4.0TT guys...specifically modded/tuned cars....do you do proactive oil changes?

[Rez90]

or do you follow Audi scheduled maintenance. I can't see there being a downside to doing an oil change every 5k vs 10k....

Or am i overthinking?

Odds are my RS7 will be stage 2 before the end of the year and i'm curious if doing proactive oil changes would help the car long term.

[-Eric-]

Yes, I change my oil every 5k

[TD_05]

Every 5-7.5 for me

[BlewBuyou66]

I change every 5k to keep everything happy in there.

[gk1]

5k but probably overkill with modern synthetics. I'm old school though.

[3rdBNCC]

I track my car a lot during the winter months here in FL. Oil changes during that period every 2k. During the summer 5k.

[SPC4S4]

Every 5k here for peace of mind.

[Bassler]

5k, leichtlauf (now that I don't get free Castrol from the prior owners Audicare)

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[Dasquade]

In the same boat, planning do to my own oil changes every 7.5k 'kilometers' (half of what audi recommands).
Overall it is a pretty cheap maintenance if you do it yourself, buy good oil (i use castrol edge titanium fst long life 5w40).
Better safe then sorry :).

[BCT]

Every 5K

[RAF_S7]

Every 10k.

You guys are too paranoid.

We have something called Variable Rate Servicing here in Europe (and lm sure elesewhere)

The car automatically analyses your driving style and number of miles travelled. It then displays via the MMI, a countdown until the next service, in miles and days. This varies depending on how you drive. The service can be little as every 20,000 miles or 2 years. Or if you drive like Lewis Hamilton, every 6 months.

[Clipse3GT]

I agree way too often. Easiest way to tell is just get an oil analysis. I just run M1 0w-40 with OEM filter change every 10k. No oil consumption issues. Spirited driving most of the time. Been running this oil in all my cars, generators, mowers, lawn equipment. Never got an oil analysis back that 10k was too long. Number 1 protection is oil viscosity so check the TBN number.

[Dasquade]

Every 10k.

You guys are too paranoid.

We have something called Variable Rate Servicing here in Europe (and lm sure elesewhere)

The car automatically analyses your driving style and number of miles travelled. It then displays via the MMI, a countdown until the next service, in miles and days. This varies depending on how you drive. The service can be little as every 20,000 miles or 2 years. Or if you drive like Lewis Hamilton, every 6 months.

Hmm, not sure where you got that and if true (please correct me if wrong :) ), but that is the first thing i heard of.
Afaik it always tells 15.000km or 1 year (witch comes first)....no mather how you drive the car.
I am talking purely about the oil service :).

[agent47]

Every 10k.

You guys are too paranoid.

We have something called Variable Rate Servicing here in Europe (and lm sure elesewhere)

The car automatically analyses your driving style and number of miles travelled. It then displays via the MMI, a countdown until the next service, in miles and days. This varies depending on how you drive. The service can be little as every 20,000 miles or 2 years. Or if you drive like Lewis Hamilton, every 6 months.

Or Vettel 😎😎 ..haha..I couldn't resist..

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[jsmonet]

This reminds me, I'm actually coming due for another oil change, or so my car is telling me


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[MP4.2+6.0]

Hmm, not sure where you got that and if true (please correct me if wrong :) ), but that is the first thing i heard of.
Afaik it always tells 15.000km or 1 year (witch comes first)....no mather how you drive the car.
I am talking purely about the oil service :).

Earlier reply is correct. The long life system has been in Europe for at least 10 years. Goes back into C5 era, though not able to be enabled here in C5 or maybe even C6 era. It is that fancy looking sensor you see on bottom of pan is the key component of it. If you reset service indicators with VCDS and go into the instrument panel configuration (where it is done), you can actually find the specific measuring blocks that enable it and control the parameters. The US default instead is just to set it for fixed interval--time and miles. The BMW CBS (condition based service) system is similar and used in USA too, though after a bunch of motor issues (for lots of sub par BMW and Mini reasons) they seem to be backing away from the longer intervals here.

I am not modded on S8 and have AudiCare, but still playing with interim changes and then stretching AudiCare intervals a bit to offset.

Subtle too, but between Europe and USA there may also be an oil spec difference. Common in the USA will be 502 spec fill, while in Europe it may be 504. My 2015 owners manual actually describes both when I looked at it more carefully. 504 needs a very low sulfur fuel (they don't tell you that part), which is the norm in Europe but historically not here. 504 can get you better oil characteristics though if you look at something like Lubrizol spec spider charts. Has been very low sulphur gas in CA for some years now, and I think recently in rest of country. Audi original fill on 4.0T's is apparently 504 (in 5W30), or at least what they use for EPA certification. Dealers still typically use the 502 in 5W40 in all motors, at least where I am in SF Bay Area. I will be shifting to the 504 oil going forward on S8 for any changes I do.

[RAF_S7]

Earlier reply is correct. The long life system has been in Europe for at least 10 years. Goes back into C5 era, though not able to be enabled here in C5 or maybe even C6 era. It is that fancy looking sensor you see on bottom of pan is the key component of it. If you reset service indicators with VCDS and go into the instrument panel configuration (where it is done), you can actually find the specific measuring blocks that enable it and control the parameters. The US default instead is just to set it for fixed interval--time and miles. The BMW CBS (condition based service) system is similar and used in USA too, though after a bunch of motor issues (for lots of sub par BMW and Mini reasons) they seem to be backing away from the longer intervals here.

I am not modded on S8 and have AudiCare, but still playing with interim changes and then stretching AudiCare intervals a bit to offset.

Subtle too, but between Europe and USA there may also be an oil spec difference. Common in the USA will be 502 spec fill, while in Europe it may be 504. My 2015 owners manual actually describes both when I looked at it more carefully. 504 needs a very low sulfur fuel (they don't tell you that part), which is the norm in Europe but historically not here. 504 can get you better oil characteristics though if you look at something like Lubrizol spec spider charts. Has been very low sulphur gas in CA for some years now, and I think recently in rest of country. Audi original fill on 4.0T's is apparently 504 (in 5W30), or at least what they use for EPA certification. Dealers still typically use the 502 in 5W40 in all motors, at least where I am in SF Bay Area. I will be shifting to the 504 oil going forward on S8 for any changes I do.

Fully synthetic oil meeting VW504 @5W30 specification is the Audi specified long life requirement here in Europe, and its what I used in my last oil change.

I wasn't aware of the sulphur differences in fuel between the US and Europe either. I just figured regular unleaded, was, regular unleaded. Learn something new every minute

Here is the European maintenance extract from our handbook.

[DGVR6]

I've notice some oils that are 504 run 5w30 but the 2017 schedule calls for 504 5w40 while the 2016 schedule calls for 502 5w30/5w40/0w40.

Regardless I guess it's fine to run 504 5w30, just a little confusing on the USA maintenance book

How is fuel and oil consumption on 5w30 weight ?

[MP4.2+6.0]

I've notice some oils that are 504 run 5w30 but the 2017 schedule calls for 504 5w40 while the 2016 schedule calls for 502 5w30/5w40/0w40.

Regardless I guess it's fine to run 504 5w30, just a little confusing on the USA maintenance book

How is fuel and oil consumption on 5w30 weight ?

All sort of muddled to me on what weight is used/best/recommended by Audi. On 2017 S8's (always "Plus" in USA), owner's manual punts it to an underhood sticker per the owner's manual. Manual alludes to 0W30, 5W30 and 5W40, but only as interim fix if stranded. Meantime, 2015 underhood sticker just says 502 and kicks it elsewhere, while 2015 manual is specific to 502 or 504 and the weights. Add to it the "Audi recommends" language now in the 2017 manual (Castrol Profesional) and I'm not sure marketing/ad dollars aren't speaking here some these days too. When I see that, my skepto meter goes up. However, you can get either 502 or 504 Castrol Professional from dealers, and actually mail order from a discount dealer for a lot less than I found a 504 oil anywhere else, whether ECS or Amazon or eBay or...

I looked again at the EPA master spreadsheet (findable online), and Audi did certify 2017 S6, S7, S8 and RS7 on 5W30 504/507. Also the Bentley Continentals with either 4.0T or W12. They do also certify other models on 502/505, including 2.0T's and 3.0T. Some Bentleys like the Mulsanne get run on 0W40 in 502, so someone is making a conscious decision about these presumably, as opposed to just spec optimization or one size fits all.

Meantime answering question, I haven't seen any A:B regimented test type stuff, but IIRC I have seen numbers in the 1-2% range. If you try the Lubrizol spider tool for 502/505 spec as against 504/507, 504 shows as better in a variety of meaningful areas, including fuel economy. https://online.lubrizol.com/relperftool/pc.html Turbos included, I'm a lot more concerned about start up flow and high heat breakdown than about hot viscosity specifically--once you get to a high quality spec compliant synthetic that is. Fortunately Audi has a lot of experience over the 30+ years now on water cooling of bearings, after run cooling and the like.

[kunaldoshi]

$5k if possible bro

[Julius_855]

My dealer can't stop repeating me that all this is "brain masturbation" as long as the car is not racing.

I would be curious to open two engines that have 60 000miles on tacho, one being serviced every 5k and the other one every 10 to 15k, under normal use.

Without this type of analysis, it seems to be an highly subjective topic.. isn't it?

[Tidefan73]

90% of my driving, if not more, is cruising up and down I95, so I change it at 10K.
If/when I decide to visit the track/strip, I'll adjust, if needed.

[RAF_S7]

My dealer can't stop repeating me that all this is "brain masturbation" as long as the car is not racing.

I would be curious to open two engines that have 60 000miles on tacho, one being serviced every 5k and the other one every 10 to 15k, under normal use.

Without this type of analysis, it seems to be an highly subjective topic.. isn't it?

I think its reasonably safe to assume that Audi have already undertaken this type of in-depth analysis, since the variable rate service is common across all the vehicles and engine types sold outside of the NA market. They also carry a factory warranty for 3 years or 60,000 Miles.

[Julius_855]

yep exactly

Mine is under warranty for 5 years and 100 000kms. So I decided to let it go... Only thing: I will insist to have at least one per year instead of every two year but anyway should be fine as I drive around 25k kms per year.

Perhaps things would have been different if rmp was going up to 7000? I'm sure turbos are fragile though. Oil quality must be not comparable to ones from the 80's I guess.

[DGVR6]

All sort of muddled to me on what weight is used/best/recommended by Audi. On 2017 S8's (always "Plus" in USA), owner's manual punts it to an underhood sticker per the owner's manual. Manual alludes to 0W30, 5W30 and 5W40, but only as interim fix if stranded. Meantime, 2015 underhood sticker just says 502 and kicks it elsewhere, while 2015 manual is specific to 502 or 504 and the weights. Add to it the "Audi recommends" language now in the 2017 manual (Castrol Profesional) and I'm not sure marketing/ad dollars aren't speaking here some these days too. When I see that, my skepto meter goes up. However, you can get either 502 or 504 Castrol Professional from dealers, and actually mail order from a discount dealer for a lot less than I found a 504 oil anywhere else, whether ECS or Amazon or eBay or...

I looked again at the EPA master spreadsheet (findable online), and Audi did certify 2017 S6, S7, S8 and RS7 on 5W30 504/507. Also the Bentley Continentals with either 4.0T or W12. They do also certify other models on 502/505, including 2.0T's and 3.0T. Some Bentleys like the Mulsanne get run on 0W40 in 502, so someone is making a conscious decision about these presumably, as opposed to just spec optimization or one size fits all.

Meantime answering question, I haven't seen any A:B regimented test type stuff, but IIRC I have seen numbers in the 1-2% range. If you try the Lubrizol spider tool for 502/505 spec as against 504/507, 504 shows as better in a variety of meaningful areas, including fuel economy. https://online.lubrizol.com/relperftool/pc.html Turbos included, I'm a lot more concerned about start up flow and high heat breakdown than about hot viscosity specifically--once you get to a high quality spec compliant synthetic that is. Fortunately Audi has a lot of experience over the 30+ years now on water cooling of bearings, after run cooling and the like.

Thank you for the detailed info and the link.. looks like 504 has some better qualities in different areas.

[DGVR6]

Fully synthetic oil meeting VW504 @5W30 specification is the Audi specified long life requirement here in Europe, and its what I used in my last oil change.

I wasn't aware of the sulphur differences in fuel between the US and Europe either. I just figured regular unleaded, was, regular unleaded. Learn something new every minute

Here is the European maintenance extract from our handbook.

Seems like Audi recommends 502 5w40 for fixed schedule and 504 5w30 for flexible schedule