Audi A3 oil change every 5K or 10K?
03-10-2008, 07:06 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Audi A3 oil change every 5K or 10K?
I have 10, 500 miles on my 07 A3. The oil low indicator came up and I
added a quart of oil (the indicator went away). Here is the confusion
I have: I called an Audi Dealer and asked if an oil change is needed
and they said Yes! one needed every 5000 miles becasue "it's a small
engine generating lots of horsepower". Called another dealer with the
same question and they said it's not unusual to have to add a quart
after 5000 miles and I should wait till the 15000 mile service for an
oil change since that is the "recommended" interval. So, is the dealer
#1 after my money or does the A3 engine really need an oil change?
added a quart of oil (the indicator went away). Here is the confusion
I have: I called an Audi Dealer and asked if an oil change is needed
and they said Yes! one needed every 5000 miles becasue "it's a small
engine generating lots of horsepower". Called another dealer with the
same question and they said it's not unusual to have to add a quart
after 5000 miles and I should wait till the 15000 mile service for an
oil change since that is the "recommended" interval. So, is the dealer
#1 after my money or does the A3 engine really need an oil change?
03-11-2008, 12:55 AM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi A3 oil change every 5K or 10K?
"canoe" <kanu.chadha@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:17d79432-085c-418c-96c4-5f8189c0d146@e10g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>I have 10, 500 miles on my 07 A3. The oil low indicator came up and I
> added a quart of oil (the indicator went away). Here is the confusion
> I have: I called an Audi Dealer and asked if an oil change is needed
> and they said Yes! one needed every 5000 miles becasue "it's a small
> engine generating lots of horsepower". Called another dealer with the
> same question and they said it's not unusual to have to add a quart
> after 5000 miles and I should wait till the 15000 mile service for an
> oil change since that is the "recommended" interval. So, is the dealer
> #1 after my money or does the A3 engine really need an oil change?
Audi engines do use oil, this topic has been discussed regularly. More so
when newish.
The service is due when the instrument panel tells you.
Just keep an eye on the dip stick.
Where or who did you buy the car from............cos you do not appear to
imply the dealership you purchased it from.
03-11-2008, 06:48 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi A3 oil change every 5K or 10K?
X-no-archive: yes
canoe wrote:
> I have 10, 500 miles on my 07 A3. The oil low indicator came up and I
> added a quart of oil (the indicator went away). Here is the confusion
> I have: I called an Audi Dealer and asked if an oil change is needed
> and they said Yes! one needed every 5000 miles becasue "it's a small
> engine generating lots of horsepower". Called another dealer with the
> same question and they said it's not unusual to have to add a quart
> after 5000 miles and I should wait till the 15000 mile service for an
> oil change since that is the "recommended" interval. So, is the dealer
> #1 after my money or does the A3 engine really need an oil change?
I would imagine that an 07 A3 has the variable service indicator.
Therefore, as well as keeping an eye on the oil level (and topping up as
necessary), it really only needs changed when it tells you.
There's no harm in changing it sooner, but it's really just throwing
your money away.
Wait until the service indicator says a service is due and then get it
done, but be aware that a "service" is much much more than just an oil
change. Consequently, if you just change the oil and call that a
"service" then you're setting yourself up for issues further down the
line. Your manual and service book will give you all the details on
what is required and when.
On the dashboard, the left hand stalk can be pulled out to give details
on when the next service is due.
canoe wrote:
> I have 10, 500 miles on my 07 A3. The oil low indicator came up and I
> added a quart of oil (the indicator went away). Here is the confusion
> I have: I called an Audi Dealer and asked if an oil change is needed
> and they said Yes! one needed every 5000 miles becasue "it's a small
> engine generating lots of horsepower". Called another dealer with the
> same question and they said it's not unusual to have to add a quart
> after 5000 miles and I should wait till the 15000 mile service for an
> oil change since that is the "recommended" interval. So, is the dealer
> #1 after my money or does the A3 engine really need an oil change?
I would imagine that an 07 A3 has the variable service indicator.
Therefore, as well as keeping an eye on the oil level (and topping up as
necessary), it really only needs changed when it tells you.
There's no harm in changing it sooner, but it's really just throwing
your money away.
Wait until the service indicator says a service is due and then get it
done, but be aware that a "service" is much much more than just an oil
change. Consequently, if you just change the oil and call that a
"service" then you're setting yourself up for issues further down the
line. Your manual and service book will give you all the details on
what is required and when.
On the dashboard, the left hand stalk can be pulled out to give details
on when the next service is due.
03-11-2008, 12:44 PM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi A3 oil change every 5K or 10K?
>I have 10, 500 miles on my 07 A3. The oil low indicator came up and I
>added a quart of oil (the indicator went away). Here is the confusion
>I have: I called an Audi Dealer and asked if an oil change is needed
>and they said Yes! one needed every 5000 miles becasue "it's a small
>engine generating lots of horsepower"
No. All current Audis have a service interval display which will tell you
when the car needs an oil change. You may have to fill in some oil between
changes; Audi officially state that up to one litre per 1000 km (do the math
yourself for quarts per 1000 miles) is normal, though most engines use
considerably less.
My 07 A3 turbo diesel needed one half litre after 10000 km and another half
litre 5.000 km later. I'm at 18000 km and the display tells me to have the
car serviced in 12000 km, i.e. at 30000 kms (18600 miles).
An oil change after only 5000 miles is definitely not needed unless the
display (not the dealer) tells you so (which it would probably only do if
you had the habit of driving around at full RPM and cold starting the engine
very often).
>added a quart of oil (the indicator went away). Here is the confusion
>I have: I called an Audi Dealer and asked if an oil change is needed
>and they said Yes! one needed every 5000 miles becasue "it's a small
>engine generating lots of horsepower"
No. All current Audis have a service interval display which will tell you
when the car needs an oil change. You may have to fill in some oil between
changes; Audi officially state that up to one litre per 1000 km (do the math
yourself for quarts per 1000 miles) is normal, though most engines use
considerably less.
My 07 A3 turbo diesel needed one half litre after 10000 km and another half
litre 5.000 km later. I'm at 18000 km and the display tells me to have the
car serviced in 12000 km, i.e. at 30000 kms (18600 miles).
An oil change after only 5000 miles is definitely not needed unless the
display (not the dealer) tells you so (which it would probably only do if
you had the habit of driving around at full RPM and cold starting the engine
very often).
03-11-2008, 02:44 PM
#5
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Posts: n/a
Re: Audi A3 oil change every 5K or 10K?
On Mar 10, 8:06 pm, canoe <kanu.cha...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I have 10, 500 miles on my 07 A3. The oil low indicator came up and I
> added a quart of oil (the indicator went away). Here is the confusion
> I have: I called an Audi Dealer and asked if an oil change is needed
> and they said Yes! one needed every 5000 miles becasue "it's a small
> engine generating lots of horsepower". Called another dealer with the
> same question and they said it's not unusual to have to add a quart
> after 5000 miles and I should wait till the 15000 mile service for an
> oil change since that is the "recommended" interval. So, is the dealer
> #1 after my money or does the A3 engine really need an oil change?
So do the new Audis come with synthetic oil from new? And does the
display tell you that you have a certain percentage of oil life left?
My '04 A4 doesn't have that, but my '07 Honda Odyssey has it - and I'm
still getting used to it. Honda doesn't recommend synthetic (or, at
least, they don't mandate it).
Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA
> I have 10, 500 miles on my 07 A3. The oil low indicator came up and I
> added a quart of oil (the indicator went away). Here is the confusion
> I have: I called an Audi Dealer and asked if an oil change is needed
> and they said Yes! one needed every 5000 miles becasue "it's a small
> engine generating lots of horsepower". Called another dealer with the
> same question and they said it's not unusual to have to add a quart
> after 5000 miles and I should wait till the 15000 mile service for an
> oil change since that is the "recommended" interval. So, is the dealer
> #1 after my money or does the A3 engine really need an oil change?
So do the new Audis come with synthetic oil from new? And does the
display tell you that you have a certain percentage of oil life left?
My '04 A4 doesn't have that, but my '07 Honda Odyssey has it - and I'm
still getting used to it. Honda doesn't recommend synthetic (or, at
least, they don't mandate it).
Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA
03-11-2008, 05:15 PM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi A3 oil change every 5K or 10K?
In message
<9507c5f9-dfac-4f2c-89a5-599820ca44ce@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com>,
Dano58 <dan.dibiase@gmail.com> writes
>On Mar 10, 8:06 pm, canoe <kanu.cha...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I have 10, 500 miles on my 07 A3. The oil low indicator came up and I
>> added a quart of oil (the indicator went away). Here is the confusion
>> I have: I called an Audi Dealer and asked if an oil change is needed
>> and they said Yes! one needed every 5000 miles becasue "it's a small
>> engine generating lots of horsepower". Called another dealer with the
>> same question and they said it's not unusual to have to add a quart
>> after 5000 miles and I should wait till the 15000 mile service for an
>> oil change since that is the "recommended" interval. So, is the dealer
>> #1 after my money or does the A3 engine really need an oil change?
>
>So do the new Audis come with synthetic oil from new?
Yes, at least the A3 (8P series) model does.
>And does the
>display tell you that you have a certain percentage of oil life left?
Not the percentage, but the display does tell you how many miles left
and also the number of days before the next service is due. The service
interval is based on time as well as distance. The interval is
calculated from the duty-cycle of the engine measured by sensors, so
when the service becomes due depends upon how the car is used
day-by-day. Short journeys in stop-go heavy commuter traffic will bring
the service up sooner than long distances travelled at cruising speed.
--
Dave N
<9507c5f9-dfac-4f2c-89a5-599820ca44ce@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com>,
Dano58 <dan.dibiase@gmail.com> writes
>On Mar 10, 8:06 pm, canoe <kanu.cha...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I have 10, 500 miles on my 07 A3. The oil low indicator came up and I
>> added a quart of oil (the indicator went away). Here is the confusion
>> I have: I called an Audi Dealer and asked if an oil change is needed
>> and they said Yes! one needed every 5000 miles becasue "it's a small
>> engine generating lots of horsepower". Called another dealer with the
>> same question and they said it's not unusual to have to add a quart
>> after 5000 miles and I should wait till the 15000 mile service for an
>> oil change since that is the "recommended" interval. So, is the dealer
>> #1 after my money or does the A3 engine really need an oil change?
>
>So do the new Audis come with synthetic oil from new?
Yes, at least the A3 (8P series) model does.
>And does the
>display tell you that you have a certain percentage of oil life left?
Not the percentage, but the display does tell you how many miles left
and also the number of days before the next service is due. The service
interval is based on time as well as distance. The interval is
calculated from the duty-cycle of the engine measured by sensors, so
when the service becomes due depends upon how the car is used
day-by-day. Short journeys in stop-go heavy commuter traffic will bring
the service up sooner than long distances travelled at cruising speed.
--
Dave N
03-11-2008, 08:16 PM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi A3 oil change every 5K or 10K?
"Dave Nesbitt" <nospam@werfner.org.uk.invalid> wrote in message
news:cHRQ$DGtRw1HFwt3@werfner.org.uk...
> In message
> <9507c5f9-dfac-4f2c-89a5-599820ca44ce@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com>, Dano58
> <dan.dibiase@gmail.com> writes
>>On Mar 10, 8:06 pm, canoe <kanu.cha...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> I have 10, 500 miles on my 07 A3. The oil low indicator came up and I
>>> added a quart of oil (the indicator went away). Here is the confusion
>>> I have: I called an Audi Dealer and asked if an oil change is needed
>>> and they said Yes! one needed every 5000 miles becasue "it's a small
>>> engine generating lots of horsepower". Called another dealer with the
>>> same question and they said it's not unusual to have to add a quart
>>> after 5000 miles and I should wait till the 15000 mile service for an
>>> oil change since that is the "recommended" interval. So, is the dealer
>>> #1 after my money or does the A3 engine really need an oil change?
>>
>>So do the new Audis come with synthetic oil from new?
>
> Yes, at least the A3 (8P series) model does.
>
>>And does the
>>display tell you that you have a certain percentage of oil life left?
>
> Not the percentage, but the display does tell you how many miles left and
> also the number of days before the next service is due. The service
> interval is based on time as well as distance. The interval is calculated
> from the duty-cycle of the engine measured by sensors, so when the service
> becomes due depends upon how the car is used day-by-day. Short journeys
> in stop-go heavy commuter traffic will bring the service up sooner than
> long distances travelled at cruising speed.
>
> --
> Dave N
And this Variable servicing has been around on Audi's since 2001, when you
have the first service done (at indicated) then you can change to 10k mile
intervals or long life depending on the type of driving you do, to change
it's as easy as just telling the service dept wheat type of driving you do
when they reset the counter. Long life services can go as far 30k miles
before needing a service but can also go far shorter if as explained before
you do lots of short trips.
So to sum up, if you do lots of short trips, change to a 10k/1yr interval,
if you do mostly motorway work, then keep with the long life.
03-12-2008, 04:29 AM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi A3 oil change every 5K or 10K?
In message <z9GBj.249212$LD6.243330@fe3.news.blueyonder.co.uk >, Ronny
<ronny@spam.ronny.ws> writes
>So to sum up, if you do lots of short trips, change to a 10k/1yr
>interval, if you do mostly motorway work, then keep with the long life.
Why change? It is called "variable servicing" not "long life", and it
does exactly what it says. If your car needs servicing more often, the
display will tell you.
Arbitrarily changing to 10k service intervals is unnecessary and
wasteful. The option to revert to fixed service intervals is intended
primarily for those using inferior quality oil. Variable servicing
requires the use of fully-synthetic oil which conforms with the
specified standard. It is not recommended for those using mineral or
semi-synthetic oil. It's explained in the owner's handbook.
--
Dave N
<ronny@spam.ronny.ws> writes
>So to sum up, if you do lots of short trips, change to a 10k/1yr
>interval, if you do mostly motorway work, then keep with the long life.
Why change? It is called "variable servicing" not "long life", and it
does exactly what it says. If your car needs servicing more often, the
display will tell you.
Arbitrarily changing to 10k service intervals is unnecessary and
wasteful. The option to revert to fixed service intervals is intended
primarily for those using inferior quality oil. Variable servicing
requires the use of fully-synthetic oil which conforms with the
specified standard. It is not recommended for those using mineral or
semi-synthetic oil. It's explained in the owner's handbook.
--
Dave N
03-12-2008, 09:30 AM
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi A3 oil change every 5K or 10K?
On Mar 11, 9:16 pm, "Ronny" <ro...@spam.ronny.ws> wrote:
>
> And this Variable servicing has been around on Audi's since 2001, when you
> have the first service done (at indicated) then you can change to 10k mile
> intervals or long life depending on the type of driving you do, to change
> it's as easy as just telling the service dept wheat type of driving you do
> when they reset the counter. Long life services can go as far 30k miles
> before needing a service but can also go far shorter if as explained before
> you do lots of short trips.
>
> So to sum up, if you do lots of short trips, change to a 10k/1yr interval,
> if you do mostly motorway work, then keep with the long life.
Well, my 2004 car has a 'service due' indicator that flashes on the
DID at start-up... But it won't tell me miles left etc. Just counts
down from about 1500 miles (i.e., Service Due in 1500 miles, Service
Due in 1000 miles, etc). I always assumed it was just a rote count-
down. My Honda Odyssey has an 'oil life' indicator 0 right now, it
says 'Oil Life 30%'. I follow that indicator for oil changes, but I
have always done 5,000 mile intervals on the Audi, using Mobil1 0w-40
as recommended by Audi.
Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA
>
> And this Variable servicing has been around on Audi's since 2001, when you
> have the first service done (at indicated) then you can change to 10k mile
> intervals or long life depending on the type of driving you do, to change
> it's as easy as just telling the service dept wheat type of driving you do
> when they reset the counter. Long life services can go as far 30k miles
> before needing a service but can also go far shorter if as explained before
> you do lots of short trips.
>
> So to sum up, if you do lots of short trips, change to a 10k/1yr interval,
> if you do mostly motorway work, then keep with the long life.
Well, my 2004 car has a 'service due' indicator that flashes on the
DID at start-up... But it won't tell me miles left etc. Just counts
down from about 1500 miles (i.e., Service Due in 1500 miles, Service
Due in 1000 miles, etc). I always assumed it was just a rote count-
down. My Honda Odyssey has an 'oil life' indicator 0 right now, it
says 'Oil Life 30%'. I follow that indicator for oil changes, but I
have always done 5,000 mile intervals on the Audi, using Mobil1 0w-40
as recommended by Audi.
Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA
03-12-2008, 10:38 AM
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Audi A3 oil change every 5K or 10K?
In message
<f65594c4-ac74-421d-aeea-e40f18ef5ff5@p73g2000hsd.googlegroups.com>,
Dano58 <dan.dibiase@gmail.com> writes
>Well, my 2004 car has a 'service due' indicator that flashes on the
>DID at start-up... But it won't tell me miles left etc. Just counts
>down from about 1500 miles (i.e., Service Due in 1500 miles, Service
>Due in 1000 miles, etc). I always assumed it was just a rote count-
>down.
It appears that your car is on fixed interval servicing. What does your
handbook tell you about servicing options, and about the display?
I'm not sure that all Audi models were provided with variable servicing
at the same time. I can confirm that the A3 (8L) I bought in 1999 only
had fixed intervals, and that the A3 (8P) models I bought in 2004 and
2005 had variable servicing. I can't speak for other models or years.
It is also conceivable that Audi used different servicing regimes at
other times in different countries, and I am only speaking for UK
models. The definitive answer can only come from the Audi HQ in your
own country.
--
Dave N
<f65594c4-ac74-421d-aeea-e40f18ef5ff5@p73g2000hsd.googlegroups.com>,
Dano58 <dan.dibiase@gmail.com> writes
>Well, my 2004 car has a 'service due' indicator that flashes on the
>DID at start-up... But it won't tell me miles left etc. Just counts
>down from about 1500 miles (i.e., Service Due in 1500 miles, Service
>Due in 1000 miles, etc). I always assumed it was just a rote count-
>down.
It appears that your car is on fixed interval servicing. What does your
handbook tell you about servicing options, and about the display?
I'm not sure that all Audi models were provided with variable servicing
at the same time. I can confirm that the A3 (8L) I bought in 1999 only
had fixed intervals, and that the A3 (8P) models I bought in 2004 and
2005 had variable servicing. I can't speak for other models or years.
It is also conceivable that Audi used different servicing regimes at
other times in different countries, and I am only speaking for UK
models. The definitive answer can only come from the Audi HQ in your
own country.
--
Dave N
