Mooselook

There's been a lot of discussion on this board regarding waiting to change oil at recommended intervals or is it worth it to change oil early at 5,000 miles. My dealer currently charges $125 for an "unscheduled" oil change. What I've done with prior vehicles that had covered maintenance (99 A4 2.8, 2003 Saab 9-3) is to dump and replace the oil myself at 5000 miles but leave the filter until the next scheduled dealer oil change. This seems to satisy the oil change urge without having to deal with the filter cartridge aggravation. Sure, you're keeping a pint or two of dirty oil in the unchanged filter, but surely this is better than running ALL dirty oil for another 5000. Has anyone else done this? Is there a down-side?

bhvrdr

Better than nothing.

CharlieG

In fact, I believe the original oil change schedule for my previous A4 (98.5 A4 1.8TQMS) specified filter replacements every other oil change. In any event, doing what you suggest is still more than Audi recommends.

gnemesis

I own a 99 a4 2.8Q and wanted to start doing my own oil changes and filter. I have no clue on how to do this- any info on tools, supplies, oil suggestions, step by step directions perhaps? Is it even worth my time or is it worth the money to have the shop do it?

OneEyedJack

My 2005.5 A4 has 63k on it now. I did exactly as you describe for the first 50k while under free maintenance. I now change the filter every-other oil change. In fact the 60k change was the first filter change.

p2ayc

I would get a friend that has some experience to do one with you
that way you will see what is involved & be able to do future changes correctly

mellonhdz

maybe this can help. audi periodically mails coupons for regular service. there is a coupon for an oil change for $79.00 also, at the two audi dealership i deal with in STL, that coupon booklet is on the service rep desk. i save roughly $45.

BuddyDog

The biggest deal is getting the filter changed. I also go every 5K and have the service plan, so I took it to a local VW dealer with my own oil and they did the change with a new filter for less that $40 (add another $45 for 5 liters of oil I bought). I went there because VW uses the same filter.

Raistlin

Wow your dealer is thief.... My dealer charges half that for just an oil change.

I have been doing the every 5k oil change up until now. I am almost at 22k miles and should have done the unscheduled change but now I am close to the 25k scheduled. The other problem is that I am exactly at two years since I have owned the car and I am not putting a lot of miles on her so I may just see if I can get the 25k maint done now.