2011 TDI Jetta Sportwagen oil change schedule headache

RudyH

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 28, 2011
Location
Minnesota
TDI
Sportwagen 2011
Hello: I need some help understanding my oil change intervals. My car has 15,000 miles on it. Just before a road trip a few months ago, I took the car into the dealer for its 10,000 mile service. I did that about 700 miles early because the road trip was to be 3500 miles and I wanted to make sure the oil got changed.

I have another upcoming road trip. This time I will have about 18,000 miles on the car when I start the road trip. After the road trip, the car will have about 21,500 - 22,000 miles on it.

What should I do about my service intervals? Should I keep taking the car in early or can I safely drive another 1500 to 2000 miles and then get the oil changed?

The complicating factor is that there is other service to be performed at these 10,000 mile intervals. I imagine that those can usually wait, but I'm used to getting oil changes done close to the recommended intervals.

Should I have them change the oil before the trip, and then the rest of the service after the trip? That would be a bit of a nuisance, but I'd be willing to do it.That would de-couple the oil change intervals with the other service intervals, though.
 

Fordcougar

Veteran Member
Joined
May 19, 2011
Location
Mid Florida Ocala/Orlando
TDI
2011 JSW DSG (SOLD)
Perhaps, and I haven't looked into it yet, you can schedule it for a dealer
that is along your route somewhere? I can't imagine that you are bound to use the purchasing dealer. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong...(since I'm the noob)
 

RudyH

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 28, 2011
Location
Minnesota
TDI
Sportwagen 2011
I thought of that, but I'd be losing some important vacation time, and I have a personal policy against having a car serviced within a week before a long trip. New components fail and mechanics make honest mistakes. I don't want to be in the boonies and then have a failure on the road. Also, it seems that a VW has a serious reputation problem for spotty quality of dealer service shops.
 

JSWTDI09

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
TDI
2009 JSW TDI (gone but not forgotten)
Judging from what I have learned about the high tech oils used in our TDIs, I would check oil levels and top off as necessary but wait to do the oil change until you get home. However, there is one possible issue with this. I read somewhere that VW dealers can only charge VW (as part of your "carefree maintenance") for service done within a thousand miles (plus or minus) of the scheduled mileage. I am not positive that this is true, so you might want to confirm this with a dealer. If this is not an issue, I would wait until you get home. If they will do your maintenance for free at 18,000 miles, it should also be free at 22,000 miles. As stated above, finding a dealer along the way is also an option - the scheduled maintenance is only fluid and filter changes, rotating tires and (if you are lucky) a free car wash. They should be able to do this in only few hours.

Have Fun!

Don
 

740GLE

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Location
NH
TDI
2015 Passat SEL, 2017 Alltrack SE; BB 2010 Sedan Man; 2012 Passat,
Only other thing the 20K does is the fuel filter, if you are confident of the fuel you use is up to par (no crud no water) then I don't think there's anything wrong with stretching the oil change/service interval another 1K. I'm planning to go 11,000/12,000 on this oil change, seeing i'm picking up the tab on this change (40K) and i've already changed the fuel filter (35K).
 
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