Long Life services

[twosmoke300]

Was chatting to one of the MAN lorry mechanics last week, asked him about current lorry engine oil change schedules, 70,000kms apparently which is what 42k ish miles?, feck that even if the filtration is a world apart from car engines.

 

Oil is so bloody cheap and so easy to change compared to the hassle time and money involved in not looking after your cars, just aint worth it.

 

Cars of the type likely to have been long life serviced i won't ever be buying into, unlikely to ever get another German when the current Merc is eventually sold, and Toyota/Subaru which are my first choices have never gone down this LL road which must have cost them in lease sales...Scooby got their fingers burned badly enough with their rushed out 2.0 litre Diesel of doom.

Oil is cheap ! Not when it's bloody 8 gallons of super c3 for the dpf etc on the trucks it isn't . Most big fleets now take oil samples on a regular basis and get it tested . It then gets changed only when it needs it . The testing also brings up other faults like egr issues or starts of omghgf etc .

With the lorries it's simple economics . Someone will have done the sums don't you worry . Plus the fact that most big fleets only keep them for 3 years or so

Changing oil is also added downtime for the truck and driver . Years ago I was told by PHH lease that to change a brake light bulb on an artic costs 27 quid ! That's taking into account the downtime , labour etc . Gotta keep the wheels turning .

 

Having said that I don't agree with longlife servicing on cars . I set all reminders on my customers cars at 10k which I feel is fine on the oil I supply . Sometimes you have to use longlife oil anyway just to meet the specs . I've gradually educated them after 3 years !

[Guest Lord Sward]

My run-out model Freelander service intervals are 1 year or 18k miles.  I had it done at 10k miles/months as it was black.  The main dealer thought I was crackers.

[alf892]

I don't think small independents could stock enough quantity of every grade of specialist oil to keep every customer 100% happy and turn a profit.

If I put a car in for a big service and the car requires specific oil, I blag some in the ECP/GSF sale and leave it on the passenger seat.

Yeah.....I remember when the only choice was 20/50 or 10/40.....and even the 10/40 was regarded as leak well/lubenot. Nowadays the factors have a massive choice of oils. I'm careful to get the right stuff for my bini as it has the 1.6 diesel in it.......and I change it at 6k.

[Parky]

When I bought my 2001 A4 1.9pd about 10 years ago I wanted to treat it right so had it's first service done at an independent garge. After it was done I asked them what oil they had used? Had they used oil conforming to the 505.01 spec? No, they had used 10w 40 from a huge drum in the corner of the workshop. Apparently they used that for all cars they service irrespective of what the manufacturer specified. Needless to say I changed it and then did it myself from then on.

First service on my Seat was done by a main dealer and they used some 10/40 mineral which met NONE of the manufacturer specs at all. They didn't seem bothered at all, and to be honest I thought if it implodes next week it's warrantied so I don't care. I will chop it in after three years and it's someone else's problem, etc.

 

Yesterday marked nine years since I took delivery of it! If I had any idea I would keep it so long I might have made more of a fuss at the time

[saucedoctor]

My own A6 (a B6 3.0TDi) had some sort of variable service schedule. IIRC the service indicator came on depending on how the car had been driven. However, according to the handbook, the service schedule was "service indicator on, or every 24 months". I was told by a specialist VAGSHIT/BMW breaker chap that I should use the correct oil AND change it every 6000 miles. I must say I was inclined to take his word for it, as he spends all day taking knackered German cars to bits.

[steveo3002]

do these dash board lights just assume that the right oil is in there or does it know the differance and adjust the interval down 

[Dave_Q]

Generally on most newer stuff resetting the service lights involves telling it whether longlife or not, fixed mileage or variable, colour of technicians pants, etc.

[sierraman]

Or alternatively do the service and ignore the lamp.