VW Polo servicing - has oil been changed?

shopndrop

My dad had his VW Polo serviced for the first time last week, the car is about 18 months old, but he was under the impression that it was a longlife service as this is what it had on the front of his service book. However, when he went into his dealer for something a couple of weeks ago, they said it was overdue its first service so he booked it in. It also says in his manual that he would get a warning when service is due, we have VW's but not Polo and we get a message on dashboard when service is due, he hasn't had this. His mileage is approx 8000 so he was expecting to have it serviced in the summer when the car is 2 years old as his servicing is done on age not mileage. He was told the oil and filter had been changed but the oil is still very dark. I always thought that new oil should be a lighter golden colour and am wondering have they changed the oil or just charged for it. Can anyone tell me, can new oil be dark or is it possible they haven't changed the oil?

harveybobbles

Long liefe is 2 years or about 20,000. Which ever is sooner.So at 18 month old its inbetween on age rather than miles, as its only done 8000...Some Polo's dont use the same service message as other VW's - they have a small spanner light that flashed on in the speedo for a few seconds after start up.

oldagetraveller

Is it a Diesel? If so then the engine oil soon goes "dark" after it has been changed.
Personally I always change the engine oil and filter midway between recommended service intervals. 18 months is far too long between oil changes even with modern oil technology. With a low mileage car don't go by the mileage but the time period. The sevice period for my car is 12 months or 20000 miles. I do less than 10000 miles/annum so change the oil 6 months after/before the manufacturers recommended.

harveybobbles

Of course it does depend on the oil that goes back in! Most modern stuff now can go to 2yr/30k servicing! *gulp*

shopndrop

oldagetraveller wrote: »

Is it a Diesel? If so then the engine oil soon goes "dark" after it has been changed.

It is a diesel but dad only drove home from garage, about 4 miles max, and checked the oil, and it was very dark so we suspect that they haven't changed it. Just wanted some advice really before we go back to garage and say they haven't changed it, although charged for it.

shopndrop

harveybobbles wrote: »

Of course it does depend on the oil that goes back in! Most modern stuff now can go to 2yr/30k servicing! *gulp*

Presume no matter what oil goes back in is still not dark though?

Wig

Diesel oil is still golden, but the engine is so black it may have contaminated the new oil to such a degree that the new oil looks dark.

There's nothing you can do about it, in future protect yourself, by
Looking at the colour of the oil on a bit of white plastic before the service and after
Mark your oil filter/air filter/fuel filter in a secret way before service.

Or have it serviced by a garage which lets you watch unlike these stealers who do everything behind closed doors.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

If you suspect they haven't changed it, remove a small amount from the engine and send it off for analysis.

http://www.oilanalysis.org.uk/

Another method is to examine the oil filter, and the sump plug. The oil filter should be new, probably with a greasy handprint on it, the o-rings should be circular in cross section, and the sump plug should show signs of recent disturbance and also have a new crush washer.

The oil could easily go dark after 4 miles. Diesels do this. Plus all the original oil won't have been drained, much will have been left in various oil feed pipes and lines, and the oil cooler, so your new golden oil would very quickly have mixed with the filthy old oil.

Put it this way, it only takes a small amount of dirt on your hands to turn the water in the sink black.