Preventive maintenance

[Finklejag]

Hello guys.

My mother has a 01 VW Beetle. She only has 18,000 miles on it. As you can tell by the miles. She doesn't drive it too often. I buy her oil and filter and send it to her. She has it changed every 6 months.

My question is. I want to buy new plugs, air filter, and fuel filter for the car. With parts like this. Is there any need to replace them because of time. It has been 4 years now, or should you replace these items per the amount of miles on your car?

Thanks for the help.

 

[pitzel]

I am assuming the car uses a petrol-fired engine, correct?

If there are warranty compliance issues, stick to whatever the manual says.

Generally time-based intervals are specified under the implication that during the specified interval, the car will be used significantly for short periods, with lots of idling, etc. Engine oil, air filters, and spark plugs (oops -- guess it is a petrol engine) experience 'wear' and deteriorate on a usage, not a 'time' basis, and if usage is very infrequent, you can use the miles-based intervals fairly safely.

My thoughts -- changing oil every 6 months is fairly excessive. I would aim for a 1-2 year change intervals, using synthetic 5W-40 oil such as Delvac-1 or Mobil 1 Truck and SUV. Spark plugs should not be changed until you are at least 70% of the rated interval in the manual -- otherwise you are just wasting money and risking engine damage. Same with fuel filter, and with the air filter, I would merely inspect it periodically to ensure that theres no physical disintegration taking place.

One item on modern cars that does tend to get very expensive and is very useful to change would be the brake fluid. Brake fluid is hydroscopic (absorbs water), and VW is fairly empathic that it must be changed every so many years. Given that work on the brake system costs a small fortune, having a brake flush/refill done probably would be worthwhile.

Coolant -- don't know enough about it to make any recommendations.

ATF/MTL -- Stuff only disintegrates/wears when the car is being driven.

 

[moribundman]

The manual will say when a service is required, going by miles driven, or time. In a low mileage car, time is the decisive factor. An oil change before the winter and another one in the spring seems sensible, especially because the car gets driven so little.

One thing to look into is the timing belt. I would replace it after 4 years, as rubber does deteriorate with time. I presume the Bug has the 1.8T engine, which is an interference motor. Due to the high cost of the timing belt change ($700-$1200), it is advisable that all other parts that are know to cause problems are prophylactically replaced when the timing belt is changed: belt tensioner, idle roller, waterpump, thermostat, and serp belt. The additional cost is marginal compared to going in for a second time a few months later. The coolant has to be changed after replacing the waterpump.

 

[Finklejag]

Thanks guys. She has the 2.0L. She has been using Delvac 1 and the oem Mann filter for oil changes. The 01's only had a 2 year warrenty. VW had free maintenance for 2 years back then. She had the brake fluid flushed, new air filter, cabin filter replaced free back in May 03.

She lives down in the desert. So the temp is above 90 for about 7 months out of the year. It does get down below 30 in the winter though. She will have the the brake fluid flushed next time she goes in. I know VW states the coolant is lifetime, but I don't buy it. Would it be smart to flush this as well now?

[ January 12, 2005, 02:27 PM: Message edited by: Finklejag ]

 

[moribundman]

What I said about the 1.8T may not apply to the 2.0 motor. I don't even know if that's an intereference motor, so the timing belt change may not apply!

Anyway, the life expectancy of lifetime coolant (G-12 the pink/reddish one) is about 4-5 years, therefore I would replace the coolant with fresh one now or within a year, if the original fill is still in the engine.

 

[Terry]

Finklejag, before the next oil change send your mom a oil analysis bottle/kit for to the mechs/techs to draw a used oil analysis. I can use that to perform PREDICTIVE maintenance for her.

Will give all a good idea what needs to be changed and when.

Please see the 99 VW 2.0 issues I have dealt with using analysis and good maintenance practices posted here under used oil analysis. Of course my Daughters drive this one and I am sure your mom is much more careful in operation !

 

[Bugzii]

Finklejag -

VW has the Maintenance Schedule available online...

http://www.vw.com/SP/SchedMaint.jsp?makeCode=BEETLE

I don't think you have to worry about the plugs and fuel filter till 40k miles.

More of a concern would be...
- air filter (every 40k or 2 yrs)
- timing & serpentine belt condition
- replace G12 coolant after 4-5 years
- flushing brake system
- if applicable, check ATF for auto trans

The 2.0 is known to burn oil, so checking the oil level regularly is important.

PS: 2.0 is not an interference engine.

 

[Finklejag]

For a 58 year old. She has no problem keeping up with the 90mph flow on Socal freeways.

I just feel sorry for that little 115hp 2.0L.

Like most people with this engine. She doesn't consume any oil in bewteen OCI's. Maybe its because she has been using Delvac 1 for the last three years.

So its looks like she will have the following done.

Oil and filter
Coolant flush
Brake fluid flush.
Cabin filter

I will wait until 30K to replace the spark plugs, air filter, ATF fluid/filter, fuel filter. This might be two years away.

[ January 12, 2005, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: Finklejag ]