Volkswagen vehicles are very reliable, and they have a long history of durability, which is why it is quite understandable to opt for a Volkswagen vehicle instead of any other vehicle.
However, there is a downside to Volkswagen vehicles, and it is the fact that changing the oil in a Volkswagen is expensive, more expensive than when you change the oil of a regular Toyota or Honda. Why is this so?
Volkswagen oil changes are so expensive because they not only use synthetic oil with a special oil, but the type of oil they use also varies with the model of Volkswagen vehicle that requires an oil change, and these various models also vary in price.
Are Volkswagen Oil Changes Expensive?
Yes, changing Volkswagen oil is pretty expensive, more expensive than changing other regular vehicles, and this is because of the different models of the vehicle.
Different models of Volkswagen require different types or versions of synthetic oil, and each of these versions requires different costs. Not only that, but they are also more expensive than the normal oil used for regular vehicles.
Also, Volkswagen has different types of engines. Some Volkswagen engines use diesel fuel, while others use gasoline fuel, and this also influences the amount of money you would spend when you want to change the oil.
So, are Volkswagen oil changes expensive? No doubt. You would expect that after all of these variations, changing the oil of a Volkswagen would certainly be expensive.
Why are Volkswagen Oil Changes so Expensive?
Although the Volkswagen brand can hardly be referred to as a luxury brand, like the likes of Maserati or BMW, they are also not the conventional, everyday kind of vehicle.
They have their uniqueness, and for this reason, it is expected that repairs and maintenance on them, such as changing the oil or changing some parts would be considered expensive.
There are a couple more reasons why Volkswagen’s oil change is expensive, and they are:
1. Synthetic Oil Required
Volkswagen requires synthetic oil for it to function, and this is because of the kind of engine it operates on.
If you use conventional oil on the engine, chances are the Volkswagen engine will begin to deteriorate, and it won’t function at its peak.
Synthetic oil is more expensive than regular oil, and for this reason, the cost of changing the oil of a Volkswagen goes up, compared to the cost of changing the oil of a regular vehicle that requires regular oil.
2. Expensive Oil Filters
Since the engine doesn’t carry ordinary oil, it requires a different kind of oil filter that can filter synthetic oil, and this oil filter is usually more expensive than the normal oil filter used in regular cars.
When the oil filters cost more, it is expected that this will add to the cost of changing Volkswagen oil, especially when you are required to change the oil filter during changing the oil of your Volkswagen.
Therefore, this is another reason why Volkswagen’s oil change is more expensive than the conventional vehicles’ oil change.
3. Model of Volkswagen Vehicle
The model of the Volkswagen vehicle is also a factor as to what causes the oil change of Volkswagen cars to be so expensive.
The type, version, or model of synthetic and special oil you would use on your vehicle depends completely on the model of the Volkswagen car.
Different Volkswagen models require different versions of synthetic oil, and these versions also vary in price. Some versions cost more than others, and generally, these costs go-ahead to be added to the big scheme of things.
This causes the total amount of money you would spend on Volkswagen oil change to be more than usual.
4. Type of Fuel Used
The type of fuel your engine uses also has a huge influence on how expensive the change of oil in your Volkswagen would be.
You don’t expect to pay the same amount of money to change a diesel vehicle’s oil as what you would use to change the oil of a gasoline engine. The costs vary, and one costs more than the other.
This is a big factor why oil changes in Volkswagen cars are expensive.
5. Service Charge
This is another reason nobody talks about. Dealers often charge more to maintain, repair, or change the oil of a Volkswagen than they charge for the everyday, normal, regular vehicle.
Although it isn’t expressly stated, they usually consider Volkswagen a luxury vehicle, mostly because of its high-quality performance, and its use of premium oil.
How Much Does it Cost to Change the oil in a Volkswagen?
While many other vehicles take only about forty dollars ($40) to eighty dollars ($80) to change their oil, Volkswagen vehicles’ oil change cost around at least one hundred dollars ($100) to one hundred and forty dollars ($140).
However, this completely depends on a lot of things, such as the location you are changing the oil at, the dealer who is helping you change the oil, whether or not you need to change the oil filter, and also the kind of relationship you have with Volkswagen.
By relationship, we mean whether you have a discount available to you, whether you have subscribed to a particular dealer that gets you a discount, etc.
Anyhow, whenever you want to change the oil of your Volkswagen, you should budget about $140. Although it is not as expensive as BMW or Maserati, it is still more expensive than a regular vehicle’s oil change.
Do Volkswagens Need Special Oil Change?
Yes, Volkswagen vehicles need a special oil change. There are recommended oil from the Volkswagen factory that should be used on the vehicles.
If you use just any oil, you are going to get an anyhow performance, which isn’t what you would like.
Volkswagen recommends synthetic oil that can make its engines run at an optimal level.
Specifically, Volkswagen recommends using full synthetic 5W-30, full synthetic 5W-40, or synthetic 0W-40 engine oil.
How Often Should You Change the oil in a Volkswagen?
If you want your vehicle to run at peak performance, and you want to ensure you are assured of a safe and pleasant driving experience, change the oil in your Volkswagen after every five thousand (5,000) miles driven.
Once you notice that the last time you changed your oil is 5,000 miles ago, then you should start making preparations and provisions for changing your oil.
Many people recommend that you change your oil after every ten thousand (10,00) miles, but we recommend that once you have driven over 5,000 miles, know that it is time you change your oil.
What Happens if You Do Not Change the Oil in a Volkswagen?
If you do not change the oil in your Volkswagen, several terrible signs will start to occur in your engine:
- The Friction of Moving Parts: Moving parts that require lubrication won’t get lubricated because there is no oil, or better still, the oil in the vehicle is not enough to lubricate moving parts. This will cause these moving parts to experience friction that leads to tears and leaks within the engine parts.
- Deteriorated Performance: When oil is not changed in Volkswagen, performance depletes, and you enjoy the driving experience less.
- It is Not Safe: Driving a vehicle that has little or no oil is not safe at all, as the engine might stop abruptly or parts of the vehicle can give way in a very dangerous place, like a fast highway, and cause an avoidable accident.
- Engine Shutdown: Slowly, as your engine deteriorates, if it isn’t attended to, it then shuts down and stops working completely.
Conclusion
Although changing the oil in Volkswagen vehicles isn’t as expensive as changing the oil in luxury brand vehicles, it is also expensive, because of its exclusivity.
Volkswagen cars require different types of synthetic oil for different brands of vehicles, and although they are not luxury brands, they could very well pass for one. To enjoy your Volkswagen experience, ensure you change the oil to your car as when due.