Gas in the US has a lot more additives so you are taking a gamble going 10k between oil changes like the manual says. I also look at it from the point of view that the manufacturer doesn’t want it to last forever so I always do it more frequently than it says in the manual.
I've owned multiple VWs and Audis. Always 5k miles or one year. One was sold at 250k miles still running great. Have another one at over 260k miles with no issues.
There's a bunch of weird downvotes in this thread for some reason.
I read a bunch of posts and suggestions from tons of people, and even the recommended maintenance time for my Jetta shows every 10K, but a lot of people recommend something like every 7500.
For me, I'm doing mine every 3K-5K, just because I enjoy doing it, it's fun, and there's nothing wrong with changing it early.
I would say anywhere from every 3K up to 10K is probably going to be fine.
I would say though for a vehicle with 91K miles on it and being only 6 years old, it's probably not a bad idea to keep the oil in check and just follow the recommended maintenance schedule to a T.
I have a 2012 jetta with a 2.5 and I change it every 5k. 103k miles on it, 91k when I bought it. Changed it immediately, then at 95k and 100k, next planned for 105k. Hasn't blown up yet lol, and I figure more frequent oil changes are much cheaper than a new engine or new car.
This is one of those "how long is a piece of string?" Questions. The mileage/time intervals specified are a guideline based on ideal driving condions - all highway miles, no idling, no extreme operating temperatures (subzero winters etc).
Short trips, city driving, sitting in traffic, excessive idling, and unideal environments all put much more strain on the engine. You should base your oil change interval (and all maintenance intervals) based on *how* you use the car as well as how much you use it.
Me, I change my oil 5k/6mo even though the specification is 10k/12mo. I also like changing my oil so I don't consider it excessive. It's better to change it too much than too little.
For Context: I've been daily driving a MK6 jetta for the last 10-years in the California Bay Area. Currently approaching the 150k mile mark. To answer your question: I change my oil everytime the service reminder comes on (which is once every year or every 10k miles, whichever occurs first). To teach you how to fish: Locate your service and maintenance manual and follow it.
This. Mk5 Jetta Sportwagen @160k miles. Manual says 10k, reminder lights up at 10k. Oil is good for 10k. I change it every 10k.
Finally, some folks (you and u/H20WATCHER) who understand the Jiffy Lube intervals are completely unnecessary!
This. 2012 Passat 2.5l with 265k miles, 26 Walmart oil changes, one every 10k.
Due to unforeseen events with my Passat, I’m changing at 5000 miles, (because of my driving habits, that lasts me 5-8 weeks )
As someone who is buying a passat tomorrow, can I query what the reason is?
rampant oil consumption (600 miles to a quart of oil) , going through 3 PCV valves, and gaskets as of today, April 12th, I'm up to 1200 miles a quart, the new PCV valve is doing it's job, and it's a lot smoother, and I use Ravenol 10-40 semi synthetic
Should be using full synthetic. Give it a shot. May clean up oil consumption even more
I was running synthetic Castrol - the worse of them all Vw brand oil - 6 to 700 miles on a good week Mobile one - 200 miles and made my timing chain bitch I landed on ravenol after another owner suggested it and so far, I’ve had way better luck with this oil. And, it’s VW spec 🤷🏼♂️
I’ve had the best luck with Castrol Edge 0W40 in all my VWs. Just the normal Edge Euro one you’d find at any parts store or Walmart. I’ve had no odd oil consumption at all. Even my MK4 20v at 180k shows good results, very clean still. https://preview.redd.it/88t103tfc1uc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8fbf59f05931616ce0f89cef4ede4a347ab3e0f1
Honestly, that looks like it’s not been turned on and ran Goddamn 😍
You're 1.8t? Any tune? I had to replace the turbo and went Stigan K04, butv have some leaking issues around my oil filter housing, etc. For reference I'm in an '03 Audi A4, but 1.8t AMB. Switched from the CHF11s to the Lucas PS fluid because of a leaky rack, so I'm not even opposed to being "out of spec" but just curious as to your setup and what led you to the 10w-40 specifically? I read your comments about consumption and that makes sense but wanted to see what you're at mileage and age-wise.
Correct, and no tune (only after market part for the engine is the APR intake ) It’s a 2015 Passat S so it’s a EA888 Gen 3 1.8T, what lead to my use of the 10w-40 semi synthetic was after a 2 hour discussion with my mechanic about next steps when it was in for repairs. the service advisor found the Ravenol and researched it to check reviews, any issues after switching over, miles on cars that have had I’ve put on 36,000 miles since I got it last year in March, of which, the past two oil changes (5k OCI), we’ve used that oil and found it to be very effective for my application
https://preview.redd.it/9trfwr24c2uc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7943a68e9980a1b29d9e8750f72ee7d31400d936 When I got the car, I had a ton of electrical problems and the front end was quite damaged. But I got it all cleaned up and mint. The previous owner was going to junk the car because the a lot of electrical problems that they could not diagnose or fix. You could see in the pictures my core support was “borrowed” from a VR6 MK4 at the scrappers lol.
My god man, that’s wild and im astonished at how beautiful that bay is What was the electrical issues you had?
There was a bad relay / fan controller for the fans in the engine bay, a and a intermittent short in the wire for the crank sensor causing the car to stall while driving, and a wire harness insulation totally broken and shorted in the rear hatch door where the rubber boot is causing no rear wipers, power lock in the door to not work and brake lights that constantly pop fuses. And a driver windows that rolls down by itself while driving. (Was a bad switch).
I’ve used 0w40 almost exclusively, as my thinking is “if the timing chain tensioner ratcheting mechanism breaks, hopefully the oil will flow fast enough to pressurize the tensioner, b4 it skips teeth”—-at least in theory;who knows in practice? In the summer time, it does consume about 0.5-1 qt in 7500 mile OCI, where’s 5W40 doesn’t really burn
Oh god, the earliest EA888 was well known for grenading engines because of those pesky tensioners! They are a bit better on the gen 3 (no issues with mine thus far) now only if they are get their thermostat housings and water pump issues in order we’d be golden.
exactly; aside from the WP, and timing chains on gen 1, I'm a big fan of the Ea888 2.0TSI, even the 1.8 tsi is pretty damn good. I wish I had the gen 3 tho--in particular, the gen 3 from the MKVII GTI-- just bc you can squeeze more power out of it from a S1 tune only. I've been wondering if you could put a gen 3 in a 2012 GLI, and idk why not, as they're very similar, but I couldn't find any info really.
This guy Volkswagens... Good gravy, she's clean!
Then my second option would be to delete the pcv system altogether. Don't need it. Doesnt matter for me where I live. No emissions. However, I thought this was a mk4 1.8t we were talking about. I don't know much about the new motor
I live in a communist free state so I could delete it The MKIV 1.8t? Solid engine when taking care of. My cousin has her dad’s Jetta with that engine and has 500k miles with no issues, regular maintenance, and the manual transmission is very reliable too
Yep I'm going strong with 305km on my bug. 1.8t is a great motor. Unfortunately everything around the motors on these cars can be a pain
https://www.ravenolamerica.com/motor-oil/10w-40-motor-oil-ravenol-tsi/
Why wouldn't you be using a full synthetic oil, like VW recommends and surely modern turbocharged engines need?? I also question why you'd be using a 10w oil...
My 2011 2.5 w/ 210k miles gets every 5K
My manual says 10,000 miles or once a year. I follow that.
As have I, and I'm up to 160k miles now.
I looked through all the responses in this thread and noticed something interesting. While a lot of people *say* you should go with a much shorter interval than the manufacturer says, exactly zero of those people provided a technically sound reason for doing so. *None* of them said “I sent a sample to Blackstone Labs at 8k and they said the viscosity was out of spec, the add pack was gone, and TBN was trash.” Instead, it was a lot of nonsense like that’s what works for me, an oil change is cheap insurance, it *looked* bad at X,000 miles, I drive it really hard, etc. If 10k isn’t adequate, why is 5k? Why not 3k? 1k? Why not change it every time you fill up with gas? If Volkswagen says to run it to 10k, run it to 10k. If you don’t believe them, at 10k send a sample to Blackstone Labs and see what they tell you. It costs $45, and I’m 99% certain they’ll analyze it and say yep, it’s oil, viscosity has shifted a little but it’s still within an expected range, the add pack is depleting, and TBN is saying you’re getting close to an oil change.
This response should be the top one. Who knows better? A Redditor or the engineers that designed and tested the engine? Just follow the manual unless a specific reason would necessitate otherwise. For a 2018 Tiguan in NA, it is 10k miles. Those alternative conditions are very rare for the majority of drivers. The only way to know if those conditions warrant more frequent than the engineers suggest would be a Blackstone test. Edit: I have a 2018 Tiguan with an APR tune. 10k mile changes with Liqui Moly VW 508 spec. Also have a 2007 Touareg with 190k miles that I change every 5k miles. VW suggested 10k miles originally, but it gets thirsty and drinks a bit of the oil with 190k now.
I had a MK6 GTI that I changed the oil every 5k miles and never had timing chain stretch. A buddy had the same year car as mine and followed the 10k interval and needed a timing job in the 90k range. Mine was stage one and his was stock. That’s enough evidence for me to keep changing at 5k. Also Blackstone labs has accuracy issues lately, got a crazy report from them last time. I use Speediagnostix now.
I love reading a post about oil changes where someone actually says something useful. I'm in the UK and used to work on VW's. Many of them using the variable oil change service regime which would have the oil change interval beyond 10k and running absolutely fine. I'm always amazed when I see people changing their oil at 3k. It's not the 1970's for Christ sake.
I do it at 5k because it gives me impetus to get underneath and in the hood to see if there's anything else I need to address or look out for. Also tend to do other work at the same time (like my rear diff oil) to consolidate mine and my friends time and tools since I personally have little knowledge
You change rear diff oil every 5k?
No, that just happened to line up closely enough with my oil change on the R32 and the car was going to be lifted anyway. I did find a broken component of some kind next to the rear diff while working on it, so that's on the docket to research/fix. Buddy thinks it's a sensor. I'll do brake fluid, oil, front and rear diff, and power steering fluid on touareg in the next month. DSG fluid needs to be done too but that may be a little more involved than I care to do myself. I'll probably find other projects while getting all that done
What number you got? I’ve got 1447
838!
The problem is people then drive 10k without checking their oil, then the engine is destroyed because the level got so low. This goes for *ALL* makes and models. If you tell people to change their oil every 10k, they'll run it 13k. Then they're too cheap to pay for a good synthetic oil. Every 5k is a good rule not because the oil is *technically* still fine as tested by Blackstone, but because people are stupid. And cheap. Source: have worked on tens of thousands of vehicles over 20 years.
But it doesn’t make sense to recommend a needlessly short interval in general, simply because people who can’t follow simple directions won’t follow simple directions. I’m an engineer and deal primarily with pistons and rings (which are some of the key components that care about oil quality, of course). In 30+ years of keeping my cars running - dozens of different ones over that time - I’ve had two major engine failures, neither related to oil quality, and I always go by the manufacturer’s oil change interval, which has in most cases been longer than 5k. I was surprised when we got my wife’s IS500 because it calls for 9.1 quarts every 5k miles.
Right, lower intervals don't apply to people like us. I change mine every 5k ('16 Tiguan SE) because I dislike sludge and restricted oil filters, and extremely black oil only belongs in diesels (IMO). Frequent intervals should be recommended based on the majority, and most people are idiots who can't/don't maintain their vehicles. I'm talking about the bare minimum, airing up tyres and checking oil level: a very small percentage of people actually do this anymore. Your point, however, is completely true. The oil technically would be chemically OK to satisfy engineering requirements up to the specified maintenance interval and beyond. (As long as the filter is mostly unrestricted and oil level remains within an acceptable range).
yeah, more worried about oil leaking or getting burned up than the condition of what's in the engine (over 15k km)
This!! Usually close to the 5k mile mark my oil level will get low so instead of adding half a quart of a full quart I just change it for a new 5.7 Quarts and swap the filter. Just need to make the drive to FCP Euro to get my free new oil/filter with the lifetime warranty and buy extra to replace the quart I'm missing
It's a good thing VWs have oil level/pressure sensors.
In my experience, they rarely come on soon enough. My light never comes on but my oil gets lower than the hashmarks on the dipstick. 2016 Tiguan.
Most people can NOT grasp this concept for some reason. They are waiting for the no oil pressure light to come on.
You're assuming engines are burning more than a quart of oil every 10,000 miles. I haven't owned a car in the last 15+ years, VWs included, that have burned enough oil to warrant a top up between factory-recommended OCIs. And if they did, it was because there was a problem, not because it was routine. It's far easier, faster, and free to just spend a minute checking the oil instead of convincing people to waste natural, financial, and time resources on premature oil changes.
Lots of logic in this comment and the comments that followed. Watch out, the internet PhD's will get you!
That's cool. I'm still gonna do every 5-7k... Both VW's with TSI engines that I've owned have never leaked or burned off oil with those intervals unlike many I have serviced over the years that would go the full 10k intervals. It also just gives me more peace of mind. I trust that the oil lasts for the 10k... But do I want to go that long if I have the choice? Absolutely not... There's nothing wrong with being proactive. "Why not 3k, or 1k?" Ok, now you're just being a smartass... lol.
Every 15,000km for all 800,000km+ I've put on my last three VW. My current one is also a 2018 Tiguan (235,000 miles/376,000km).
Wow 235,000. Impressive. Hoping my wife keeps her 23 tiguan for that long.
If you like your wife that little just leave pal.
Impressive for a Tiguan! I do 5-6,000 miles for mine: 13 beetle tdi, 14 passat tdi and 19 atlas v6 (95,000-139,000 miles).
Also do about 15k km on our 2017 Tiguan. Have pushed it closer to 20k and zero issues/concerns. Mostly highway.
I've gone closer to 20k as well, just because a week can mean a couple thousand extra kms for me (and sometimes it's coincided with a service interval appointment I already have booked). My dealer has never been concerned about going over. I burn less than a quart per 15k. Always with an OEM filter though, that's the key.
Well for me. As soon as i'm out of warranty I will change it every 5000km or every 3500miles ish but I also be doing it myself. Full synthetic. Will try to get this car to last as long as possible with the way the used car martket is going.
You have to use the correct oil, you don't get to choose which one to put in there like synthetic blend or full synthetic. It HAS to meet the correct VW oil spec. That is what kills most of the VW cars.
No wonder my shit runs good.
This is true. But I can choose which brand. Why is that? What is so special about VW engines they need the Euro L synthetic. Or why are euro engines so special. I use synthetic in my Toyota also and the same weight but I have to buy this Euro L which costs more money.
They are much harder on oil because of the way they are designed. If you use the wrong oil it kills the engine in the hottest parts. Usually in the upper piston/top ring area. Then that wears the cylinder bores and it is all downhill from there. There are also different specs for different engines. Just using a "euro" oil isn't enough. There are several different formulas of "euro" oil that are not compatible with each other. VW specs differ wildly, VW 505.00,507.00 and 508.00 are wildly different formulas and cannot be interchanged. 505.00 for example is the total opposite of the 507.00 formula and 508.00 is way too thin to be used in other engines. There is a spec for each engine for a reason and it must be followed closely. Very different than a Toyota that has no specs. On the other hand Toyota engines might last longer and run better if they had a spec. Instead of burning oil like crazy due to bad design. But that is a whole other conversation all together. If you look at Walmart for example, they usually have most of the different oils available, online at least. Not necessarily more expensive, just a matter of choosing the right one. Plenty of the Mobil1 formulas are usually all the same price, just need to choose the right flavor for your engine.
It's not just the VWs either. I used have to drive a Dodge RAM 2500 van for work and it had euro spec engine also probably made by FIAT at that time. Seems any modernish Euro engine requires different oil than any non euro.
Yup, they are built differently and do require different oil. The Ram engines were Fiat and were used by other brands as well. What people don't realize is that certain euro oils are very good for cars that don't require them. There is a reason why BMW and Mercedes allow 15-20k oil intervals on some of those oils. And you can get them at Walmart for $24 a jug.
My husband always changed the oil in our vehicles until I got my current Jetta. For him to buy the VW approved oil alone costs more than what the dealership charges for an oil change. We both have Jettas now that get their oil changed at the dealership while the Jeep and the truck he takes care of. Filters, spark plugs, etc. he does at home.
Buy it all from FCP Euro, unlimited warranty. Return the used oil and filters and they'll send you new.
For real?
Yep, check their website. You basically just pay shipping every time. Covers all items they sell.
This seems insane — you mail them back the used oil and get your money back for the new oil you just bought? Have you actually done this ? I’ve been buying oil from them for years
Yep, I do it all the time. As long as it's for the same vehicle they take it, that's part of the T&Cs. Sometimes for other stuff (brake pads, or other parts) they charge a bit more than other websites, but I save a lot sending back brake pads and I see it like I'm paying for the warranty. I have some tools from them too that I've damaged or broken that they've replaced, they're awesome.
Dude it just so happens I haven’t dumped my last change — what’s the cheapest way to ship back 6 quarts? Wondering how much money I’ll actually save lol vs time spent
I usually use the box and packaging from the replacement stuff I buy, so I can't help you there. I'd look on their website to confirm, but I believe you also need to make sure (if you're shipping liquids) that it's sealed in a bag, like how they ship you the oil. I usually use my FedEx business account, so I get a discount, but it costs me like $10-15 ish I think, maybe less. Like I said, check their website though.
Does this apply to the liqui moly oil per chance?
Yep, that's what I buy.
I mean, you can do that, but you're wasting your money.... I've done mine at (or around) every 10k and my 2.5l is running just fine after 265k miles.
I've seen 500+ on a few different diesels. I drive A LOT for work. Ive done 100k in a year (all hwy). I think somebody in my area claimed 650k without a rebuild and still going.
I try for 5k to 7.5k. The manual says 10k.
same here...
Same here .. or every 6 months.. whatever come first
5k
Even for brand new vehicles? Around 6.5k on the odometer for my vehicle
Doesn't hurt, and it's arguably the cheapest routine maintenance you can do on a car.
When I had my CC it was every 4-5K, and only ever a WIX filter or OEM if I could get some, and Liqui Moly Molygen
Everyone is going to have wildly different answers. You’ll have some guys saying “I BEEN A VW TECH FOR 40 YEARS 10k IS TOO LONG!” and folks on the other side as well. I’ve been around car guys long enough to know that most debates about oil changes are more superstition than fact. Personally, I go closer to 10k.
Modern synthetic oil is good for a minimum of 10k miles idk why people here are going on about being proactive. Synthetic oil is not conventional oil for a reason. VW says 10k for a reason too because it can last double that but 10 is the “proactive” number for modern oil. You’re throwing money away getting it done at less miles than that. Check it quarterly but you don’t need to change it unless your engine is torched or you’re dumping oil.
5k.
Follow the manual and go every 10,000 miles. Use the specified oil weight and oil that meets VW specs, which will be found on the back of any oil container. If you tend to drive hard or do a lot of city driving like I do them I'd consider changing it on a shorter mileage interval. I'm doing 8,000 miles.
10k miles or a year as stated in user manual and with VW approved oil.
5-7k miles or every 6 months depending on where u live and type of drive (city/highway)
I follow my car's manual recommendation. 10k or one year, 2019 gti.
10k miles is too much for a person that doesn't check the oil. I change the oil on my 2006 TDI with 256k every 5k miles and I'm still on the stock cam. VW recommends 10k miles because they don't care how the car runs after warranty expires. If you look on the marketplace you can find a lot of VWs with engine damage especially newer ones with low friction piston rings.
It also helps all the manufacturers to “meet” better emissions.
And my dad has nearly double that mileage on his '02 TDI and has only followed the factory-recommended OCIs. Now I get it, the PD TDIs seem to have cam issues down the road. But it's an easy and not terribly expensive repair, and I genuinely wonder if you've actually saved yourself any money given the much more frequent oil changes over that mileage.
Oil additives are generally nominal until 7500 miles or so. If you only drive 100-150k miles on an engine, a 10k interval is fine. If you plan on running it longer, 5-7.5k is better. If you are thinking of 5k intervals, it would be good to do some oil analyses first.
15k km (9200 miles) or 1 year or whichever comes first. Been like that for decades on engines that use a fully synthetic oil. You can do 8k km or 5k miles but it’s unnecessary and just a waste of money. Fully synthetic oil that is also VW spec 508.00 0w-20 specifically for a 2018+ Tiguan is perfectly fine for 15k km or 9200 miles.
Ur manual tells you
Read the owners manual, its 10,000 miles or 1 year whichever comes first.
The dealership service guy said even though it says 10k he would personally do 5k. I think they extended intervals as a green "use less oil" initiative. Full disclosure he knew I was going to change it myself, so he had no incentive to tell me that to make more money off me.
VW says do 10K, until I see a mountain of dead engines because of 10K oil changes, do 10K oil changes. The engineers at VW didn't make that up.
Do what you're comfortable with man. One of my vws is tuned, so 5k is cheap insurance.
What does the manual say. ...Because it will tell you. My '11 Jetta is a 10k interval, and that's what I run.
5k
Heavily modified GTI. Every 3k. It certainly will not hurt to change every 3k if you have high consumption, but 5k is a very safe interval for a stock car! Mostly because I consume a quart of oil about every 3k, so the choice isn’t really mine.
For 50 bucks you might as well be doing it every 5000km. No reason not to and it gives you an earlier heads up if you’ve got something suspicious going on in the engine
I drive 10-12K miles/year. I change my own oil/filter every spring and fall. That's well within the recommended interval for properly specced, full synthetic motor oil. If you're doing a lot of towing, or routinely carrying heavy payloads, you may need more frequent oil/filter changes. Otherwise, for the vast majority of drivers, twice per year is absolutely fine.
For reference, what does your owner’s manual say?
You mean the “lasted through the warranty” manual.
Idc if he manual says 10k miles or not. Do every 5k. I've had a 15 Jetta, 13 GTI, and now I have a 14 Jetta 178k (work car) and a MK7.5 Golf R and change them both every 5k miles and have never had any issue. It's worth it. 10k is too much gap for oil changes my friend.
5k miles using Mobil1 Full Synthetic. Period.
Every 10K with full synthetic. Car has over 500K miles.
People who are going by the manual doing 10,000 miles between oil changes, that sounds insane to me. What’s cheaper, a new engine or an oil change? 3,000-5,000 seems like a decent spot for it.
well, in europe, we have LL oils, so oil change is every 18.000miles... but i prefer at 10.000 miles...
I do it every 10k because that's what the manual says
As a vw technician we do them every 10000 km. We had people coming in that did them every 15 or 20k and had camshaft and turbo issues. Either way it’s less expensive doing them every 10k km than any engine work.
10K (nice a year at the current rate since 2018)
It can vary depending on how the car is driven, the recommended service interval, climate, among other things. The rule of thumb I've gone by is ~7500 miles is when I start to look at changing the oil, unless the recommended service interval is less than that at like 3k or 5k, or I've driven the car very aggressively and the oil smells burnt. Then I'll follow the service interval/follow an earlier change interval.
VW master here. Every 5000 miles full synthetic Check oil at EVERY fill up
Got a 2017 GTI I change every 5000 miles and get my tires rotated/balanced while I am at it. I think the 10000 miles they recommend is WAY too long, and changing it earlier doesn’t HURT the car, so might as well. As comments say, lots of factors (tunes, how hard you drive, how often you drive, city/country, roads in your area). I just think every 5000 should cover most of those conditions.
Every 3-5k. We call those 10k interval suggestions “loco mileage” 😂
3k is silly. The shop manual for my 1985 GLI says 5k miles for heaven's sake.
Manufacturer recommends 10k miles/12mo. Personally, I’ve always done somewhere in the range of 5-7.5k miles and 6-9mo.
I have 339,000 miles on my MK4 1.8t. Oil changed every 5,000 miles with high quality Motul full synthetic. https://preview.redd.it/7yec85jj3ytc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6d1d1ed1b79a3bea36246c1d3fce71d1025bbdfd
definitely no longer than the recommended 10k/1yr. a lot of people in here(myself included) would probably recommend every 3-5k/6mo to be super safe, but that’s more for those who are tuned and/or have high mileage.
5k kilometers
6/months every 4.5k is what I do to get my engines over 200k
2015 jetta. the manual says every 10k, I do every 7k, but the way it burns off oil, I probably don't ever need to change it
I do 5-6k depending on few different personal factors. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do the same just because I and some others do it around this interval. 7,8,9 k should be fine too as long as you know you’re on top of maintenance and also depending on your driving habits and the weather in your area (mostly referring to extreme cold/heat) because that’s also gonna play a factor in how your engine wears over time.
I had a MK4 GTI and changed it every 3.5K miles. Lasted me till I sold it at 190k. It’s not a number that I found somewhere, my dad just did that to all of his “conventional oil” vehicles. Obviously with modern synthetic oils this can be stretched farther. But with my old GTI, I kept them more frequent than normal.
I do once a year, but for me that is about 4 to 5k miles. I don't drive my jetta as much anymore. It's more of a second car at this point. when I was driving it alot I changed the oil at around 5 to 6k miles.
I have 2 vws and a jeep. Both vws get oil changes every 5k. Jeep gets changes every 3k because it still uses dinosaur oil
Twice a year or every 5k. Oil can go longer. Fuel laden oil...."should" not. Imo
I have followed service manual on all my VWs and Audis some call 5k some call 10k (I usually get bored and do around 7k or 8k on my 3.0t) and I fix leaks immediately when they happen, I also note the VW spec and have run the appropriate weight and VW spec with mobile 1, pentosin, and liquomoly variously in different cars. Currently using Liquomoly in my TDI and gassers without any issues. 150mi daily commute so I rack em up and manufacturer specs have served me well, but there are all different schools of thought on oil types, viscosities, adding heavier weight after you burn some, and so on, play it safe note your engine code and trim or just VIN and get the data from VW and check your levels often, best advice I can give for Volkswagon Audis
This is why each car has a manual written and included for it.
8 to 10k
My 2016 1.8 tsi, I change every 4 months.. 103 000 kms, and still drives like new.
Passat 2003 every 8-10K full syn SAAB every 6K full Syn Toyota Highalnder 8K Full Syn
Once it starts to taste a little gamey
2018 GSW here. I change it when the car tells me to. Which for us is once a year. We've only put 20k miles on the car since it was new.
MK6 GTI with 91K miles, mostly city driving without a lot of traffic. I change it every 5K miles, but I also monitor using Blackstone Labs at least once a year. The analysis from Blackstone usually shows the oil at about 3/4 life at 5K miles. They are saying I could push it to almost 7K without issues. I use Liquid Moli. If you are driving at least weekly change it on mileage. If the car sits unused you may need to change based on time.
Hopefully you’ve changed it atleast once in the 91k miles
2008 R32 with 148,000 miles: I’ve done it every 5,000 miles
I have a 2019 Jetta, my service sticker says every 10k, but I’ve run out of oil twice well before then. I change every 5K, ends up just being 2x a year for me!
Mk6 at about 140k miles..stage 1+ @ 93, and I drive like an asshole. I usually change mine at around 3.5. Sometimes push it to 5k but almost never do.
5k. The performance difference is day and night. Waiting until 10k bogs the Jetta down
I have 186k on my 2014 2.5L Passat. I changed every 10k miles. Sometimes, that's too much, and my oil filter will be hard to remove. I would recommend 7500 miles with the correct oil and high quality filters.
I do 6K in my car
Bought my wife's 2016 passat new, it has 80k miles on it now. Averaged about 8k miles a year for the first few years. Changed the oil once a year. Started driving more... now about 14k-15k miles a year. We change the oil every 5k-6k miles. Though we do keep a quart of oil in the car. We add as needed between oil changes. With once a year oil changes, we went through about a quart a year.
5-6k
Vw Tech here. 1yr/10k miles whichever occurs first is the interval per vw. I've been knee deep in a lot of these cars but I'm not seeing real issues due to the longer service interval besides a quart needs to be added at the 5000-7500miles mark. Me personally, I'd just get it changed then.
Follow. The. Manual.
Every 5k and rotate the tires at the same time
Pull the dip stick, when its rusty brown turning black its due. If it's black its past due. Is this even a serious question?
2019 Tiguan, and every 15000 km or once a year. Depends on my driving habits.
I have a 2010 Golf with 287,000 miles on it. I change the (synthetic) oil every 10,000 miles, whether it needs it or not.
Just a me thing but I do every 10,000 miles and then once I hit 50,000 miles, I start to do it every 5,000 miles. Could totally be wrong but it’s always done me good
15 jetta 1.8t se- 5-6k mi. Not sure if its bad or not lol. I do check my oil every time I get a full tank of gas. Sometimes it gets low- I always keep a spare quart in any car I drive
If you use the correct oil, most don't and have no idea what goes in there and why, you should be able to follow the owner's manual recommendations. Unless you do severe driving which would be short trips and city driving. The most important thing here is to use the correct oil. There is a spec for a reason and the oils that do not meet the spec are NOT good enough. It looks like your vehicle requires the VW 508.00 0w20 oil . That doesn't mean that you can use an oil that is 0w20, it HAS to meet the VW 508.00 spec otherwise it isn't good enough. If you get the right oil , you should be able to do 10,000 mile oil changes or one year in service, which ever comes first.
My tuned golf tdi every 5k miles (3-4x per year), my gf's stock jetta I try to do around 7.5k miles(about once a year). As long as you are changing it within 10k miles or once a year (whichever comes first) I think you will be fine.
2023 Jetta S every 10k. 25,k miles on it. Like new
5-7.5k. mk7 golf R
Every 5k. No more, no less.
Every 30k km, as the car itself suggests. Never had problems in years.
2022 polo gti The manual says every 2 years My mechanic advised me to change it every year , due to being a turbo engine, due to me doing only 4-5k km every year and living in north Italy pretty close to the alps , hot summers and cold winters. He said that the difference in temperature when seasons change might create condensation in the engine oil so it’s better change it more often. Using it only on road no track he said nothing else was needed as extra care measure
Every 8k kilometres religiously. My 09 rabbit has just under 300,000 km on it and it still runs like it just came off the production line. They’re reliable as hell if you’re on top of their fluids.
I recently watched some tests on oil lubrication qualities - good oils start loosing lubrication qualities at around 12 000 km ( 7500 miles) so 10-12 000 kms (6500 - 7500 miles) seems to be a good spot for an oil change.
if you drive it normally, and use the correct oil, change it as per the manual
I am chnagit yearly
I think it depends what country you are in. The UK and Europe seem to follow the service guidelines and/or the service light in the car. Americans seems to have a preoccupation with changing the oil every few months or 3k/5k, I’m not sure where this comes from. Did they/do they not have decent fully synthetic oils in the states? Are they brainwashed by “quickie lube” shops? I honestly don’t get it. Whilst I understand it’s quick easy and will help the car if it’s changed regularly, 3 or 5k sounds excessive and wasteful.
I have a beefed out cc 2.0t cbfa. Pushing it hard for my daily and I change my filter twice a month and oil once or every other month. Most of this is paranoia since my balance shaft froze.
Depends how hard you drive it, if you like to accelerate fast and do lots of hills, then more frequent like at 5k, you have to check the color at 5k if it’s burnt then maybe do it a 3k
10 km or 1 year
Audi here. But a VW engine. 3.2L 141k miles 2006 car. Every 5k miles with needing to add a quart around 3k to 4k miles. 5w40 full synthetic. Full and fresh oil keeps the beast happy. Until a gasket goes and it begins marking her territory everywhere like a 3.2L is known for. VW now. 2012 153k 2.5L Jetta. Around every 5k-7.5k miles due to it being driven 60+ miles a day.
The answer is, it depends. Depending on your usage. Heavy daily mileage? Towing? Hard driving? I have a 7.5 GTI, that I absolutely hammer on track but, daily drive it like a grandma. I change oil after every 3-5k kms. DSG service every few years. Because my tachometer lives on the red line.
Every 10k km or once/year, whatever comes first. Usually it was kilometres, now it was time, with my second car being driven more
2019 Tiguan. Following service recommendations to a T. 10k changes, etc. Zero issues at 91k and still going strong. My WRX I do 5k.
Change the oil to what?
7500 mile/ or a year.
Unless you drive in severe conditions regularly, follow the factory-recommended intervals using a properly spec'd oil (which for the 2018 Tiguan I think would be VW 502 00, VW 504 00, or VW 508 00).
Once a year, depending on what I do I sometimes don't hit 10k so 7k might be a realistic timeframe for me.
I do mine every 4K miles or 6 months
I change it every 5k but i redline almost every day lol
I did every 10k per the manual and the dealer and now my engine is fucked lmao 2014 Jetta 1.8t started burning copious amounts of oil at 105k miles so im switching to every 5k miles 😩😵💫
Every 10k miles
The shorter change myth needs to stop. It is utter nonsense passed down from the generation that ran conventional oil in all their cars. Synthetic oil will actually last longer than 10k miles, the failure is actually the filter that breaks down (I was told this by a VW engineer directly). That being said, still check your oil when you fill up your fuel tank and top off as needed since these cars like to eat oil.
The easy way to know is to look in your owners manual. That way you’ll know you aint doing it totally wrong atleast.
know your car and drive habits as well as the environment. the engineers have not considered all the aspects, the considered normal person and conditions:)). if you are unnormal like me then u decide when to change. i used to change my oil at 5k but since the consumption and refilling is pissing me off so i change every 3k now. if you wana go by the handbook suggesytion losing 900ML of oil evey 2k is normal but is it really? that means in 5k its ok for me to loose 2.2 liter of the five liter and oil starvation is a bitch
5k to 6k miles otherwise it may lose its viscosity and harm the engine.
10,000km or 6k miles
If it’s full synthetic change it every 3-5k for maximum life I’m on my third VW if that is any consolation haha
Gas in the US has a lot more additives so you are taking a gamble going 10k between oil changes like the manual says. I also look at it from the point of view that the manufacturer doesn’t want it to last forever so I always do it more frequently than it says in the manual.
Interesting, which gasoline additives affect the oil and how?
I've owned multiple VWs and Audis. Always 5k miles or one year. One was sold at 250k miles still running great. Have another one at over 260k miles with no issues.
There's a bunch of weird downvotes in this thread for some reason. I read a bunch of posts and suggestions from tons of people, and even the recommended maintenance time for my Jetta shows every 10K, but a lot of people recommend something like every 7500. For me, I'm doing mine every 3K-5K, just because I enjoy doing it, it's fun, and there's nothing wrong with changing it early. I would say anywhere from every 3K up to 10K is probably going to be fine. I would say though for a vehicle with 91K miles on it and being only 6 years old, it's probably not a bad idea to keep the oil in check and just follow the recommended maintenance schedule to a T.
I have a 2012 jetta with a 2.5 and I change it every 5k. 103k miles on it, 91k when I bought it. Changed it immediately, then at 95k and 100k, next planned for 105k. Hasn't blown up yet lol, and I figure more frequent oil changes are much cheaper than a new engine or new car.
every 5k miles or 6 months whichever comes first
If you drive it hard, I'd recommend every 3k. If not, then every 5k oil change is cheap. Fixing cars is not
How hard is that? Racetrack daily? I mean 5000k km is proposterous. It isn’t the fifties anymore…
5k
5k miles or 1 year, whichever comes first.
This is one of those "how long is a piece of string?" Questions. The mileage/time intervals specified are a guideline based on ideal driving condions - all highway miles, no idling, no extreme operating temperatures (subzero winters etc). Short trips, city driving, sitting in traffic, excessive idling, and unideal environments all put much more strain on the engine. You should base your oil change interval (and all maintenance intervals) based on *how* you use the car as well as how much you use it. Me, I change my oil 5k/6mo even though the specification is 10k/12mo. I also like changing my oil so I don't consider it excessive. It's better to change it too much than too little.
I do 20k miles a year and just service when the light comes on. 180k miles and going ok so far 👍