Yesterday I had my first service, and was told that b/c I was using Mobil 1, I shouldn't worry about getting my oil changed every 3000-4000 miles, but that the 7500 mile intervals would be OK. Also, was told they only cover oil changes at 7500 mile intervals now on 2.8 A4's. And I would have to pay for oil changes between the intervals ($40 a whack if I wanted it). Is this true?

BTW, they rotated my tires (for free) and recommended that I rotate them every service, but that it would not be included with every service? This seems different from the type of service that was described to me by the sales rep., who said Audi picked up EVERYTHING in the first 50K.

But, oil is oil. Whether you are running PepBoys special or Motul, it still gets dirty at the same rate. I would suggest sticking to 3k. I change my Mobil 1 every 2.5k... stuff is blacker than coffee at a truck stop when it comes out.

Justin Glatz
Audi 1.8tQ
BMW 850 CSi
[R]Mistu. Eclipse
Suzuki Katana

...but recently switched to 5,000 mile intervals on my 1.8T. However, if I had a 2.8 V6 I'd probably just stick with 7,500 mile intervals. The "change your oil every 3,000 miles" rule-of-thumb doesn't really apply anymore. IMO, this myth was started by the quick-change oil places. Just look at the drain intervals in Europe...they are longer than the US drain intervals.

I recall reading an long-term test in Car & Driver about one of the new Mercedes Benz models that has a built in oil analyzer. The drain interval ended up being something like 15,000 miles.

Oil and drain intervals is a hot-button topic, so I'm sure I'll get flamed for my comments.

<A HREF="Mailto:andy_hedin@hotmail.com">Andy Hedin</A>
'97 A4 1.8Tqms, Wett 1.0 Bar, ABT Filter, Euro Headlights, APR/Borla Exhaust (coming soon!)...

Recomended service interval on the 2.8 is 7,500 mi. With Mobil 1 that should be fine (in fact there are those that argue it could be a lot longer and still be safe). Note that oil change intervals are much longer in Europe. Yes, you would have to pay for extra oil changes, but as noted above, you don't need them, unless you run the car on the track, in which case chalk it up as a track expense.

On the rotation, check your maintenance book (came with your manual(s)), it specifies Audi's recomended service for your car. That is what is covered by the Audi Advantage. I think they cover one rotation, but can't remember. Every service is pushing it. I would say every other service, maybe longer. Just keep an eye on your tires and when the fronts are looking more worn than the rears, have them rotated at the next service.

Regards,
Rodney

'99 A4 1.8tqms

I assume your saying that the oil from your 1.8T is 'blacker than coffee' after 2.5K?

Maybe its your environment, but that doesn't sound normal. Even at 5K, the oil coming out of my turbo 1.8 is still a nice mellow brown.... though a bit darker than fresh-fill... still quite usable. Over three service intervals, about 5% of the miles I have driven have been "on-track"!

I don't know anything, but you might have that looked at. With a fresh filter (and gasket), it doesn't seem like junk should accumulate that fast IMO.

Robbie
1.8Tqms

However, both of my sponsors have always believed that changing your oil is one way of preventing a lot of other things from going wrong. Like I said... I change my Mobil 1 every 2.5k and the stuff is thicker than molasses when it comes out. I am about 8 hours and 1 driving school away from my SCCA ProSolo license (of course, there is also a very large level of laziness that needs to be overcome, as well), and I haven't met 1 driver yet that changes his/her oil after 3k miles. ESPECIALLY in a turbo... nothing lubes those bearings like dirty oil. Perhaps all of your Audi's run cleaner than mine, but somehow, I doubt it. No matter who thought up the idea of earlier oil changes, it still stands as a good one... for heaven's sake, you bought a $35k car, spending $26 (K-Mart) for a case of Mobil 1 and $4 for a filter (also, K-Mart) isn't going to run you into the ground... plus, what car would you buy, all else the same, the car that has records of 3k oil service, or the one with 7.5k oil service?

Yeah... I am starting to feel a little "weird"... like I stepped into the TwiLight zone of oil maintenance. Of course, the only car that I don't race regularly is the BMW (poor thing... it's just not up to it; reliablity-wise). So perhaps, the fact that I have enough track time to get my license very soon is part of the issue... if all you guys still have clean oil after 7.5k, more power to you! I only wish ;-).

You might want to send some of your "used" oil to a lab and have it analyzed. I recall someone doing that after 5,000 miles or so and the oil still had quite a bit of "life" in it.

And if your oil is really coming out as thick as molasses perhaps you're using too high a viscosity (I'm currently running Mobil-1 10w-30 in S.E. PA) and/or you've got some other problem with your engine. My Mobil-1 comes out fairly quick (I let the engine warm up a bit prior to draining) and it is somewhat black in color, but that by itself does not mean that the useful life of the oil is gone.

Andy Hedin

Well, they say one track mile is like 20 road miles....

If I were having as much fun as you, I may very well have the same oil conditions!

I guess the moral of the story is for everyone to check the oil at *every* trip to the gas station... if its dark black its gotta go.. doesn't matter how many miles.

Kick some tail at SCCA.... come on over to NASA and play a while when you have a chance too!

Robbie

I read a Consumer Reports article where they used 24 NYC cabs, 1/2 got oil changes at 3,000 the others at 7,500 ran them all for 60,000+ miles and tore down the engines and measured clearances, wear, etc. --> No difference in either group.

The article came out in 1996 or 97 (I can look it up at home) and if you look at a severe condition, the stop/go/idle the cabs go through must be hell. Of course the engines are big Chevy V8's and don't see the revs that the smaller engines do.


Arch57 -->99.5 2.8QMS

I had mine analyzed after 5k when new: just fine (stock Audi factory fill). Current fill of Mobil 1 15W50 was analyzed after 3,200 miles: fine (actually cleaner than the 5k oil in areas I related to new engine getting rid of left over small particles in the first oil load.

15k service is this Monday and I'll draw a sample tomorrow at ~14,200 miles and let you all know the analysis results (there will be ~7,200 miles on that batch of Mobil 1 15W50).

I had mine analyzed after 5k when new: just fine (stock Audi factory fill). Current fill of Mobil 1 15W50 was analyzed after 3,200 miles: fine (actually cleaner than the 5k oil in areas I related to new engine getting rid of left over small particles in the first oil load).

15k service is this Monday and I'll draw a sample tomorrow at ~14,200 miles and let you all know the analysis results (there will be ~7,200 miles on that batch of Mobil 1 15W50).

nt