77 Maintenance
Description
This article is from the VW Technical FAQ, by with numerous contributions by Jan Vandenbrande others.
77 Maintenance
One of the best ways to keep your car alive is to perform periodic
maintenance.
Here is some data that applies mostly to the newer A2 cars.
This data came from the VW manuals, Bosch dealer, and New Dimensions.
New Car
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Do not change the oil until after the recommended initial 7500 miles.
Apparently VW uses a special oil to break in the car. Do check the oil
level on new cars frequently.
Oil Change
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It's a religious issue. The following seems to work:
Mineral Oils: every 3000 miles or 5000 kms or 6 months
Oils must satisfy VW norm 501 01 or 505 00 for turbo diesels
Check the manual for appropriate weight for your
climate. Typically, VW recommends 20W50 or 15W50 for
warmer climates. 5W30 are only recommended for the artic.
Synthetics: every 7500 miles or 12000 kms or 12 (?) months
Oils must satisfy VW norm 500 00
Check the manual for appropriate weight for your
climate. Typically, VW recommends 20W50 or 15W50 for
warmer climates. 5W30 are only recommended for the artic.
Change oilfilter at the same time. VW's manuals say to change it every
other oil change, but it's cheap insurance to change it every time.
Oil Pumps
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From Jens & unverified in the US:
If you have an engine (A1) with the oil pump connected to
the crank shaft directly (no chain between crank shaft and
pump as in A2 engines) you should change the oil pump after
50000 miles! The wheel of the pump that is driven by the
crank shaft is of such a poor material that it will not
stand the force put on it any longer. MANY, MANY engines
died the "oil pump death", but VW never recalled the cars.
The problem is known in Germany, but I do not know in how
far other countries noticed.
Fuel Filter (FI cars)
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Every 60 k miles (eventhough VW now claims it's not needed)
but ND recommends every 30k or 15k if you use very dirty fuel
OxySensor
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Older A2s with Non heated sensors: 30k miles
Newer A2s with heated sensors: 60k miles
Do NOT neglect this. You will NOT be saving money because if the
sensor goes bad it will quickly take your catalytic converter with it.
And those are EXPENSIVE! See the archives for info on how
to check the Oxy Sensor.
Plugs
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Newer A2s: Every 30 k miles
I often check them (gap) and clean them every 15k miles
Rotor & Cap
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Qs: When should the VR6 (Ed: & most other cars) distributor and rotor
be replaced?
As: [ND] Around 60K for the cap and rotor. Check them at 30-45k
Alternator Brushes
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They wear out leading to inadequate batteru charge.
Check periodically, replace if shorter than 5 mm.
Transmission Fluid
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Synthetic Fluid: replace every 80k miles with synthetic oil, see archives
ATF: every 15k miles - 30k miles max.
CVJoints & Bearings
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Check boots often.
Repack:
Qs: When would you recommend repacking the rear wheel bearings
on Corrados (Ed: & most other cars)? How about the CVJs?
As: Bearings-80k or when you do a rear brake job and have the rotors pulled.
CVs 80-100k or if a boot rips.
Coolant
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Every two years or when it turns murky
Brake Fluid
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Renew every two years
Purge every year
Drive Belt
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8V: 100 k miles, but safer at 75k miles
16V/A1 Euro GTI: 50 k miles
Belts
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Every 60 k miles. Put old ones in trunk.
Coolant hoses
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Unclear, but they seem to last about 100-200 k miles.
If you see one go, replace them all because you'll never remember
which was changed when.
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