Bull@#$% Uneccessary Car Servicing Recommendations

[Pommygranite]

Took my wife's 2011 Nissan Murano in for its 3 yr/35k mile (60k km) service today. Fixed price cost $335 which is fine. I live in Australia for reference, hence the $ mention.

However, it was a pleasant surprise to be offered the following 'tuning recommendations':

Power Steering Fluid Flush - $164
Aircon Antibacterial Service - $142 (apparently it smelt, it doesn't)
Injector Service - $283
Air Intake Induction Service $144
Engine Flush - $60
Tyre Rotation - $60

None are recommended as service items, the cars under NCW and they are not needed to maintain it but apparently my 3yr old, 35k mile car would really benefit from ALL of these.

I politely declined given they're all pointless but I imagine there would be some out there who wouldn't know different and given it was advised to do (not merely suggested) them wouldn't argue.

Great way to turn a $335 service into an $1100+ service. Keep the car 5 years, get recommended it every year and that's $4000 in extra cost for no reason or will ever be recoursed when sold.

Main Dealer service departments - gotta love em...

Edited by Pommygranite on Thursday 16th October 13:49

[andy-xr]

What've they actually done for $335 then? Oil and filters?

I think 1+2 are worthwhile, maybe not at dealers, but if you can self serve then it'd be a nice job done. Same with engine flush, if you can dip / test the coolant to see how effective it is and work out whether it's time for a change. I dont get along very well with long life never change fluids, dont trust them enough

But yes, I wouldnt be wanting to pay $1100 either

[g3org3y]

Pommygranite said:

Air Intake Induction Service $144

What does this consist of? Changing the air filter?

[mikeyr]

Slightly off topic but seeing the OP mentioned "tyre rotation":

As per a million threads where most tyre manufacturers/tyre fitters recommend putting new tyres at the back... how does this impact on cars where tyre rotation is officially recommended?

Would they have a set of guidelines (e.g. front and rear tyre tread depths have to be within xx% of each other)?

Surely rotation is going against the general guidelines of "best" tyres at the back?

Back on topic - are they Oz or Kiwi dollar prices?

[jamieduff1981]

Power Steering Fluid Flush - $164
It gets hot and deteriorates with time like any hydraulic oil.

Aircon Antibacterial Service - $142 (apparently it smelt, it doesn't)
In the same way that cars and homes of dog owners don't smell?

Injector Service - $283
The can coke up. Ultrasonic cleaning can help.

Air Intake Induction Service $144
Cleaning the crankcase pressure relief oil vapour out, cleaning the MAF sensor etc?

Engine Flush - $60
You're right. Sludge is much better.

Tyre Rotation - $60
Are the rears worn more than the fronts?

[Perd Hapley]

Pommygranite said:

Tyre Rotation - $60

£32 to take the wheels off and put them back on again!

[The Vambo]

jamieduff1981 said:

Power Steering Fluid Flush - $164
It gets hot and deteriorates with time like any hydraulic oil.

Aircon Antibacterial Service - $142 (apparently it smelt, it doesn't)
In the same way that cars and homes of dog owners don't smell?

Injector Service - $283
The can coke up. Ultrasonic cleaning can help.

Air Intake Induction Service $144
Cleaning the crankcase pressure relief oil vapour out, cleaning the MAF sensor etc?

Engine Flush - $60
You're right. Sludge is much better.

Tyre Rotation - $60
Are the rears worn more than the fronts?

On a 3 year old car?

It's almost like you are being contrary for the sake of it.

[SteveSteveson]

mikeyr said:

Slightly off topic but seeing the OP mentioned "tyre rotation":

As per a million threads where most tyre manufacturers/tyre fitters recommend putting new tyres at the back... how does this impact on cars where tyre rotation is officially recommended?

Would they have a set of guidelines (e.g. front and rear tyre tread depths have to be within xx% of each other)?

Surely rotation is going against the general guidelines of "best" tyres at the back?

Back on topic - are they Oz or Kiwi dollar prices?

Depends on the car. Most rear wheel drive cars the rears will be the worst until they are rotated (at least if you drive the PH way, with a dab of oppo at all times.). Kwik fit say they no longer recommend it for any car, but that seems to assume every one has a FWD car, and it is kwik fit, who I wouldn't trust to recommend a brand of bog roll never mind important safety stuff.

jamieduff1981 said:

Engine Flush - $60
You're right. Sludge is much better.

On a 3 year old car that is run? Not unless it is being used as a taxi doing 5 mile journeys in heavy traffic. Even then I would only want to do if it was needed. It's easy to check for sludge and should be done when the oil is drained. I have only ever needed it on one vehicle, a motorbike that had done 20k miles in 9 years, used as a commuter round London. Once I had it flushed and used it the oil was fine as I ran the thing.

Edited by SteveSteveson on Thursday 16th October 14:23

[irish boy]

I got my e92 m3 its big (3rd) service done last week. Total rip off but necessary for resale. 8 plugs at £19 per pop and £123+vat to fit, £138 for a cabin filter plus fitting, etc etc. Total rip off, but buyers promote it. I remember having trouble selling my last (c63) due to one of the services having been done by a recognised specialist rather than franchise.

[Pommygranite]

The Vambo said:

jamieduff1981 said:

Power Steering Fluid Flush - $164
It gets hot and deteriorates with time like any hydraulic oil.

Aircon Antibacterial Service - $142 (apparently it smelt, it doesn't)
In the same way that cars and homes of dog owners don't smell?

Injector Service - $283
The can coke up. Ultrasonic cleaning can help.

Air Intake Induction Service $144
Cleaning the crankcase pressure relief oil vapour out, cleaning the MAF sensor etc?

Engine Flush - $60
You're right. Sludge is much better.

Tyre Rotation - $60
Are the rears worn more than the fronts?

On a 3 year old car?

It's almost like you are being contrary for the sake of it.

Thank you - my thoughts exactly.

Whilst I can see 'some' merit in some of the suggestions I see no merit in all of them together on a 3 yr old car with 35k miles. Apart from the fact speeding and rapid acceleration is nazi policed here meaning cars are generally under stressed (some never exceed 4000rpm/70 mph - seriously) the substantial overcharging grates somewhat.

Also they are not service or warranty items which leads me to think even Nissan know they are not necessary.

Yes it is Australian $.

Amusingly the rears have maybe 1000kms left which they noted - but they still wanted to rotate knowing they would be changed soon...

Edited by Pommygranite on Thursday 16th October 14:31

[mikeyr]

So assuming most peeps are driving front heavy FWD cars...looks like tyre companies recommend rotation but also recommend putting the best tyres on the rear! (example below)

http://www.michelin.co.uk/tyres/learn-share/care-g...

http://www.michelinman.com/tires-101/tire-care/tir...

Oh well, sure there is some logic out there somewhere.

Edited by mikeyr on Thursday 16th October 15:43

[Pappagallo]

I thought an engine flush was standard practise when changing oil (assuming they mean oil system flush and not coolant flush)?

I recently had my BM serviced at 70,000 ish miles and chose to have the gearbox and diff oils replaced too. It was also 5000 miles early for the service as I'm not comfortable with the 19,000 mile interval.

[98elise]

One of the recent batch of electric cars has a dust cap check on the service schedule

[BritishRacinGrin]

jamieduff1981 said:

Sludge

In 1981 perhaps...

So you'd get all of this done at 35k on your car?

[amusingduck]

mikeyr said:

So assuming most peeps are driving front heavy FWD cars...looks like tyre companies recommend rotation but also recommend putting the best tyres on the front! (example below)

???

Michelin Website said:

6. Rear Tyres
FOR COMPLETE CONTROL, FIT YOUR NEW TYRES TO THE REAR AXLE
...
Better road holding, particularly in difficult situations, whether your car is front or rear wheel drive

[thatdude]

An engine shouldnt need flushing (as in an oil flush) providing the engine oil is changed regularly (along with the filter).

I would agree the power steering fluid should be changed at some interval (oil does degrade, and it can mess things up) but 3 years might be too soon?

Engine coolant usually is ok for ten years from the factory (it is on my honda anyway)

Tyres rotating? why? If there is uneven wear then check the geometry first

I was wondering, they havnt mentioned brake fluid - this should definatly be changed after 3 years, preferably after 2 years. Has it ever been changed? Have it checked. And the clutch fluid (which is also brake fluid).

Intake clean? Why? does it not have an air filter? Throttle bodies can get a little dirty over time, specially with recirculated vapours but shouldnt be a problem if ever.

Gearbox oil refresh is always something nice to do, particularly at 50,000 miles (worth noting that for automatics, ZF stated to me in an email 60,000 - 80,000 mile intervals for oil and filter for the autobox. For my manual civic, Honda state a service interval for vehicles that tow a lot of are use in particularly hot conditions - 27,000 miles or so)

[Sensibleboy]

Funny if it has electric PAS.

[Thankyou4calling]

Perd Hapley said:

£32 to take the wheels off and put them back on again!

I though that was good value! To take every wheel off and put them back on in a different place.

I don't know what kwikfit would charge, I'll find out, because if it's £32 I'm getting it done the next time I've a car with the same size tyres all round.

[TA14]

Thankyou4calling said:

Perd Hapley said:

£32 to take the wheels off and put them back on again!

I though that was good value! To take every wheel off and put them back on in a different place.

Won't they have to remove the wheels as part of the service anyway so they're charging for something twice?

[jamieduff1981]

The Vambo said:

jamieduff1981 said:

Power Steering Fluid Flush - $164
It gets hot and deteriorates with time like any hydraulic oil.

Aircon Antibacterial Service - $142 (apparently it smelt, it doesn't)
In the same way that cars and homes of dog owners don't smell?

Injector Service - $283
The can coke up. Ultrasonic cleaning can help.

Air Intake Induction Service $144
Cleaning the crankcase pressure relief oil vapour out, cleaning the MAF sensor etc?

Engine Flush - $60
You're right. Sludge is much better.

Tyre Rotation - $60
Are the rears worn more than the fronts?

On a 3 year old car?

It's almost like you are being contrary for the sake of it.

I probably am. My cars are better maintained than most peoples' though. I do things preventatively rather than waiting for them to break down. It's an old fashioned concept, I know.