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Hi - newbie here

I have a 2003 S4 saloon with 62k. Bought from an Audi dealer in Jan 09 freshly serviced. I believe it is on variable servicing as it is still showing many '000s of miles before next due and I have only done 5k in this time.

The engine has become a little rattly on start up (only for a few seconds - I understand this is quite normal) and I do a lot of short journeys around town, so I thought it might be a good idea to get the oil changed.

So have booked it into the Audi dealer (want to keep the FASH) for oil service only and they have agreed to let me provide the oil as long as it is the type that they recommend (Castrol SLX3 fully-synthetic 5W/30).

A little searching online seems to suggest that a) this is appropriate as a "long-life" oil, b) that this oil has been superceded by Castrol Edge, and c) that 5W/40 is more appropriate for the kind of low mileage and annual oil changes that I am doing (even though according to Castrol this is a turbodiesel oil, not exactly a 4.2V8!).

Obviously want to avoid the dealer mark up on the oil and also them putting the wrong type in, so can anyone offer any advice on which oil to buy?

And should I ask to move onto fixed servicing?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Jester

Jester,

I was advised by many on this website to move to a fixed service interval. I went to an Audi Specialist (a good one will be better and more knowledgeable than a dealer) and am now on a fixed yearly plan.

OK, it will be more expensive getting a service every year rather than every two years, but I have the piece of mind that the hi-performance car that also ferries my kids around is kept in the best possible condition and less likely to let me down when I need it.

Two years or 19K miles is a LONG service interval period for a performance car. Since moving to a fixed plan, the characteristic start up rattle is greatly reduced and my oil consumption has also significantly dropped. I would wholeheartedly recommend moving to a fixed yearly service period.

Sorry, I can't help with your oil questions above. I have been been using Havoline Ultra V 5-30w, which is a VW504.00. It seems to give me better results (less oil consumption) than other oils I have tried. My fixed service intervals use the same oils as the longlife service, only changing the oil more frequently.

Hi,

If you are worried or are going to keep the car for a long time, then,
stay on the variable service, but change the oil every year/ 5K/ 10K or whatever you fancy, do it by yourself or by your local indie garage.

I'm on variable service, but during the last service interval I have replaced 4 Litres of oil during top-up ( 8 litres total capacity), so my oil is pretty new anyway
The long service spec oil can cope with these variable service intervals without any problems. Audi have tesed the spec for millions of miles in many engines, so I wouldn't worry.

I've just bought Mobil 1 ESP oil - it's got the Audi longlife spec and was on a 20% offer from Halfords.
Any oil with the Audi longlife spec' is suitable. 5W30 is normal.

BTW, it's normal for the oil to go dark during use - it doesn't mean that it's spent - modern oils have detergents that keep the "dirt" harmlessly in suspension - that's the dark colour.
I would, however, probably change the oil every year if I had a diesel, as they produce amazing amounts of particulates.

Regards, Chris.

Thanks Chris & Elmo for your insightful replies