Re: Oil Change Intervals

[John Greenstreet <jgreenst@motown.ge.com>]

> From quattro-owner@swiss.ans.net Fri Sep  9 14:41:40 1994
> Date: Fri, 9 Sep 1994 12:46 EST
> From: Peter Orban <ORBAN@amtds5.iamt.nrc.ca>

> 
> I was just reading the owner's manual of "new" 4000 SQ. It says that
> the car needs 3.5 litre of oil with filter change, and 3 litre without
> it. Is that correct? My '88 Jetta, with just 4 cylinder, needs 4 and
> 3.5 litre of oil respectively. I sthat possible, that 5 cylinder
> engine needs less oil than a 4 cylinder? Is that because one mounted
> lengthwise, the other sideways, or is it just a misprint?

That's probably correct: my girlfriend's 1990 Audi 80 with the 5-cyl
engine used only 3.5 litres with a filter change.

With recent improvements in oil and engine tolerances, as well as the
addition of oil coolers, it's now possible to get by with less oil
and/or longer oil change intervals.  In Germany, people are concerned
with the massive amount of oil used for engine lubrication and its
ultimate disposal.  Therefore, manufacturers have re-evaluated the
entire situation and--at least in the case of Audi--have greatly
extended change intervals and generally reduced the amount of oil in
the engine.  Did anyone notice that on the new V6s there is no "severe
service" modifier to the 7.5K oil change. interval?  The interval is
even longer in Europe, and anyone who has driven there would know that
most all driving there would meet our definition of "severe service."

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John Greenstreet, Senior Engineer           (jgreenst@motown.ge.com)
Martin Marietta Government Electronic Systems    Moorestown NJ 08057
WPI Class of '75, Temple Class of '94

My new car history:
1972     1975       1978      1982       1986        1989      1992
 VW  ->   VW    ->  Audi  ->  Audi  -> Mercedes -> Mercedes -> Audi
SBug   Scirocco   Fox GTI     4000S    190E 2.3    190E 2.6    100CS

POSSLQ's* new car history:
         1978       1981       1985      1988        1990      1993
       Triumph ->  Toyota ->  Toyota  ->  VW    ->   Audi   -> Audi
       Spitfire    Tercel     Corolla   Jetta GL      80       90S

*POSSLQ = Person of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters
Note: All Audis and Mercedes above were sold to friends or family.
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