Missing service - how bad is it?

mgfvvc

born_again said:

Still hear people say you need to change oil every 3 to 5K miles. Despite synthetic oils being hyped back in the 90's with a much longer lifespan.

My last car was a 2003 Octavia. According to some people keeping it on the variable servicing would mean the engine wouldn't last much past the manufacturer's warranty. It was still going strong at 145,000 miles in spite of oil changes being 16,000-17,000 miles apart. The car lasted another 4 years after that, but I don't know what the servicing schedule or mileage was like.

jimjames

BOWFER said:

RichardD1970 said:

BOWFER said:

Hunyani_Flight_825 said:

As I tell my kids, if you do nothing else get the oil changed annually.

Isn't this old school thinking?
Our Land Rover is two years or 21000 miles for the first service (haven't checked any farther than that).
Why waste time and money on an oil change the manufacturer themselves doesn't deem necessary?

My brother is a design engineer for BMW. He works on diesel engines. When he gets a new car, he, and the rest of the engineering team will run it for a gentle 1000km then change the oil (incidently to a different oil to the BMW recommended).

It may be "old school thinking", but I would rather take the advice of someone who has helped design and build these things for 30+ years.

I don't own a BMW but, if I did, you'd have to forgive me for ignoring this anecdotal evidence and going with what BMW say in terms of intervals and oil type.

Many of the issues with Porsche (and others) engines over recent years have been attributed to extended oil change intervals. For a cheap item it's worth doing if you want the car to last. I guess if you're doing PCP it doesn't matter but for those of us wanting cars to last many years it's worth keeping on top of

BOWFER

born_again said:

BOWFER said:

born_again said:

It is many older people who seem to be stuck in the time loop, that oil needs to be changed far too often.

You're right, IMO.
The same age group that think engines still have to run-in etc.
I'm 54, but they're a different generation that just hasn't moved on and don't keep up with technology.
So what applied to their Cortina GL in 1977 still applies.....

Well I'm over 60 and can not remember having to run either a new car or bike in for 20 years at least.

Still hear people say you need to change oil every 3 to 5K miles. Despite synthetic oils being hyped back in the 90's with a much longer lifespan.
But it's not my money they are wasting... Only the environment...

From 2008 
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/oil-change-truths

It's a fair point, all this unnecessarily changed oil has to be disposed of etc.
What's the betting these people don't give a fig about the environmental side of their needless practice though?

Grumpy_chap

mgfvvc said:

My last car was a 2003 Octavia. According to some people keeping it on the variable servicing would mean the engine wouldn't last much past the manufacturer's warranty. It was still going strong at 145,000 miles in spite of oil changes being 16,000-17,000 miles apart. The car lasted another 4 years after that, but I don't know what the servicing schedule or mileage was like.

The thing about extended periods between services is not so much the oil change part, but the potential safety factor around brakes, tyres, wipers, washer fluid running out, etc. simply never being checked and left.  There are many drivers that do not do anything between services or look at anything.

Thomas_Holding

Thank you - he is getting a service next week.  Hopefully there will be no bad consequences

BOWFER

Grumpy_chap said:

The thing about extended periods between services is not so much the oil change part, but the potential safety factor around brakes, tyres, wipers, washer fluid running out, etc. simply never being checked and left.  There are many drivers that do not do anything between services or look at anything.

Washer fluid running out is a bit extreme, there can't be many who simply let it run out and drive around 'dry' from that point on....
The rest of your point is valid, but it's a fine line between keeping cars safe for lazy drivers and saving costs on servicing.
No-one wants to pay £200+ a year when it's not really needed.

Grumpy_chap

BOWFER said:

Washer fluid running out is a bit extreme, there can't be many who simply let it run out and drive around 'dry' from that point on....

I bet it's frighteningly high 

BOWFER

Grumpy_chap said:

BOWFER said:

Washer fluid running out is a bit extreme, there can't be many who simply let it run out and drive around 'dry' from that point on....

I bet it's frighteningly high 

I don't think it would be, it just doesn't stand to reason that people will drive around for lengthy periods with empty washers, waiting for rain to help them out.
And just because someone doesn't know how to check tyres or pads, it doesn't mean they won't be able to top up washer bottles.

Flight3287462

BOWFER said:

What's the betting these people don't give a fig about the environmental side of their needless practice though?

Driving around in a Evoque is hardly giving a fig about the environmental side.  Anyway, getting the oil changed at least annually will hopefully extend its life rather than scrapping at 12-14 years old.

But all you guys driving around on PCP or Lease deals don't give a fig about it as you will be on to your next PCP deal.

Anyway you chaps box on, I'll stick to my tried and tested method.

BOWFER

Hunyani_Flight_825 said:

BOWFER said:

What's the betting these people don't give a fig about the environmental side of their needless practice though?

Driving around in a Evoque is hardly giving a fig about the environmental side.  Anyway, getting the oil changed at least annually will hopefully extend its life rather than scrapping at 12-14 years old.

But all you guys driving around on PCP or Lease deals don't give a fig about it as you will be on to your next PCP deal.

Anyway you chaps box on, I'll stick to my tried and tested method.

True, but I'm not adding to my environmental impact by having to dispose of perfectly serviceable oil, and buy more.