Audi Oil Change Intervals

As an independent Audi service garage and parts specialist with over 30 years of hands-on experience, we've seen many mechanical breakdowns on vehicles. Experience has shown that changing your fluids is the single most important preventive maintenance routine you can perform to avoid vehicle breakdowns. Yet, for many Audi owners, this seems to be one of the most neglected areas of maintenance. Thoroughly flushing your fluids at the proper intervals can help your car reach 200,000 miles and beyond!

Extended Audi Oil Change Intervals

There have been increased requirements for vehicle manufacturers worldwide to reduce emissions, minimize their carbon footprint, and improve fuel economy. A benefit associated with these international requirements is extended Audi oil change intervals. Modern Audi's are now designed to reach 10,000 + mile oil change intervals.

Extended Audi oil change intervals have been attained using advanced engineering technologies applied to the development and manufacturing of higher quality synthetic motor oils. Using the lower quality or wrong motor oils for the Audi engine applications will likely damage internal engine components, reduce fuel mileage, increase emissions, and can void applicable vehicle warranties. Consequently, it's imperative to use Audi oil that meets your corresponding Audi oil quality standards.

Most German automotive owners want only the best fluids. Blauparts also believes in only providing oils that are formulated and engineered to meet your car's stringent specifications. High quality Ravenol of Germany long life synthetic Audi oil formulations are the right choice!

Since 1946, Ravenol of Germany has been at the forefront of innovation, creating high quality oil formulations which meet advanced Audi engine demands. Classified as advanced high performance and energy conserving, Ravenol Audi oils contain the highest quality synthetic base along with proprietary additives that offer unique profile characteristics specifically formulated for the advanced engine requirements of European cars. Their oil is engineered and manufactured in Germany, the playground of high performance automobile manufacturers including Audi. All of this results in formulations that meet Audi oil quality standards and can be used to achieve long life Audi oil change intervals.

How Often Should I Change My Audi Oil?

As an independent Audi and Audi service and part specialist we've performed hundreds of Audi oil changes over the last 30 years on both our own R&D product development test vehicles and customers' cars. We've seen Audi oils subjected to a wide variety of conditions. A few factors to take into consideration are geographic location, environment, and driving style. They all have a significant impact on how the Audi motor oil works within the engine. Below are several driving styles that should be considered when determining how often to change your Audi oil.

How Driving Style Can Affect Audi Oil Change Intervals

Short Distance City Driving

We define "city driving" as a lot of regular short distance driving. Continuous city driving is one of the most stressful types of driving to subject an Audi engine to. A considerable amount of time could be devoted to discussing the adverse effects of this type of driving on your engine. However, it's more important to understand how it affects your Audi engine's oil.

Those who drive short distances should change their Audi oil more often than the recommended service intervals. City driving accelerates and increases Audi oil contamination. The following are two reasons why:

Short distance city driving typically doesn't allow the engine to reach full operating temperature. The majority of the trip is spent in a "warm up phase." When the engine operates in this "warm up phase" there's increased coefficient friction within the engine, which requires a richer (greater) amount of fuel.

When not at full operating temperature, and as a result of the engine's internal combustion process, there is an increase of engine "blow by." Engine "blow by" is when both burnt and unburned fuel gases (exhaust) slip past the piston rings during the combustion of each cylinder. When this happens, the escaped gases end up in the motor oil sump or oil pan and motor oil.

Repeatedly driving in the "warm up phase" (not allowing the engine to reach its normal operating temperature for a significant period of time) results in engine "blow by," accelerating the contamination of the oil sump and motor oil. Short distance city driving in colder winter temperatures compounds these problems.

The repeated engine warming up and cooling down that takes place with short distance city driving creates condensation within the engine. This condensation is often significant, typically forming and coating the inside of the engine's valve cover and valve train areas. This condensation mixes and contaminates the motor oil, diluting it, and reducing the oil's ability to lubricate the engine properly.

An abundance of short distance city driving accelerates contamination of the Audi motor oil and shortens oil change intervals. Conversely, running the engine for longer distances at normal operating temperatures (for 20 minutes or longer) results in cleaner motor oil and longer oil change intervals. Blauparts recommends a shorter Audi oil change interval from 4,000-7,000 miles for short distance city drivers. Shorter oil change intervals should help extend your engine's life, making the best out of poor driving conditions.

Highway Driving

Highway driving allows the engine to reach and maintain normal operating temperatures for a longer period of time. This results in less Audi oil contamination. At highway speeds, the engine operates at higher RPMs for a longer period of time, allowing for higher combustion chamber temperatures and more efficient fuel burn in each of the engine's cylinders. Moisture in the form of condensation along with unburned gases can "burn off," thereby keeping the motor oil cleaner for optimum motor oil lubrication. With each operating revolution the engine runs cleaner and produces lower emissions, resulting in improved fuel economy.

When most of the driving is done on the highway, Audi oil intervals can be anywhere from 10,000-15,000 miles or once a year. Whichever occurs first. (Confirm  manufacturer's recommendation). Extended Audi oil change intervals are only recommended when using high quality synthetic Audi oils. Some synthetic Audi oils are designed for extended oil drain intervals and can be ran for up to 15,000 miles. If your Audi oil recommendation is for extended long life oil change intervals, always use Audi oil that complies with the manufacturer's oil quality standards. Specifically stating the oil quality specification from the vehicle manufacturer on the bottle. An example of this would be VW 504 00 or VW 508 00.

Never use an If the motor oil does not specifically mention a VW oil specification in accordance with what Audi recommend for your exact engine this means it should not be used in your engine and it is not intended for being used for extended oil change intervals.

Race and Spirited Driving

Spirited performance driving or racing is when high RPMs, revving, "red line" conditions, and above normal operating engine temperatures are common. Often, aftermarket engine modifications significantly enhance the horsepower of spirited driver's vehicles. Some engine performance modifications can put arduous stress on internal engine components. These types of modifications and driving styles subject normal motor oil beyond its intended use, causing it to break down quickly. Off the shelf conventional motor oils shouldn't be used under these conditions. A higher weight or viscosity (i.e. racing) oil is recommended. Racing oils are engineered and formulated for extreme loads and high temperatures.

With race and spirited driving conditions, it's recommended to change the oil more frequently. Typically, the oil change interval is around 1,500-3,500 miles, or after each race competition.

Ravenol racing motor oils are fully synthetic and produced from the highest grade PAO (Polyalphaolefins) base stocks combined with unique additive packages. These formulas are specifically engineered to lower friction under extreme high RPM racing conditions to increase reliability. European race teams have successfully used Ravenol Audi racing motor oil to gain the competitive edge.