Real World Oil Change Interval RS7/RS6

[JWebb_C7_Comp]

Hey guys,

I've got 3K miles on the RS7 since I purchased a few months back. Was thinking about changing the oil at home and not heading back to the dealer for a few month months.

Has anyone looked at used oil analyses on dealer (presumably Castrol or Mobil1 0w-40 that is VW 5011.00 spec)? I'm curious how the stuff holds up? I have been a fan of Motul primarily because the UOA's on two of my others cars using their 5w40 502/505 spec were good AND oil consumption was low enough that topping off within a 6 month/6K interval was really rare!

I keep oil for each car/spec we have in the family, but I think I'm the only one in my house that will read the oil level in MMI - or I Drive - and knows how to find the dipstick in cars that are fortunate enough to have one.

Thoughts?

[tempus_x]

Happy to share my experience to-date on a ‘24 RS6 which I’ve run since new and picked-up in November last year, but bear in mind this is largely based on dealer guidance I’ve received and not from any oil analysis.

I’d also be interested to know from others who have done a proper analysis of the oil in the first year of ownership and their recommendations.

In summary, we’ve now done 11,000kms and the oil level is reporting just below max. We drove the car to Vegas and back last month (5,000kms return trip) and before I went I called a few Audi techs to get their opinion on doing an oil change before or after I went, thinking it might be a smart thing to do.

Both the tech and manager said that in all the RS6/RS7 first annual / 12,000kms oil changes they’d seen over the last few years, there was nothing to suggest I needed to do a change any earlier and that the oil held up well. So I’m still running the factory oil and will wait until the first service is due and the car is running well.

[spyderbret1]

I personally tend to over maintenance my cars that I plan on keeping for a while. My RS6 is in that boat. I bought it new in January. To that end, I went and purchased an oil extractor so I could do the in between oil changes myself. It takes 15 mins or so with the extractor so for me there's minimal time invested. I did my first change at just under 3k. I'm just about to hit 5k and plan on doing one more before it goes in for the 10k service. Long term I will probably change the oil every 4-5k miles depending on how I use it. The other thing I am doing is using BG 44K additive to the gas tank in an attempt to keep the intake valves clean for as long as possible. I'll be adding a tune to my car whenever someone unlocks the ECU for the 24 model which is another reason I'm comfortable with extra oil changes. YMMV. Good luck!!

[JWebb_C7_Comp]

I personally tend to over maintenance my cars that I plan on keeping for a while. My RS6 is in that boat. I bought it new in January. To that end, I went and purchased an oil extractor so I could do the in between oil changes myself. It takes 15 mins or so with the extractor so for me there's minimal time invested. I did my first change at just under 3k. I'm just about to hit 5k and plan on doing one more before it goes in for the 10k service. Long term I will probably change the oil every 4-5k miles depending on how I use it. The other thing I am doing is using BG 44K additive to the gas tank in an attempt to keep the intake valves clean for as long as possible. I'll be adding a tune to my car whenever someone unlocks the ECU for the 24 model which is another reason I'm comfortable with extra oil changes. YMMV. Good luck!!

Ha; another top sider. I've been doing changes that way since I started on my 2018 A6 and my wife's 2017 Q7 (once she used-up her AudiCare). The process is fast and tidy - though from start to shower it takes me more like 30 min rather than 15. Anyway, which 511.00 oil are you using and how many liters are you getting out of the motor with extractor? I've read these cars hold about 9 liters.

My A6 and wife's Q7 (both 3.0 Supercharged) hold approximately to 7.25-7.5 liters. 15 liters (3 jugs) get me though a change on both cars. And, for what its worth, the longer intervals I sent to Blackstone were in the range of 6K miles on my stage 2 3.0 SC motor and more like 8k miles on my wife's stage 1 SC motor. Blackstone said we could push each a bit further because of reasonably low wear metals, remaining TBN, no silica, no fuel dilution, etc.. (but for one time). I implemented a 6 month/6K mile policy for all cars in my household for simplicity (Honda, BMW and Audi's get same treatment), which is simple for me to remember and remind my wife and kids - car hits 6K miles, don't drive it but to an oil change or help me change oil on the weekend.

The RS7, however, is a bit more special, and I'm concerned about temps with the hot V TT V8. And, frankly, these things are a bit more expensive. Hence, the investment is something I'm keenly interested in protecting..

[spyderbret1]

Ha; another top sider. I've been doing changes that way since I started on my 2018 A6 and my wife's 2017 Q7 (once she used-up her AudiCare). The process is fast and tidy - though from start to shower it takes me more like 30 min rather than 15. Anyway, which 511.00 oil are you using and how many liters are you getting out of the motor with extractor? I've read these cars hold about 9 liters.

The RS7, however, is a bit more special, and I'm concerned about temps with the hot V TT V8. And, frankly, these things are a bit more expensive. Hence, the investment is something I'm keenly interested in protecting..

I'm currently using Mobil 1™ ESP X3 0W-40. I extracted 8.5 so I added back 8.5. So far so good. I'm concerned about the higher temps as well. I live in Las Vegas so the summers are pretty brutal. I'm hoping that the extra maintenance will lead to longevity. I really like this car and may actually keep it for the long term. Either way it will be an over maintained car and I'm ok with that.

[RS6RS6]

I'm currently using Mobil 1™ ESP X3 0W-40. I extracted 8.5 so I added back 8.5. So far so good. I'm concerned about the higher temps as well. I live in Las Vegas so the summers are pretty brutal. I'm hoping that the extra maintenance will lead to longevity. I really like this car and may actually keep it for the long term. Either way it will be an over maintained car and I'm ok with that.

FWIW, Ive a 23 RS6 and its had its first service last Sept. Since then Ive kept and eye on the oil level and it does tend to hover around the mid to low so i took it to the dealer as they will top up for free. The head tech said not to add any until it told me to do so. I though this odd, and added about 250ml to get the reading back up to mid. Its using oil but i believe that's the norm on these cars. Any other real life experiences of oil levels.usage.top ups outside normal service changes?

[funclub@caseyha]

To me, there is a noticeable difference with how the car the car accelerates and "feels" when when the oil is near MIN vs near MAX

I believe what I'm feeling is the change in oil pressure. So I top it off whenever I check and the car is at or below the halfway mark

I also noticed similar on my old A6 that I drove before I got an RS7

I drive the rs7 pretty hard and change the oil every 6 months or when I hit another 5k miles, I usually have to top it off every 3 weeks or so. The car burns through oil with bigger turbos in it. (not stock)

[FBAnder]

I have never been asked to add oil doing 5k changes in my '21 RS6. Most I've seen it use is half a quart. I followed break-in as specified in the manual vs the usual hard break-ins I do...but I put those 1k miles on in about 10 days. Drove it constantly and for hours at a time just to get it done.

My last dealer service they didn't fill it to max, was about 1/8th quart down from max...which is fine with me as they slightly overfilled it every time before and I had to go back to get some oil removed. I was told the oil level sensor in this gen RS cars is super sensitive.

I would not add oil unless the car calls for it.

[JWebb_C7_Comp]

I'm currently using Mobil 1™ ESP X3 0W-40. I extracted 8.5 so I added back 8.5. So far so good. I'm concerned about the higher temps as well. I live in Las Vegas so the summers are pretty brutal. I'm hoping that the extra maintenance will lead to longevity. I really like this car and may actually keep it for the long term. Either way it will be an over maintained car and I'm ok with that.

Thanks a lot for the comments guys. I ordered Motul 5w40 (511.00 spec) and plan to do a topside extraction. I'm currently half way between max and min values. Hence, If I can extract 8.0-8.5, I wont bother diving underneath to get the last drop or two out.

[JWebb_C7_Comp]

Hey guys,

I wanted to provide an update. My Motul order was delayed and I worked all last night to catch-up on a project. So, with a little spare time on my hands, I went to the dealer this afternoon and I got 10 bottles of VW 511 spec 0w40, one oil filter, one plug and one crush washer. I used my Schwaben 6.5L extractor with medium tube to extract 5.5L, then stopped to empty it. Then, I drained that into an old Motul jug up to the very, very top. Next, I used the thinnest tube on the Schwaben extractor and got about 3.5 additional liters out. My oil sensor had been indicating I was above minimum by about 1/4 of the range between minimum and full. So, I added 9 bottles of fresh oil and the new filter. Warmed the car, checked for leaks at plug, filter and fill cap. Tested oil level and the MMI showed I was at about the same level I had been previously. I then added 1/2 a bottle and went to run errands. Checked oil and I was about 1/2-3/4 between min and full. Let the car cool off. Cleaned-up garage, started car and ran until warmed up, then added the remainder of the last bottle. Now, I'm just to the full mark. That said, when I pour a bottle in, I may leave a little behind, so let's call that a total of 9.75. I think the top sider drain method works on these cars to get most oil out. Hopefully the filter is capturing most of the accumulated solids. I will drain from the bottom or have dealer do so during Audi care interval next time.

At roughly 3.2K miles of use, that oil was as dirty as any as I've seen in the past, but then I usually change oil at about 5K anyway. I didn't send a sample to Blackstone, but might do so next time.

[suffeks]

502 spec oil is old shit, Europe got rid of that over 10 years ago, it's what causes carbon buildup in DI engines

[nickhallphoto]

Thanks for the info on this thread, super helpful!

I am about to do my first 5K oil change, my plan is to do a topside change, could I ask for some specifics on where you send in your tube to extract the oil since there is no dipstick? Are you going in through the oil filter housing port or somewhere else?

Thanks!

[Kczach]

Thanks for the info on this thread, super helpful!

I am about to do my first 5K oil change, my plan is to do a topside change, could I ask for some specifics on where you send in your tube to extract the oil since there is no dipstick? Are you going in through the oil filter housing port or somewhere else?

Thanks!

If you look on the front of the engine towards the drivers side you'll see a little plug that is in the dipstick tube. Sometimes it's a little sticky to get out so you might have to twist a little while you pull it out.
On some models when you are taking off the oil filter housing there are some metal tubes that you need to loosen and move out of the way. Don't be afraid to do that.

Cheers.