Golf VR servicing...

Mrs B's Golf needs a service, along with a stack of other stuff, but I have some questions regarding what things need changing/servicing.

The obvious oil and oil filter and air filter, but should I change plugs and fuel filter as well? What engine oil would people recommend? I was on the Opie oil website yesterday and was a little dumbstruck by the different manufacturers 10w-40 oils

Furthermore the gear change in the VR is a little troublesome. It sometimes takes a couple of attempts to get it into gear. This seems to affect all gears, so could it be a worn linkage on the tower at the gearbox end? Or could it be the gear oil could do with being changed?

Also is there anything else I should be considering when servicing the VR? Engine wish, and other? Brakes maybe?

Any advice greatly received

Hey up mate, I'm just about to service my mk3 and was just going to do:

plugs, oil air and fuel filter, oil, flush and replace the coolant for winter

I also have to do the brakes, belts are looking tired, rocker cover gasket and gear oil (or perhaps more, depending on if changing the oil quietens it down a bit).

Put a bit of a stopper on the C but the mk3 will need MOT early Jan and the C will no way be finished by then!

Serp belt and tensioner were replaced recently, and water pump and G12 were done not long ago either. I didn't use distilled water though, would that be a problem?

We stuck distilled in Mincy, but I tend to use whatever comes out of the nearest hose.

I think Kev has reccomended one of the Silkolene oils in the past, and a lot of people like redline MT90 for the gearbox.

The linkage is same as the corrados, so it could be missalignment. What are your engine/gearbox mounts like as I found when my gearbox mount was knackered I'd have more issues as the gearbox got warmer.

Might be worth flushing brake fluid through the system (allow about 600ml/corner for an ABS equipped car)

Plugs are not cheap on the VR, and they tend to prefer the proper OE units. I think sparkplugs.co.uk does them at a reasonable price.

Fuel filter shouldn't be too bad to do, and might be worth doing just for peace of mind.

If you can stretch to it. New PAS fluid made a huge difference to Dom's steering. the old stuff was so bad I had to use brake cleaner to remove the gunge from his header tank.

Plugs - NGK BKR5E will suffice, cheap as chips. You don't need platinum or iridium unless you're planning on leaving them in the engine for 7 decades.

Oil - Silkolene Pro S is definitely one the VR6 seems to like. 10W/40 if the engine isn't using any / much. 10W/50 if it is.

Other items - Just follow a typical VW service schedule mate:-

Brake fluid - If due
Wipers - If worn
Brakes - If worn
Air filter - If due
Engine oil and filter - If due
Spark plugs - If due
Engine coolant - If due
Check / replace all bulbs
Check / refill screenwash
Grease door, bonnet, tailgate, pedal hinges & locks (white grease)
Check / inflate tyres
Check adjust handbrake slack
Check exhaust
Plug VAG-COM in and reset / tend to any warnings.
etc
etc
etc

Surprised a man of your talent needs to ask something so elementary Or are you just bulking the forum out a bit?

actually, does anyone have the service intervals for a mk3 ?<cough>1.4</cough>

Stu, did you get the Vag-Com cable working with MrsB's laptop?

Oh, I'm not that talented lol. I was hoping someone would list the VW type things that are checked, so thanks Kev

Yeah I got VAG-com working fine, although it is a little finicky lol