I've got a 2004 Audi A3 2.0 TDi Sport which has done just over 83k, and was last serviced at 77k by Audi (full Audi-SH), however I noticed recently that the oil was totally black, and looks like there's no way it was changed at the 77k service.

As the next Audi service isnt due until up to 97k I decided to get an oil change at National Tyre just because the oil looks so bad.

They got the car on the ramp, and when taking off the tray which goes under the engine, they said there was no way that had been off before. All the screws holding it on were like they'd not been undone for a long time (car is 3 3/4 years old)

The oil filter had clearly been on there a hell of a long time judging by the look of it.

As it happens they found they didn't have a suitable filter, so the oil has not been changed.

Is it worth me phoning up the Audi agents in B'ham who did the last few services and having a right old moan? Clearly the engine is going to have really suffered as a result of this, but hard to prove isnt it?

What do people reckon?..

 

Get them to give you the Service Records ... tell them you are having the Oil analysed ... ask them if they would like to give it a free Major Service before you take further action.

 

you need a non fault accident, any relatives in Bradford?

 

It would be hard to prove how old the oil and filter actually is though..
I doubt a National tyre fitter's opinion would hold a lot of water to be honest..

If it was a week or 2 after service fair enough,but 6000 miles later,i think your on a hiding to nothing..

If the oil had never been changed,it would be like mud now.

 

I would certainly try for a free Service.

Oil can be dated very accurately (not by a Nationwaide Tyre Fitter, mind you) - the suspended burnt carbons have a date.

Threaten Watchdog and the Small Claims Court .... do not blink first and you will get incredible service.

 

who owned the car previously? if it was a company car then it would have a full service history?
Diesel oil is darker than a petrol cars oil

 

Give a free service a whirl, but they'll probably do their usual - not a lot!

Hard to prove it's never had new oil.

 

Was owned privately. I think the state of the filter shows it never been changed, but as has been said I think it's too hard to prove!

Thinking my best bet is just an oil change from National, then I might just flog it!

 

Does it have ANY service history??????

 

Yeah full Audi SH - all the stamps, and even got all the invoices! First couple at Poole Audi - others at Beechwood in Birmingham...

 

Do Audi remove the undertray to change the oil? Mercedes pump the oil out of the top of the engine. Diesel oil gets far dirtier than petrol engined cars. Maybe it just did a lot of short journeys and was never allowed to fully warmed up, hence the dirty oil. Can't really comment on the oil filter without seeing it.

 

Its a diesel, dont expect much out of the dealership

My diesel has an oil change every year or 10K miles, whichever comes first,

thats its service interval

i warm the engine, drain the oil, do the filter, put in nice fresh new golden castrol, and then start it up.

The dipstick is black, even after the short 3 minute idle.

Diesel passes a lot of the burnt crap back into the oil, hence it goes black very quickly.

its the soot thats making the oil black

Mart

 

diesel oil does look black (on dipstick) even straight after a change .. there is usually a date stamp on filter (if you can clean it carefully without washing away
markings) that could proove something ??

 

And a bargain at nearly £1.30 a litre as of today where I work!

 

And did you actually call the garages concerned to verify that the stamps and invoices were real?

A couple of years back my next door neighbour sold a 5 series with 93K on the clock, owned from new. Fully stamped BMW book.

Problem was the only time it was in a BMW garage was for its PDI. He had a mate who would just change the oil and then stamp the book with a BMW fake stamp.

 

So a normal BMWFSH then?

 

Hmmm,

I happen to know of a A4 1.8T that was run for some considerable time without an oil change (something like 60K miles):

Put it this way, the cylinder head seized and the turbo bearing is all gummed up (a little laggy would be an understatement - it may as well be seized ).

Now I'm unaware of the car's history. Just its Midlands based. I assumed it was due to owner negligence. But I could be wrong......

 

As already mentioned, the oil in a diesel goes black as soon as you start the car, I drove my 2.0TDi 3 miles home after a service and the dipstick was already black.

Also, the trend these days for nearly all main dealers doing oil changes is to leave the sump plug in place. What they do is such the oil out of the sump through the dipstick tube, hence why the undertray has not been removed. The reason they suck the oil out, is for health and safety reasons. The mechanic doiing the work no longer needs to have any potential contact with the oil and all the crap it contains.

 

This post is SO wrong, that it is right.....