I took my 2002 VW Beetle (Turbocharged) to the dealer the other day to buy full synth oil. I usually change my oil (always full synth, w/ factory oil filter) every 10,000 miles (about once a year for that car).
Now, petroleum products in Italy are generally overpriced, and you can usually only find full synth oil at a dealership. So, my total bill for oil and filter was just under 100 euro (about $120.) I do the actual change myself. (It's cheaper, plus I don't trust anyone to put full snth in ... I am suspicious that they will put regular in and charge me for the good stuff)
Here in southern Italy, the average salary is pretty freakin low, and the average car is pretty old/beat up. It's a wonder they ever change their oil at all (They probably don't) I mean, most of these people can't afford heating fuel for the winter months, so it's no surprise that the cars don't get their oil changed frequently.
Anyway, just for fun, I asked the certified VW tech what he thought the proper oil change interval for my car should be. He responded ...
30,000 km's or two years with that oil should be about right for your car. Which is over 18,000 miles
I can see some of the more ana of you shaking your heads in disgust right about now, but consider, here in Southern Italy there are literally a TON of older cars on the road. Probably 60 - 70% of them are 10 years or older. And they are all running ... and have probably had their oil changed very little. Interesting. I'm going to stick to my one-year 10,000 mile oil change. But it makes you think that the fabled "3,000 mile oil change" is a little silly if you are running a synthetic oil.
DISCLAIMER If you are using cheap dino-oil, stick w/ the 3,000 mile interval.
