Servicing - how important is it?
Discussion
Sarah_W said:
Essentially, the key thing I think is the engine oil and filter change.
For a car with a 10k service period, I wouldn't think leaving the change until 15k would make that much difference, but when does it get critical... 20k? 30k?
Epic fail. Why do you think the new VWs are having so many valve problems? All this long life oil bFor a car with a 10k service period, I wouldn't think leaving the change until 15k would make that much difference, but when does it get critical... 20k? 30k?
ks. Trying to stretch servicing is killing modern engines.After about 10k its lubricating (just) but not protecting. At 30k, trust me, it's long past critical.
Sarah_W said:
Essentially, the key thing I think is the engine oil and filter change.
For a car with a 10k service period, I wouldn't think leaving the change until 15k would make that much difference, but when does it get critical... 20k? 30k?
Depends a lot on how the car is driven -- that's why some modern cars have variable service intervals calculated based on your driving style.For a car with a 10k service period, I wouldn't think leaving the change until 15k would make that much difference, but when does it get critical... 20k? 30k?
Similarly, the 2.2 Vauxhall VX220 has a 10,000 mile service interval. The 2.2 Astra with an identical engine has a 20,000 mile service interval.
Bear in mind that on most cars a service is very cheap compared to the things that not servicing the car could cause to break -- especially if you start ignoring stuff like cambelt changes.
Well what about brake pads, tyres, brake fluid, etc. etc. These need to be checked or you compromise the safety of the car.
WRT to oil - there are two issues. Oil quality and oil level. Low oil can kill the engine dead due to it failing to get to the bits that need lubricating. Poor oil quality, which is a combination of unstable viscosity (due to the shearing of the long chain polymers which make up the oil) at temperature and contaminants, will dramatically increases engine wear.
In simple terms, the oil stop lubricating effectively, which increases the metal particulate content of the oil and further increases wear - in effect a vicious circle. It goes from a lubricant to a liquid abrasive.
WRT to oil - there are two issues. Oil quality and oil level. Low oil can kill the engine dead due to it failing to get to the bits that need lubricating. Poor oil quality, which is a combination of unstable viscosity (due to the shearing of the long chain polymers which make up the oil) at temperature and contaminants, will dramatically increases engine wear.
In simple terms, the oil stop lubricating effectively, which increases the metal particulate content of the oil and further increases wear - in effect a vicious circle. It goes from a lubricant to a liquid abrasive.
Edited by rhinochopig on Friday 7th May 13:51
Yamaha recommend the oil in my motocross bike is replaced every 3rd ride. And you can only use fully synthetic oil. And they recommend it's an ester based one.
That equates to around 1.3 litres of oil per 80 miles of riding.
I know I'm not comparing apples for apples, but I've no idea how these new engines can run for 20k+ on semi synthetic oils. Even my girlfriends KA gets new oil once every 15k and that's the least stressed engine in the world with a service interval of 20+k.
That equates to around 1.3 litres of oil per 80 miles of riding.
I know I'm not comparing apples for apples, but I've no idea how these new engines can run for 20k+ on semi synthetic oils. Even my girlfriends KA gets new oil once every 15k and that's the least stressed engine in the world with a service interval of 20+k.
.I expect the servicing to be close to the specified interval/time to within a couple of thousand miles tops. An on the money service book with all the receipts says an awful lot about the previous owners, as does patchy and random stamps lacking invoices to back them up.
I also agree with comments about longlife intervals being the wrong way forward. Regardless of the quality of modern oils, I'd still continue to service my cars at the very very least annually or every 10k.
For £10.95 I service mine every 5000 miles or 6 months.
I also agree with comments about longlife intervals being the wrong way forward. Regardless of the quality of modern oils, I'd still continue to service my cars at the very very least annually or every 10k.
For £10.95 I service mine every 5000 miles or 6 months.
I have the oil changed yearly at 5000 miles on my passat, as it's almost the one thing that you can't really visually check the condition of ( ok level or colour) but it really is so cheap and simple to do and very expensive if you don't!
Other items are changed as required. Long life (red) antifreeze lasts 5 years, brake fluid changed every four years, same goes for spark plugs.
Other items are changed as required. Long life (red) antifreeze lasts 5 years, brake fluid changed every four years, same goes for spark plugs.
CampDavid said:
Current Fleet - Mazda RX8
In your case servicing is more important than remembering to feed your first born
Although the RX8 is probably going through so much Oil it is changing every 1000miles anywayIn your case servicing is more important than remembering to feed your first born
ETA - i fully understand that you still need to service the vehicle i was simply dicking around.
Edited by iggletiggle on Friday 7th May 14:57
on the flip side I ran a cavalier I was given for about 60k miles and never touched it mechanically other than some new brake pads, and I know that the previous owner hadn't had it serviced in 30k. So you're looking at best part of 100k miles on the same oil, on an already old engine...
John Galt said:
Here's an analogy that may give you a clue as to how important servicing is 
:
Breathing - how important is it?
Another good one is treat oil as blood.:Breathing - how important is it?
If you don't have enough blood in your body, you die. If your blood gets infected, you will run less efficiently and if untreated could die.
Exactly the same for car engines and oil.
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