All major service intervals are carried out according to service manual of car manufacturer (cam belt, coolant pump…) This procedure is for VAG/VW diesel cars.
- warm-up – 80% damage to engine or car is during warm-up period of about 20km
- gearbox oil – lifetime fillings are joke – every 30,000km
- brake fluid – every year, perhaps every two years if you don’t drive often. Nothing worse than brake fluid full of water and bubbles.
- engine oil + filter – every 8,000km on premium oils such as Liqui Moly. If driven only on short trips, 5,000km max. No name/cheap garage/authorized service oils – max 5,000km. IT’S WORTHY TO PAY FOR OIL ANALYSIS OF YOUR FAVOURITE OIL AND MATCH YOUR DRIVING STYLE WITH OIL LIMITS. I send samples to the USA lab (it’s cheaper than European labs) – 35USD per sample (including postage). It takes at least two samples to find out the right oil for you – it is cheaper than engine replacement. Check out the lab result from cheap service oil.
- filters – the cheapest consumable and most ignored. Dust and particles kill the engine – air filter cost 20€. There is funny stuff about cotton racing filters – it’s great marketing. Paper based stock filters have the same filtering properties with better air flow and even if you change them every 5,000km, they are still cheaper (I’m talking about stock cars – heavily customized cars may benefit from racing filters)
- remapped ECU – the more load you put on your car, the earlier you have to change everything !!! It has been designed for shopping trips and family visits. Stock cars were not designed for motor sport !!! I do everything at 80% of recommended service interval (cam belt on my Octavia suppose to be changed every 150,000km; I change it at 120,000km).