Oil change or inspection service?

[hindsight]

My car was serviced last June. Based on the car menu it was due the oil change service. Looking at the paperwork from the main dealer it was called an 'interim service' with a note that "next service due will be displayed on dash" and the service record show it as an 'oil change service'. However when I check in the car menus now it shows that it is only another oil change service that is due this year and over a year until the next inspection service is due. I thought it was supposed to be one oil change then one inspection service on alternate years? Having said that I don't think there is a huge amount of additional work that is done on the inspection service.

Anyone else had this and I guess my question is whether two oil change services in a row is OK? (Some additional items like a brake fluid and dust pollen filter are also needed.)

[MadMark]

I might be able to help as I've just gone through this ... So if the car does 10,000 miles or less, then they like to do an oil change every year with an Inspection service every other year. However, if your last service was only oil, they will be reluctant to only do that again and whenever you come to sell the car it'll show up that you've skipped an Inspection. But if you're out of warranty, then essentially you can do what the hell you like.

On my car it was due an oil service immediately and an inspection in 4 months, so I just combined the two into one and had the full inspection with pollen filter. Considering there is 10 litres of oil that goes in, they topped up coolant with antifreeze, filled the screenwash, changed the pollen filter, checked everything under the car (looking for extra work?), sent a video and washed the car - £490 is not too bad. Especially as I was quoted £350 just to do the oil change! The brake fluid change and the aircon services are only about 10% above what a specialist would charge and so well worth doing for convenience IMHO.

[Rusty Racer]

Does using the long life oil extend the oil change interval?
I thought there was something like up to 2 years?

[MadMark]

Does using the long life oil extend the oil change interval?
I thought there was something like up to 2 years?

In the RS - they only use one oil - typically a Shell Helix Ultra Professional 5W-30 fully synthetic (but they used to use a similar spec Castrol). Its pretty much as good as you can get. I never accepted the "Long Life" spin, because oil degrades over time and miles, but if you drive anything hard or in town a lot, they need fresh oil, period. And for me that's once a year. Especially when your mill spins to 8,500rpm - oil is critical.

[hindsight]

I might be able to help as I've just gone through this ... So if the car does 10,000 miles or less, then they like to do an oil change every year with an Inspection service every other year. However, if your last service was only oil, they will be reluctant to only do that again and whenever you come to sell the car it'll show up that you've skipped an Inspection. But if you're out of warranty, then essentially you can do what the hell you like.

On my car it was due an oil service immediately and an inspection in 4 months, so I just combined the two into one and had the full inspection with pollen filter. Considering there is 10 litres of oil that goes in, they topped up coolant with antifreeze, filled the screenwash, changed the pollen filter, checked everything under the car (looking for extra work?), sent a video and washed the car - £490 is not too bad. Especially as I was quoted £350 just to do the oil change! The brake fluid change and the aircon services are only about 10% above what a specialist would charge and so well worth doing for convenience IMHO.

Thank MM that is what I'm confused by. The car had an inspection service in 2019 and an oil change in 2020. But the car systems now say an oil change is due in 90 days and an inspection is due in 400 days. Agree that the norm is to flip between oil and inspection each year and that's why I'm confused the car is only asking for an oil change this time round. I have only done something like 2000 miles since the last service. I think I read somewhere that sometimes it depends on how the car has been driven- maybe I'm too gentle with it !

I'll give Audi a call nearer the time and see what they say - suspect like you suggest they say do an inspection even though the car system isn't 'asking' it.

[Rugslasher]

I’ve only done 2,600 miles since last service & still done oil & filter regardless, it’s not the kind of engine I want problems with

[hindsight]

I’ve only done 2,600 miles since last service & still done oil & filter regardless, it’s not the kind of engine I want problems with

Sorry if I wasn't clear - in all cases the engine oil and filter would get changed - believe at Audi main dealers the inspection service additionally checks more items and changes the pollen filter. Definitely good practice to change the oil and filter every year.

It may simply be that Audi accidentally told the car it had had an inspection service last year.

[MadMark]

It may simply be that Audi accidentally told the car it had had an inspection service last year.

And that is what I would guess too!

[Rusty Racer]

A chance to spend more money!