Oil - it’s not the sexiest subject but one manufacturer has just come up with a new
product that could interest many more drivers.

Castrol has just launched SLX Longlife II. It might sound like a brand of designer beer but this oil has the ability to keep some engines operating for up to a staggering 30,000 miles ( 50,000 Km ) between changes.

Audi Variable Service concept (AVS) first appeared in the  European A2 - a car designed without a hood for minimal mechanical interference by the owner.

The low maintenance idea has been extended to other cars in the Audi range since, and Longlife gives these cars the potential to cover up to 19,000 miles ( 30,000 Km ) between services.

Audi’s V6 TDI diesels can cover as many as 22,000 miles (  36,000 Km )before draining the sump and four-cylinder TDI diesels might, in the right circumstances, avoid mechanics for up to 30,000 miles.

Audi spokesman David Goosey said "This oil has been developed to maintain its viscosity characteristics,
and so deliver the key benefits of fuel efficiency and wear protection, throughout far longer oil drain intervals."

Under AVS, Audi drivers no longer need to adhere to a traditional service plan. Instead, new Audis have an on-board system, which monitors both current engine condition, and the type of motoring the car has typically endured. It then tells the driver when a service is required via the instrument panel.