Oil change intervals with stage 1 tune 177HP

[erikdude27]

Hi!
I've got a 2011 Audi A4 B8 2.0 TDI. The engine in this car has options ranging from 120HP to 190HP, and while mine is stock 120, I've had it tuned to 177 HP / 390 Nm. The negative consequence of this tuning is that the turbo in the (stock) 120 HP model is a tad smaller than the 170 HP counterpart - meaning it has to work somewhat harder.

I do not granny drive this car, and it isn't all that unusual for it to see 4,000 revs and being driven actively. On the plus side, I'm very consequent with warming up the engine thoroughly before pushing it hard so that it doesn't take any premature wear.

The question I have on my mind is oil change intervals. The standard interval is 15,000 km. I am currently ≈5,500 km away from due, but consider to change it some time in advance to ensure the oil is in perfect condition given the turbo has to work harder. Is this a necessity or recommended, or do you suggest I run it to when it is due normally?

If it is worth anything, the car has gone about 105,000 km in total.

Thank you very much for help!

A side question for those interested: is it worth to check the oil pressure and/or the pump drive at this range?

[adamazing]

Keep doing it every 5k km and you'll be fine.

[erikdude27]

Keep doing it every 5k km and you'll be fine.

Every 5k km? That's very short though, the manual and the car itself says 15,000 km. I'm at 10k km now

[adamazing]

Every 5k km? That's very short though, the manual and the car itself says 15,000 km. I'm at 10k km now

Audi's recommendation is part marketing gimmick, part partnership with oil companies. If you plan to keep your car running in the best shape possible, stick to the tried and true service maintenance we all grew up with.

5,000 miles equals roughly 8,000km. I would use that as your target window.

[Spawne32]

Modern oils are more then capable of running 15,000 miles or more, assuming you are using the recommended synthetic oil. There are plenty of people on here that have had their oil tested at 10,000 miles and the oil showed no signs of degrading and was capable of being used for much longer. Audi's recommended service interval takes this fact in mind, which is the reason why they have a specific rating for their recommended oil. You are fine running the normal service interval, if you want to change it sooner that's also fine. Changing it every 3k or every 5k is a waste of money though, so just bear that in mind. Many people still have a very 1960's mentality with regards to oil changes.

[bakedziti]

After replacing my engine due to a rod bearing failure, I have switched to every 5k miles and use Motul Xcess 8100 from Liqui-Moly and 10k miles. Mind you, the replacement was also 24k miles after the completion of Stage II of the Oil Consumption fixes for the 2.0T.

A $55 oil change and an hour of my time is far more palatable than another failure, IMO.

[Spawne32]

After replacing my engine due to a rod bearing failure, I have switched to every 5k miles and use Motul Xcess 8100 from Liqui-Moly and 10k miles. Mind you, the replacement was also 24k miles after the completion of Stage II of the Oil Consumption fixes for the 2.0T.

A $55 oil change and an hour of my time is far more palatable than another failure, IMO.

Let's be real here, rod bearing failure in your case has nothing to do with your oil having 5000 miles on it or 10,000 miles on it.

[erikdude27]

Modern oils are more then capable of running 15,000 miles or more, assuming you are using the recommended synthetic oil. There are plenty of people on here that have had their oil tested at 10,000 miles and the oil showed no signs of degrading and was capable of being used for much longer. Audi's recommended service interval takes this fact in mind, which is the reason why they have a specific rating for their recommended oil. You are fine running the normal service interval, if you want to change it sooner that's also fine. Changing it every 3k or every 5k is a waste of money though, so just bear that in mind. Many people still have a very 1960's mentality with regards to oil changes.

This seems to me like the most correct answer. I would assume that modern synthetics are quite capable and can't be compared to oils from the previous century

[bakedziti]

Let's be real here, rod bearing failure in your case has nothing to do with your oil having 5000 miles on it or 10,000 miles on it.

Ok Señor Expert, please tell me what you would like to attribute the failure to; I'd love to hear it . I really don't think you make a comment such as that with any level of certainty. Bearings generally fail due to a lack of lubrication or improper seating, and while I would have loved to have said that it was the tech's fault, a breakdown of oil is far more plausible than suddenly being seated improperly after 24k. Oil breaks down and creates additional wear on any engine, and the change intervals directly play into the effectiveness of your oil. Of course there are/could be other factors at play, but let's be real. Don't believe all you read on the internet, or what you see in a commercial.

[Spawne32]

Ok Señor Expert, please tell me what you would like to attribute the failure to; I'd love to hear it . I really don't think you make a comment such as that with any level of certainty. Bearings generally fail due to a lack of lubrication or improper seating, and while I would have loved to have said that it was the tech's fault, a breakdown of oil is far more plausible than suddenly being seated improperly after 24k. Oil breaks down and creates additional wear on any engine, and the change intervals directly play into the effectiveness of your oil. Of course there are/could be other factors at play, but let's be real. Don't believe all you read on the internet, or what you see in a commercial.

Since your claiming it was a rod bearing failure, how did the bearing fail? Was it a spun bearing? Was it oil starved? Was it one rod bearing or was it all the rod bearings? Contrary to your opinion, oil break down does not cause rod bearings to just suddenly fail, especially at 10,000 miles.

[Spawne32]

This seems to me like the most correct answer. I would assume that modern synthetics are quite capable and can't be compared to oils from the previous century

Some of the service intervals on tractor trailers and other heavy duty vehicles can range up to 50,000 thousand miles, generally averaging around 25,000 miles for a service. Oil's are regularly tested at labs to check for engine wear and oil quality. The 10,000 mile oil service interval on modern cars is becoming quite common thanks to modern technologies being employed in today's oil's. This is why it is important to make sure you are using a good oil that meets the approved service spec for your vehicle if you are going to follow that service interval. If you doubt your oil and the audi service interval, order a test kit from blackstone labs, that simple. Obtain a sample at your next oil change, send it in, and they will tell you all about the quality of the oil you are using.

[bakedziti]

Since your claiming it was a rod bearing failure, how did the bearing fail? Was it a spun bearing? Was it oil starved? Was it one rod bearing or was it all the rod bearings? Contrary to your opinion, oil break down does not cause rod bearings to just suddenly fail, especially at 10,000 miles.

A single bearing failed, not all, and there wasn't a loss of oil (Liqui-Moly 502 approved). I personally feel that 10k is too long and directly contributed to my issues at 113k, but you may continue on believing that you're driving a semi if you wish. These cars require regular maintenance and frankly, if you want to skimp on a $40-50 oil change, then you'll pay for it.

[Spawne32]

A single bearing failed, not all, and there wasn't a loss of oil (Liqui-Moly 502 approved). I personally feel that 10k is too long and directly contributed to my issues at 113k, but you may continue on believing that you're driving a semi if you wish. These cars require regular maintenance and frankly, if you want to skimp on a $40-50 oil change, then you'll pay for it.

lol ok, well im going to continue believing that the 10k service interval is just fine, you go on believing that because you were changing your oil the way the mfg'er told you to that that caused your engine to fail.

[Zach L]

220,000 miles on my GTI 2.0T in 10 years. Average 8,000 mile change intervals. Sometimes 6,000 and sometimes 10,000

[audrobotic]

220,000 miles on my GTI 2.0T in 10 years. Average 8,000 mile change intervals. Sometimes 6,000 and sometimes 10,000

Is that a direct injected engine?

[Zach L]

Is that a direct injected engine?

Yes

[old guy]

Gotta love OCI threads. Always entertaining.

We had a 2003 MB 230 Kompressor that came without a dipstick. It used an algorithm to determine the OCI. The car was basically used as an Interstate cruiser and often the OCI went as far as 16K miles. We put 250K miles on it and never had to add more than a quart between changes. Traded it for a 2009 CC VR6 that is now at 280K miles. I change the oil every 10K miles and never have had to add oil between changes.

I have 235K miles on the 2003 A4 and I change the oil every 5K miles since I tend to beat on it a bit. I also change the oil on my 2013 A5 every 5K miles for the same reason. I have no doubt that I could go 10K on both the A4 and the A5 but I kinda like getting underneath both of them a little more often to check everything out.

Unless you do a lot of stop and go city driving there is really no downside to a 10K OCI as long as you are using a quality oil and filter.

[audrobotic]

Gotta love OCI threads. Always entertaining.

We had a 2003 MB 230 Kompressor that came without a dipstick. It used an algorithm to determine the OCI. The car was basically used as an Interstate cruiser and often the OCI went as far as 16K miles. We put 250K miles on it and never had to add more than a quart between changes. Traded it for a 2009 CC VR6 that is now at 280K miles. I change the oil every 10K miles and never have had to add oil between changes.

I have 235K miles on the 2003 A4 and I change the oil every 5K miles since I tend to beat on it a bit. I also change the oil on my 2013 A5 every 5K miles for the same reason. I have no doubt that I could go 10K on both the A4 and the A5 but I kinda like getting underneath both of them a little more often to check everything out.

Unless you do a lot of stop and go city driving there is really no downside to a 10K OCI as long as you are using a quality oil and filter.

Man you are a high mileage badass. I dont know why Audi doesnt have the built in algorithm that many cars have today.

[Spawne32]

Man you are a high mileage badass. I dont know why Audi doesnt have the built in algorithm that many cars have today.

Some of them do i guess, bakedziti's car threw a rod bearing when the program kicked in. lol

[audrobotic]

Some of them do i guess, bakedziti's car threw a rod bearing when the program kicked in. lol

Ha! Yep - It’s right in the owners manual: “Your Audi is equipped with a sophisticated oil change interval notiifcation system. You will be informed when to change the oil by loud catastrophic noises from the general engine area and many lights in the gauge cluster that were not previously illuminated. Contact your local Audi dealer if you have any additional questions or money to burn.”

[Zodiam]

Man you are a high mileage badass. I dont know why Audi doesnt have the built in algorithm that many cars have today.

They do, at the very least the diesels, they just need to be set to the flexible servicing schedule, and the car checks the oil quality, soot quantity, amongst other things and then warns you that you need an oil change, the longest mine has gone between oil changes is a tad more than 17k miles (2010 B8 2.0 TDI)

[Zach L]

Some of them do i guess, bakedziti's car threw a rod bearing when the program kicked in. lol

There is much that could have contributed to the rod bearing failure. It's a little far fetched for people on a car forum to act like they know what caused it.

That said, for anyone with a pre-2013 car having oil consumption issues due to the common piston ring issue, it would be a good idea to [eventually] do a 5,000 mile change interval for the following reason: As the piston rings fail, it's not just oil that gets past the rings traveling in one direction, but more fuel and combustion blow-by that get into the crankcase traveling in the opposite direction. Material travels in both directions past the failing rings. This process happens in every engine. Very minimally in the best running engines, but to a great extent if rings are starting to fail. The acidity of toxic blow-by will break down the oil. That coupled with unburned fuel dilution is one of the quickest ways to make an oil ineffective. So as oil consumption rises, prior to getting that fixed the oil should start being changed more frequently.

I have surprisingly little oil consumption for a 2010 at 80k miles. But if I start seeing that rise, I'll be doing more frequent oil changes, if not for other reasons.

[Junkyard Dog]

My 2014 A4 seems to need oil added right at around 5,000 miles (has less than 40k). I was going to change it at 5k because this means oil is getting past rings and seals, which means gasoline is getting past rings and seals, too.

Is this loss of oil normal for a relatively new car still under warranty?

[Spawne32]

There is much that could have contributed to the rod bearing failure. It's a little far fetched for people on a car forum to act like they know what caused it.

That said, for anyone with a pre-2013 car having oil consumption issues due to the common piston ring issue, it would be a good idea to [eventually] do a 5,000 mile change interval for the following reason: As the piston rings fail, it's not just oil that gets past the rings traveling in one direction, but more fuel and combustion blow-by that get into the crankcase traveling in the opposite direction. Material travels in both directions past the failing rings. This process happens in every engine. Very minimally in the best running engines, but to a great extent if rings are starting to fail. The acidity of toxic blow-by will break down the oil. That coupled with unburned fuel dilution is one of the quickest ways to make an oil ineffective. So as oil consumption rises, prior to getting that fixed the oil should start being changed more frequently.

I have surprisingly little oil consumption for a 2010 at 80k miles. But if I start seeing that rise, I'll be doing more frequent oil changes, if not for other reasons.

I agree with you, but bakedziti stated it was after the oil consumption repair was done, and we know the pistons are pulled, and replaced along with the rod bearings. I would attribute his failure related to that repair before I would attribute it to an oil change interval as rated by the OEM. You can however, quite easily determine what caused a rod bearing failure by the way the rod bearing looks. They have pretty distinct signatures of what the problem may have been.