rellascout

I have a 2008 A8L which I bought with just over 63,000 on the clock. During the first year I owned it I drove it more miles but still less than 10,000 a year. I changed the oil at 65,000. I changed it again at 73,000 at about an 8 month interval.

The car gets up to normal operating temps but clearly not for long. I got my last oil change in Jan 2014 but have only put about 4000 miles year to date. The A8L is a daily driver but mainly city/country driving for 15-20 minute drives to and from work. I am looking for opinions on when to change the oil. It has always been my belief that city stop and go and short drives are harder on the oil than longer hwy runs. It does not consume or leak oil. Over the last 6 months it maybe goes down a 1/2 QT.

I was thinking that with my current driving habits I should look to do 7500/8 month intervals which is about what I did last time. What are peoples thoughts?

uberwgn

By the book, it's 1 yr or 10k miles, whichever comes first.

If it was my car, and the warranty period over, I'd go to 8k mile intervals regardless of time.

rellascout

Thanks for the reply. I know the "by the book" is 10,000 miles or 1 year but my thought was with the type of driving that it is seeing that cutting it down to 7500 might be better. Also I use Mann filters which I used in my D2 and in my WV GTI. Has anyone ever had issues with filters failing running them up to a year?

uberwgn

This is not a concern. The Europeans travel much greater distances using the same filters.

Panelhead

Your filters should last a long time. More than a year if low mileage. The hot oil deteriorates them. But very slowly.
Changing oil early will not hurt anything. I always change early.
On my A-8 I am doing it myself. In fact will get filters to do the others also. Disposing of the oil is easy today. Used to AutoZone gave me grief. Same with Advanced and Walmart. Lately they have not followed back, inspected the used oil and watched as it was poured in.
I bought a set of Rhino ramps and the two way pump that goes down the dipstick tube. This is the way to go. No spills, no torquing the drain plug. Pump it out of oil pan and straight into a 5 gallon bucket. Does not spill one drop. Wish the 335 had a dipstick.
I am going to change the A-8 at 7,500 miles. It is still exactly where the level started 3500 miles ago. So it appears to not use any. Want to keep it this way.
But check the color. If the oil is clean looking it is fine. When it get dark, change it. If it get dark quickly, there is sludge buildup, so change again.

mishar

These two are contradictory. Mine (and most of them) does not consume a single drop over 16K km (10K miles). For me it comes about once per year. By the book.

For mainly short drives it is important to use 0W40. Short drives mean cold engine and that "0" means good oil flow while it is cold.

rellascout

LOL I guess it is consuming some oil but from what I understand an acceptable amount?

mishar

That's right, but if your oil separator is not good that oil goes into the air intake and slowly builds up carbon deposits. May be you should have it checked.

ohsigmachi

Search my username for a used oil analysis I had done on Castrol 0w40. 10,000 miles and not one issue, I'm taking it to 11K this interval and will test again, additionally I'm using Mann filters (Air and oil) and the filtration seems very good based on the UOA.