tracy.melton

How often should I change it?

Drive about 18K per year and want to keep it in top shape.

thanks,

DUTCH VanAtlanta

First is at 5,000 miles or 1 year - whichever comes first. Next is at 15,000 miles or 2 years. Thereafter, every 10,000 miles or 2 years.

Personally, I change every 5,000 miles with filter. Overkill? Possibly, but I and my engine both like those intervals. YMMV.

PARealtor

not to sound like a jerk but wouldnt it be easier to look in the owners manual than to sit down and type out a question and then wait for a response. Or if you dont have an owners manual Im sure the dealer has that info available with just a phone call.

tracy.melton

Sorry, you do....

As for the owners manual....If everyone followed the manual....this board wouldn't exist...If you don't have something to add constructive....How about keeping it to yourself...I am looking for an opinion from other members who have the same vehicle I am getting....This opinion is based on their experiences....not the manual.

24wheeler

If you give it a service every 15,000 miles and use the recommended oil and filters you will be fine. The recommended oil for this use is fully synthetic diesel specific.

PARealtor

Im just saying by asking a bunch of strangers what they recommend for oil changes it probably isnt the best approach. Usually audi and its dealer network has a good idea of what makes sense when it comes to oil changes. ask and then if you dont like what you hear do it every 5K.

24wheeler

Audi says various intervals according to what people want to hear. You want to hear 5000 miles. Fine, you go ahead and change every 5000 miles. It will do no harm and will increase the value of shares in oil companies, which is good for me.
I go by the computer in the car, which is what Audi recommend in Europe using the latest oil technology. Apparently Audi recommend 15,000 mile fixed intervals in the USA. This being so, it sounds good to me. I won't be second guessing them.

typer77

I was told Diesel engines run a bit "messier" than gasoline engine; therefore more frequent oil change is recommended.
We run in Km here and I plan to change oil in mine every 5000km. Traffic condition is also different; we get stuck in traffic so much more than in the US. Therefore, mileage is not accurate measure of necessary oil change anyways.

24wheeler

I'm in the UK and there is plenty of trafic.
If you change the oil in a diesel because it looks dirty you will be changing it every 100 miles, so don't worry about it.

Whatever oil you use, make sure it meets the performance specification required, not just the viscosity.

I tend to agree with you about milage not being an accurate guide to oil change intervals. I much prefer hours of running time. The Audi diesel is good for about 500 hour service intervals using the correct oil. In slow town conditions this might be 10,000 miles. In faster conditions I make it around 15,000 miles.

Loafer123

While I have not 'met' anyone in any of these forums, I do not consider the people who post here as 'strangers'. While I may not agree with each person's perspective or answer, it has been my experience (most) people who post in any of the forums are pretty passionate and pretty knowledgeable, or at least can point me in a diretion to learn something more.

I agree with your point about the dealer network as generally being knowledgeable. Having said that, I bet there is more than one person on the forum who has found inaccurate information from a dealer or service dept. The forum provides a way for us to learn from others experience.

So chill with the judgment of Tracy on her (or his) inquiry about oil changes using the forum; trust she (or he) can figure out what they want. If it does not work for you, fine.