Originally Posted By: KL31
10k miles is a lot of kms. You said you do lots of short trips though? So is it lots of short trips multiple times per day? Do you actually do 10k miles per year? If you do, I'd definitely go with the 5k oil change.
With many short trips and not heating the oil fully, that would classify as "severe service". If you did all highway driving then it would be fine.
I don't get people here saying to just run 10k. Dumb advice in my opinion. It's a turbo car and will beat the poop out of most oils. Why risk anything when an extra DIY oil change will cost you less than $50 per year. There's absolutely nothing negative about changing oil more often other than the small cost.
VW's recommendation is 10k miles or 1 year and it is not a stretch in the slightest. An OEM filter and any modern A3/B4/502/LL01/A40/M229.5 oil is more than capable of protection during what is actually a fairly normal service interval on today's vehicles. All of those are long-life certifications and are designed for use in engines with timing chains, variable valve timing, turbochargers, and high output.
If changing every 5k miles or 6 months makes you feel better then so be it, but lets be clear; all it is doing is making you feel better and all it is worth is piece of mind.
10k miles is a lot of kms. You said you do lots of short trips though? So is it lots of short trips multiple times per day? Do you actually do 10k miles per year? If you do, I'd definitely go with the 5k oil change.
With many short trips and not heating the oil fully, that would classify as "severe service". If you did all highway driving then it would be fine.
I don't get people here saying to just run 10k. Dumb advice in my opinion. It's a turbo car and will beat the poop out of most oils. Why risk anything when an extra DIY oil change will cost you less than $50 per year. There's absolutely nothing negative about changing oil more often other than the small cost.
VW's recommendation is 10k miles or 1 year and it is not a stretch in the slightest. An OEM filter and any modern A3/B4/502/LL01/A40/M229.5 oil is more than capable of protection during what is actually a fairly normal service interval on today's vehicles. All of those are long-life certifications and are designed for use in engines with timing chains, variable valve timing, turbochargers, and high output.
If changing every 5k miles or 6 months makes you feel better then so be it, but lets be clear; all it is doing is making you feel better and all it is worth is piece of mind.