The Brake fluid change is a bit of gimmick. Its to do with how much water is in the system. had mine checked by a local indy and the moisture content wasnt out of spec, so no need to renew. Every two years seems resoanble if theres a leak or whatever. But if you do a moisture check, no need to do it every two years... but id replace it after 4/5 regardless.
Im dubious about the new timing belt interval. when i got my velle it was every 60/80k or 4 years ( which i thought was a bit too frequent). now its 130k ( which i think is a bit too much). thats quite a massive change. Im doing it at 5 years. because i wont do 100k...
again, checked, looks fine. im not doing any heavy pulling, other than the weight of a large man, tank of fuel and a nearly fully specced executive. plus about 100kg. was replaced at 4 years old, so, 4 years ago... regulary running 2.45-2.65tonne
I have a flexi plan. in for my last on current schedule ( i had one done by a VW indy in between because VW com is crap if your an Ultra busy one man band with a 60 miles round trip) at the end of the month. But i am... 'naughty'.... and dump the oil when the service thing says around 9k. and fill it with some mmmm Longlife castrol of the correct vintage. with a filter. and i wont buy another bosch one. Not as good as the mann!
I replace my pollen filter every year or so. But thas because im a 'pollenphobe' - and the motorway just makes then black in 10k miles or so. Id rather have a free flowing filter. i breath that air. it keeps the fan under less stress as well.
Air filter - i just replace it when i think she deserves it. its had 2 or 3 in 70k
lol
Fuel filter definitely every 60. i was told mine was relatively full for 60k... again, id rather there was diesel in my engine rather than water!
DSG is every 40. Now, call me skeptical, but i do wonder if it should be replaced more frequently, say, every 30/35k miles. Just because im a cynical luddite.
36 - 74 have been the replcements on that one so far. im thinking about doing it next at 110 - most likely when i decide to get the timing belt next done.
The end story with servicing is this - if you need it, dont be a cheap skate. renew a bit more frequently. a serviced part that doesnt break or break something else is a lot cheaper than replacing what it supplis.
if you not bothered or dont care - buy a beer and just follow what your told by the van centre.
My opinion is (and it is opinion
)
Brake Fluid - Over 2.5 percent water (or is it 2 percent.. i cant remember right now)
Coolant - 60-80k (yes, 'Forever filled' my ass...) - At least check your specific gravity at 80k then every year/18months and gauge it on that. (i wouldve changed mine by now.. but.. it was mostly refilled after the egr cooler going 'bye bye' while under warranty)
Cambelt/water pump - 5 years. or 100k. less if you are pulling loads. say if at maximum train (5t) halve the miles.
Oil and oil filter - 10k. regardless of whatever it is your using. unless its really cheap oil. Which is like cheap wine. Shame on you!
Fuel filter - 60k.
Air filter - 40k. Or when it gets stuffed with leaves, sand and otherworldly goods from use. such as bees. and mosquitoes. Check it every 6-12 months/15k miles, hold it to the sun and if you cant see the sun, replace it early
Pollen filter - Just replace it when it smells funny - or every 10k? Follow the Filter manufacturer advice, not VW! (mine has had 5 so far - each time, black. from soot and stuff. Ew) - Follow the sunlight rule as well!
DSG + Filter - Anal - Every 25k or so. Cynical - 30-35k - normal person 40-45k. Id avoid being normal though and go with cynical...
DSG - Check the grease on the splines at every DSG service. A golden forgotten nugget of thinking. and check the drives shafts while your at it.
Drivtrian - just check your boots are greased up every 30/40k or so if the mot (miraculously) never comes back with 'split boots' and the like.
Wipers - replace when they need to be. If you want. Because its obvious. Apparently.
Air con - get the oile replaced every 3/4 years. It does leak. Ac systems do. they designed to leak a little. and no one talks about it... Do it. Your evaporator might die from corrosion but at least you wont need a new ac pump any time soon. try and get it done on a hot day as well.
Vent cleaning/ducts - do this each time you change your pollen filter (the sterlising car bomb things)
The rest can fail and be abused and left and still function as a vehicle while the above will keep it running (aside from tyres and brake - that always depends on how much of a maniac you are) while keeping your lungs safe from the old PD's with a black smoke map... Or that old range rover. Or older Merc G class diesels. You know youve been stuck behind one of them at some point!
ALWAYS REMEMBER WITH COMMERCIAL VEHICLES - The service plan is deisgned for the fleet customer in mind. each 300 quid on servicing saved on a van every five years over a flett of a hundred is £30k. Jsut on servicing. Thats a very nice holiday for the service manager... the fleet buyer... or... an upgraded van for the boss. and a nice holiday.
Rant over.
or was it a help? and hopefully not too blashpemous.
'Oils cheap, engines arent'
Cheerio
Edit - Dont use anything cheap with whats said above. Either OEM or BETTER. such as a frecious plus pollen filter is certainly better than the oem filter chucked in with a service plan...
Im dubious about the new timing belt interval. when i got my velle it was every 60/80k or 4 years ( which i thought was a bit too frequent). now its 130k ( which i think is a bit too much). thats quite a massive change. Im doing it at 5 years. because i wont do 100k...
again, checked, looks fine. im not doing any heavy pulling, other than the weight of a large man, tank of fuel and a nearly fully specced executive. plus about 100kg. was replaced at 4 years old, so, 4 years ago... regulary running 2.45-2.65tonne
I have a flexi plan. in for my last on current schedule ( i had one done by a VW indy in between because VW com is crap if your an Ultra busy one man band with a 60 miles round trip) at the end of the month. But i am... 'naughty'.... and dump the oil when the service thing says around 9k. and fill it with some mmmm Longlife castrol of the correct vintage. with a filter. and i wont buy another bosch one. Not as good as the mann!
I replace my pollen filter every year or so. But thas because im a 'pollenphobe' - and the motorway just makes then black in 10k miles or so. Id rather have a free flowing filter. i breath that air. it keeps the fan under less stress as well.
Air filter - i just replace it when i think she deserves it. its had 2 or 3 in 70k
lolFuel filter definitely every 60. i was told mine was relatively full for 60k... again, id rather there was diesel in my engine rather than water!
DSG is every 40. Now, call me skeptical, but i do wonder if it should be replaced more frequently, say, every 30/35k miles. Just because im a cynical luddite.
36 - 74 have been the replcements on that one so far. im thinking about doing it next at 110 - most likely when i decide to get the timing belt next done.
The end story with servicing is this - if you need it, dont be a cheap skate. renew a bit more frequently. a serviced part that doesnt break or break something else is a lot cheaper than replacing what it supplis.
if you not bothered or dont care - buy a beer and just follow what your told by the van centre.
My opinion is (and it is opinion
)Brake Fluid - Over 2.5 percent water (or is it 2 percent.. i cant remember right now)
Coolant - 60-80k (yes, 'Forever filled' my ass...) - At least check your specific gravity at 80k then every year/18months and gauge it on that. (i wouldve changed mine by now.. but.. it was mostly refilled after the egr cooler going 'bye bye' while under warranty)
Cambelt/water pump - 5 years. or 100k. less if you are pulling loads. say if at maximum train (5t) halve the miles.
Oil and oil filter - 10k. regardless of whatever it is your using. unless its really cheap oil. Which is like cheap wine. Shame on you!
Fuel filter - 60k.
Air filter - 40k. Or when it gets stuffed with leaves, sand and otherworldly goods from use. such as bees. and mosquitoes. Check it every 6-12 months/15k miles, hold it to the sun and if you cant see the sun, replace it early
Pollen filter - Just replace it when it smells funny - or every 10k? Follow the Filter manufacturer advice, not VW! (mine has had 5 so far - each time, black. from soot and stuff. Ew) - Follow the sunlight rule as well!
DSG + Filter - Anal - Every 25k or so. Cynical - 30-35k - normal person 40-45k. Id avoid being normal though and go with cynical...
DSG - Check the grease on the splines at every DSG service. A golden forgotten nugget of thinking. and check the drives shafts while your at it.
Drivtrian - just check your boots are greased up every 30/40k or so if the mot (miraculously) never comes back with 'split boots' and the like.
Wipers - replace when they need to be. If you want. Because its obvious. Apparently.
Air con - get the oile replaced every 3/4 years. It does leak. Ac systems do. they designed to leak a little. and no one talks about it... Do it. Your evaporator might die from corrosion but at least you wont need a new ac pump any time soon. try and get it done on a hot day as well.
Vent cleaning/ducts - do this each time you change your pollen filter (the sterlising car bomb things)
The rest can fail and be abused and left and still function as a vehicle while the above will keep it running (aside from tyres and brake - that always depends on how much of a maniac you are) while keeping your lungs safe from the old PD's with a black smoke map... Or that old range rover. Or older Merc G class diesels. You know youve been stuck behind one of them at some point!
ALWAYS REMEMBER WITH COMMERCIAL VEHICLES - The service plan is deisgned for the fleet customer in mind. each 300 quid on servicing saved on a van every five years over a flett of a hundred is £30k. Jsut on servicing. Thats a very nice holiday for the service manager... the fleet buyer... or... an upgraded van for the boss. and a nice holiday.
Rant over.
or was it a help? and hopefully not too blashpemous.
'Oils cheap, engines arent'
Cheerio
Edit - Dont use anything cheap with whats said above. Either OEM or BETTER. such as a frecious plus pollen filter is certainly better than the oem filter chucked in with a service plan...
Last edited:
(at 96k my17)
