oil sensor

[adw555]

Does anyone know if the so called 'oil quality sensor' is active in both long-life mode and the time-distance mode ?.

Thanks

[Teutonic_Tamer]

The oil quality sensor is a combined, dual function unit, which measures the quality of the oil, and also the level of oil in the sump.

The "oil quality" part is only enabled when the relevent ECU is specifically coded for LongLife servicing.  If time and distance servicing is enabled, then the quality part is disabled (to be really pedantic, it still checks the oil quality, but the info is not processed by the ECU).

The oil level function is permanently enabled, irrespective of the service regime.  However, do NOT rely on this - use the dipstick!

[adw555]

Thanks TT...that's what I was afraid of...(dont worry, I check the level once a week)...

No, the reason i ask is, when new it was supposidly set to long-life from the factory...service light came on at 10k miles...I took it in..they gave it back saying it was incorrectly set to time-distance but they had changed it over...in fact all they had done was reset it to zero...so it did almost another 10k miles (i did ring them a few times at 16k and 18k to ask were they sure it could go this long..each time saying yes, perfectly ok) .....so I was hoping the sensor would still have been active...but sadly no from your reply TT :-(

This time I'm only gettint 16K miles ...so in theory it did 4k more miles last time before the service...ouch..maybe it's time to get shot of it 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

But why the heck are you using LongLife servicing on a Golf GTI ??

And the stealer is being "economical with the truth", beacuse the "factory" do NOT set the servicing regime.  The factory merely fill every sump with LongLife oil (irrespective of weather the car will be, or can be used for LongLife servicing).

The actual servicing regime is ONLY set by the local stealer who carries out the PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection), before handing the keys over to the paying customer (and also on subsequent servicings).

The fact that your car "only" did 10k miles simply proves that your driving style is NOT suited to LongLife servicing.  The fact they had then reset the SID at 10k without actually carrying out the servicing - will basically mean the oil was WAY beyond satisfactory quality, as the SID ECU was trying to process two conflicting readings (it has effectively been told the oil is new, but in reality, the oil is completely worn out, as proven by the previous "trigger" of the service due warning).

I really, really pull my hair out when people buy a high performance turbo charged engine, and then choose to run it on LongLife servicing regimes. 

[adw555]

yea..I suppose I trusted the dealer when they where telling me how much less it was going to cost me to service than my current car at the time (an Impreza turbo...which had to be religously serviced every 6.5K miles)..and how good long life was....

but they had thought they had set it to Long life when really it was set to time-distance..hence the light coming on at 10k....it's done 14k  miles since that first service..most of my miles are on a motorway..but it'll be changed at 10k miles from now on if I keep it....

The thing is I rang the dealer today to talk to them about it and they still are saying "oh 20k miles is fine between oil changes on your car".....auuugghhhhh

[Teutonic_Tamer]

yea..I suppose I trusted the dealer when they where telling me how much less it was going to cost me to service than my current car at the time (an Impreza turbo...which had to be religously serviced every 6.5K miles)

Huh - I didn't know that "trust" and "dealer" were able to co-exist in the same sentance! 

..and how good long life was....

LongLife is good, for "fleet managers", and only when used in accordance with the guidelines!  However, a privately owned car, particularly a GTI, really shouldn't be on LongLife 

but they had thought they had set it to Long life when really it was set to time-distance..hence the light coming on at 10k....it's done 14k  miles since that first service..most of my miles are on a motorway..but it'll be changed at 10k miles from now on if I keep it....

What were the time intervals?  IE, how many months did it take for the 10k indicator to ping you?

The thing is I rang the dealer today to talk to them about it and they still are saying "oh 20k miles is fine between oil changes on your car".....auuugghhhhh

It may be "fine", but it is far from ideal.

Perhaps you ought to read this thread: http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=65779.0

[adw555]

the original service light came on at 10K and after 11months....it's used 1litre of oil in so far in 32k miles (2 .5 years old)...I just find most dealers over here disagree on how to service it...anyway..every 10k with longlife from now on anyway....

A nice explanation in that thread TT....I should send the dealer the link to it...they might learn something!!