Tell me it's ok to only change my oil every 10,000 miles

[golfTDI1]

Originally Posted by wimpog

Thank you, that's good to know. I bet it is cheaper than the official VW oil. Where do you buy it?

Wimpog...it IS the official VW oil!, VW and Castrol co-developed it. And at least where I am, it is ONLY available at the dealership. You can buy it online too at ECS, but your really not saving anything significant after the shipping.

[golfTDI1]

Originally Posted by scruff1

WOW! Thanks for at least agreeing with me on the oil used. While I appreciate your opinion, I change my TDI's oil the way I do because it's my car, my time and money, and my peace of mind. At about $52 per oil/oil filter change (through my dealership) using Castrol SLX Professional Gold LL03 10W30 twice a year I can live with that.

I can get Castrol SLX Professional Gold LL03 10W30 for about $8 per bottle through my dealership.

Do what you want, but there is evidence that shows that its possible for seals wear faster from changing oil at what I call "half-time" because of the high potency of detergents. I'm not saying you're definitely going to have problems, but it supports the whole "waste of money and time, overkill position"

You see, oil is designed to wear a certain way during its time in the vehicle, there's a timeline of protection so to speak, and today's oils offer different protections over its 10,000mi lifetime in the car. Detergents are utilized at their most when the oil is first changed. Keeping detergents fresh in the oil is overall a negative, especially knowing you're using synthetic oil.

By changing early, you're not honoring the designed and intended full life cycle of todays oils.

Do what you want...but I have more peace of mind leaving the oil in rather than changing it early. (BTW, having said all this...I have changed mine at 7500/8000. If you really need to change it early for your OCD...change it at this interval...5000 is insane...)

Advice to anyone reading this: base your maintenance on fact and not "gut feeling" or "peace of mind" DRIVE MORE, WORRY LESS and your car WILL last longer.

P.S. - My mother said the other day that she wants to replace her tires every year (and with good tires too) for "peace of mind"...she only drives 11,000 miles a year. I think everyone would agree that that's absolutely ridiculous...this is the same thing...IMHO!

[scruff1]

Originally Posted by golfTDI1

Do what you want, but there is evidence that shows that its possible for seals wear faster from changing oil at what I call "half-time" because of the high potency of detergents. I'm not saying you're definitely going to have problems, but it supports the whole "waste of money and time, overkill position"

You see, oil is designed to wear a certain way during its time in the vehicle, there's a timeline of protection so to speak, and today's oils offer different protections over its 10,000mi lifetime in the car. Detergents are utilized at their most when the oil is first changed. Keeping detergents fresh in the oil is overall a negative, especially knowing you're using synthetic oil.

By changing early, you're not honoring the designed and intended full life cycle of todays oils.

Do what you want...but I have more peace of mind leaving the oil in rather than changing it early. (BTW, having said all this...I have changed mine at 7500/8000. If you really need to change it early for your OCD...change it at this interval...5000 is insane...)

Advice to anyone reading this: base your maintenance on fact and not "gut feeling" or "peace of mind" DRIVE MORE, WORRY LESS and your car WILL last longer.

P.S. - My mother said the other day that she wants to replace her tires every year (and with good tires too) for "peace of mind"...she only drives 11,000 miles a year. I think everyone would agree that that's absolutely ridiculous...this is the same thing...IMHO!

I'll take your "expert" opinion under consideration.

[Runnerguy45]

My guru says every 5,000 because its not just the oil, its the filter. I bought my 11 JSW last March and have 45,000 miles. My trip to the guru was my first non dealer experience and I thought my car has run better since. Motul is the choice of oil.

[wimpog]

Originally Posted by Runnerguy45

My guru says every 5,000 because its not just the oil, its the filter. I bought my 11 JSW last March and have 45,000 miles. My trip to the guru was my first non dealer experience and I thought my car has run better since. Motul is the choice of oil.

You've got quite a bit of miles already. How's your vehicle so far? Any issues?

[golfTDI1]

Originally Posted by Runnerguy45

My guru says every 5,000 because its not just the oil, its the filter. I bought my 11 JSW last March and have 45,000 miles. My trip to the guru was my first non dealer experience and I thought my car has run better since. Motul is the choice of oil.

!!!!!! LOL j/k.

I was waiting for this...Its true that if you're going to take a car that uses regular oil, with a change interval of 5-6,000 miles and you start using synthetic and boost your interval to 10-12,000 miles, you would also need to use a "distance" filter (or change the filter every 5-6k and the oil every 10-12k) like a BOSCH or other that can hold up longer. Some will last as long as 30,000 miles. Your old $3 Fram would be a bad choice to go this long. Actually, its been argued by some that the $3 Fram falls apart before 5,000 miles.

HOWEVER, the original VW oil filter or a MANN filter used in your TDI is designed to hold up until about 20,000 miles or so and oil pressure will still be normal. In your TDI, the oil filter is not a concern...P.S., have you SEEN the filter? There is a TON of surface area!! And its very well reinforced. It won't fall apart like the $3 Fram.

NO EXCUSES!!

I want to again state, that it was very hard for me to move off the 3-5k mile interval when I bought this car. I also at one time came up with every argument in the book to find a reason that I needed to continue to change oil this often. But if you look at pure facts and analysis of the oil in this car at 5k, 10k, 15k, 20k the results speak for themselves. If you have doubts, send your oil to Blackstone and get it evaluated yourself. 10k is in EVERY regard a REASONABLE OCI, Unless you idle the car for long periods of time (VERY BAD FOR A DIESEL, NEVER IDLE EVER for more than a few minutes), or drive less than 5 miles a day. (Then you should change at 7,500)

[Runnerguy45]

Originally Posted by wimpog

You've got quite a bit of miles already. How's your vehicle so far? Any issues?

Car has been great, love driving it. I had a early odometer issue that was taken care as was the recall issue. Its my first VW but I love driving it.

[sgtpeper67]

Thanks all. 10,000 it is. Seems definitely to be the right thing to do.

[RedBirdin96]

Originally Posted by golfTDI1

10k is in EVERY regard a REASONABLE OCI, Unless you idle the car for long periods of time (VERY BAD FOR A DIESEL, NEVER IDLE EVER for more than a few minutes), or drive less than 5 miles a day. (Then you should change at 7,500)

I just bought my used 2010 JSW TDI in November with only 7k miles on it. I have been debating what OCI to use, but your one comment about driving less than 5 miles a day caught my attention. My normal commute is not but 3 miles one way (6 miles per day) However once a week I have a 40 mile round trip drive I do and often times my wife drives it to run errands in the evenings. Would it be recommended to stick with a 5k OCI with this driving routine, or would 7.5k or even 10k still be sufficient?

Thanks,
Kevin

[golfTDI1]

Originally Posted by RedBirdin96

I just bought my used 2010 JSW TDI in November with only 7k miles on it. I have been debating what OCI to use, but your one comment about driving less than 5 miles a day caught my attention. My normal commute is not but 3 miles one way (6 miles per day) However once a week I have a 40 mile round trip drive I do and often times my wife drives it to run errands in the evenings. Would it be recommended to stick with a 5k OCI with this driving routine, or would 7.5k or even 10k still be sufficient?

Thanks,
Kevin

In that case I'd go with a time OCI. In that case I'd go with a time OCI rather than mileage. I'd change it every 9months. In the grand scheme of things you could probably wait 'till 10k and be fine, because technically 10k IS the severe inteval for this car, but its worth trying to prevent condensation and dilution by fuel from making a presence in the engine. I'd say for you, 9 months or 7,500 miles whichever comes first is a good rule of thumb.