Routine Maintenance

Rob Boardman writes -- I've been amazed that I could depend as much as I do and did on the reliability of my 1970 Bug. As one example, the ball joints on the car lasted 200,000 hard miles, but on my Ford Falcon they lasted 120,000 easier miles. I'd jump in my ’68 Bug tomorrow and drive to Sydney (from Adelaide) with nothing more than a top up of oil and quick tune, and checking the tyre pressures. And I'd be sure of getting there, as much as I would in a GM or Ford or Honda.

My secret is "stock" everything, since I've always thought that the VW engineers had probably worked out all the quirky stuff and it was all there for a reason.

Bob Hoover, the acknowledged VW Guru, wrote -- The fabled durability of the VW is just that -- a myth. It is a 1930's design meant to deliver 100,000 km of service before overhaul, with one valve job along the way.

One thing you're going to discover real quick is that providing all of the required maintenance to an antique vehicle is a big job. On an annual basis of approximately 12,000 miles traveled, the VW will require approximately 30 hours of SKILLED preventative maintenance.

To this Rob responded -- I think Bob may be overstating the case just a little bit. I drove my 1970 Bug for 248,000 miles over 27 years and found that it required no more maintenance than other more modern cars I've had at the same time, and I used that car HARD -- pulling loads, long distance driving etc.

When I got my 1968 Bug I knew it needed sorting out, but now it's running just fine, and I'm putting 500 miles a week on it with nothing more than the 3000 mile checkups, and checking the oil once a week (it uses and drips a little).

Following are the minimum maintenance intervals recommended for Volkswagens that are driven daily. If you wish to keep your vehicle in peak condition at all times, you may wish to perform some of these procedures even more often. If you drive in dusty areas, idle or drive at low speeds for extended periods or drive for short distances (less than four miles) in below freezing temperatures, shorter maintenance intervals are also recommended.