"Quickie lubes" can't make it on $20 oil changes, they are a loss leader and they have to sell unnecessary add-ons every time or they go broke.   It's the business model.  Caveat emptor, and you did a good job teaching your daughter, but in my experience most folks quit doing this check sooner or later when nothing changes (as it should be).  Better yet, find a good independent shop for your regular maintenance.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of J Stewart
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 4:00 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Cold weather, short trips

Last year when my daughter took her '98 New Beetle back to school after Christmas break, I took her to Jiffy Lube to get the oil changed (I know, I know, but with her being 200 miles away at school they will top off fluids at n/c) While she was home she had been using  the Beetle for short 3-5 mile trips. The Jiffy Lube "technician" came into the waiting room with the oil cap off the Beetle, it had a whitish sludge on it.  "Your Beetle engine has sludge" he announced, "We can do a de-sludge treatment on the engine for $89.95, I highly recommend you do it" I looked at and said (loud enough so every other customer could hear) "That looks like a little moisture mixed in with a little oil which happens when cars are used for short trip in cold temperatures, I don't think we'll be getting the "de-sludge" treatment". He quickly went back into the service bays and never came back. Just so happens when my daughter went back to school I was going to the same town as her college on business, so she followed me in her Beetle, about a 200 mile drive. When we got there I popped the hood on the Beetle  and took off the oil cap and I showed it to her, laughing, as I said look, no more sludge! It still turned out to be valuable lesson, and I've since taught her how to check the fluids herself on the Beetle. Jeff Stewart ----- Original Message -----