Variable versus fixed mileage servicing ?

[red16v]

As perhaps I had anticipated - as many people for fixed mileage as for the variable ? I think I will stick to the existing 'fixed' routine but perhaps get the service carried out every 9k miles ? This is my first diesel car and I am very interested in what the 'regular' contributors think. One thing that has become apparent (to me as a newbie) is the need to have the oil changed regularly, although why this is so particularly on a diesel I do not know.  Still interested in any further thoughts particularly on the last point. Regards, yt.

[kniterider]

 ::)when ive had long term cars i always like to change the oil around the 3k mark, dont get me wrong they will go longer but when i was trained at college it was always advised to me that clean quality oil prolong engine life and since then ive always done it!!! sorry if it seem silly but i like all my fluids in my car nice and clean!!!

[golfvr6]

Why would it be any different on a diesel? engine principles are still the same be it diesel or petrol. Just fire differently. Clean oil will prolong engine life.

[golfvr6]

I suppose engine oil won't break down as quickly in a diesel as in a petrol engine. Less heat, not as much blow by the pistons especially when warming up.
Still there is metal to metal contact , so keeping the oil clean will prolong the engine life.

[S11EPS]

S11EPS, are you sure that your car is set for the variable service service as my first one didn't come up until 17,000 miles and I cane mine like you and use it for short trips?

I don't know now!
I presumed so, on the basis that the car counts down from 2k to next service. Surely if I was on a fixed 10K service pattern it wouldn't bother doing that, as it shouldn't be too hard for me to remember to get it serviced at 10, 20, 30 etc?

I presumed I was on the variable thing as one of my service intervals (between 20k and 30k I think) lasted just over 7k, and I asumed this was driven by the variable servicing (?)

 

Now I am confused!

[Nimrod]

The computer will 'count down' to your next service regardless of whether you are on fixed or variable.  it just serves as a reminder for fixed interval cars.

If you have the original drivers information pack then at the front should be a sticker with a grid of numbers and letters.  This provides an 'at-a-glance' reference for any dealers to tell them what equipment you have installed on your car.  Under the servicing section, it tells you how to identify if you are on variable service by looking at this grid for a particular set of figures, if you have them you are, if you haven't then you're not!

[Nimrod]

And I'm on variable service, and my first one didn't come up till about 17,000 miles, like terminator!

[Terminator]

To expand on Nimrod's point, the sticker with the row of letters/numbers is on the inside cover of the service book. The letters/numbers which denote whether your car is set up for the variable service regime is 'QG1'. I believe all Golf PD150  engines were set up automatically for variable servicing from 01/2002. Before that I think you had to specify for the dealer to set it from fixed to variable.