I was hoping for some feedback from the obviously well-informed members of this group on the lube regimen I use on a particular vehicle. I have a 2003 Audi that gets free maintenance from the dealership every 1 year or 10,000 miles. I put about 12,000 miles per year on the car, so the dealership service is every 10,000 miles. We do a fair amount of stop-and-go driving, make short trips, and tend to sit in traffic, so the "severe duty" schedule is what I typically follow for all of my vehicles.

While the Audi manual specifies 0W-30 oil, I doubt that is what the dealership uses for oil changes. They do not use synthetic oil (except at additional outrageous cost), and I believe that only synthetic oils come in 0W-30 grade. They also use OEM Bosch oil filters.

My current procedure is to let the dealership do the free 10,000 mile change with whatever dino oil they use and their Bosch filter, and then about 3,000 miles later do my own change with Mobil-1 0W-30 and a Mobil-1 filter. I'll run the Mobil-1 for 7,000 miles until the next 10,000 mile interval when I get the free dealer change.

Does this sound sensible?

Also, any info on the quality of the Bosch oil filters?

And finally, anybody know (or suspect) what the dealerships are using for dino oil when the service manual calls for 0W-30 oil? (I plan on asking them next time, but until then...)

While Im no expert on euro cars or colder climates - 10,000 mile service intervals - it has to be a synthetic base oil. If they are using a mineral or part synthetic I'd be very worried.
If you are doing alot of stop starting and idling - perhaps servicing at 5,000 would be more worth your while.
Ask them what brand and model oil they use in your vehicle. You'd be suprised at what some car dealerships getaway with!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: astrixstar,

I would simply take in my own oil and ask that they use it, most dealerships will do this, though you may need to request the empty bottles back or otherwise make certain that you aren't getting cheap dino while they keep your good syn oil.

Nothing persay wrong with your Mobil 1 plan, but I would probably run their 0W40 or 5W40 instead if you see much driving in hot city temps. Other excellent choices would be German made Castrol Syntec ow30 (make certain that it says made in Germany), and the Amsoil 0W30.

Difference between Mobil 1 and Bosch filter is probably small enough not to justify the ~$10 for the Mobil 1. You might consider running the dealer's filter for the first 6,000, then putting on a PureOne, or similar high quality, mid-priced filter for the second 6,000. That would cost quite a bit less than a a single Mobil 1.



The castrol is almost certainly the dealer's syn oil, what do they charge for it? It runs about $4.50/qt in your local autozone.