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Car Servicing

Last post Mon, Sep 28 2009, 1:41 AM by ATM. 7 replies.
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  •  Sun, Sep 27 2009, 9:48 AM

    Car Servicing

    My latest new car - a small Japanese hatchback - is serviced every 9,000 miles

    However - according to the service schedule - there is no 1000 mile checks - Is this "normal" for new cars nowadays ?

    In the past - my new cars - have always been back to the dealers after a month - for check-ups ....

    Not that there is anything wrong - just for "peace of mind"

    • Post Points: 50
  •  Sun, Sep 27 2009, 10:00 AM

    Re: Car Servicing

    Twee:

    I think most stopped such checks years ago. The cars are much more reliable these days. They are firstly checked by the factory, again when they come off the ship at port and finally by the selling garage.

    If the garage wanted to arrange a monthly or 1000 miles check, they would have booked you in, when you picked the car up.

    Huckster

    • Post Points: 5
  •  Sun, Sep 27 2009, 10:05 AM

    Re: Car Servicing

    Twee:

    I believe the main reason for the early service was to perform an oil-change but this is not needed where engines are run-in in the factory.

    • Post Points: 20
  •  Sun, Sep 27 2009, 10:23 AM

    • ATM
    • Top 25 Contributor
    • Joined on Sat, Oct 04 2008
    • Travelling anywhere but Europe (GB ain't Europe!)
    • Shopaholic
    • Points 15,020

    Re: Car Servicing

    Twee,

    I reckon you must have had those signs in the rear window too then "Running-in, Please pass"!

    The free manufacturer's service at 500 or 1000 miles seems to have been cut out by nearly all the manufacturers in recent years but when I got a brand new VW engine built for my trike, the engine builder advised me to at least get the oil and filter change done preferably before reaching 500 miles. Every part was brand new and it was a high performance engine so it was worth spending £40 on Manufacturer's Filter and some quality oil of the right grade. The rest of the check -up normally consisted of checking tightness of belts, bolts etc but with better assembley procedures these days most of that should not be needed.

    Manufacturers claim the lubrication service is not needed due to tighter engine tolerances during assembley, running semi-synthetic oils which are an improvement over the standard multigrade but I would fork out the extra few quid for an investment of that amount.

    • Post Points: 20
  •  Sun, Sep 27 2009, 11:59 AM

    Re: Car Servicing

    Jalexa:

    Twee:

    I believe the main reason for the early service was to perform an oil-change but this is not needed where engines are run-in in the factory.

    Do they actually "run-in" an engine in the factory though ?

    This is something that I have wondered about for some time...

    • Post Points: 20
  •  Sun, Sep 27 2009, 12:12 PM

    Re: Car Servicing

    Twee:
    Jalexa:

    Twee:

    I believe the main reason for the early service was to perform an oil-change but this is not needed where engines are run-in in the factory.

    Do they actually "run-in" an engine in the factory though ?

    This is something that I have wondered about for some time...

    I only reported what the car salesman said when I queried the disappearance of the "oil change" service on a small japanese hatchback......

    • Post Points: 5
  •  Sun, Sep 27 2009, 3:49 PM

    Re: Car Servicing

    I'm with ATM on this one Twee - The treatment and first few hundred miles of an engines life is critical to it's future condition and performance, reliability and longevity.

    For the minor costs of replacing oil and filter at 500 miles it is a small and cheap price to pay and a sensible precaution to ensure that you have drained out all the tiny particles of "crud" and metal granules created by increased initial wear in the initial stages of bedding in the components, by draining off the old contaminated factory oil and replacing with new clean correct quality oil of the type as recommended by the manufacturer.

    I believe that ATM's trike is actually a recycled teenagers Tuk-Tuk with a supercharged Golf VR6 engine, with him hanging on for dear life whilst he spends all night blazing the streets & terrorising the local citizens, in between frequenting gambling and drinking establishments, amongst his visits to other more shady places of ill-repute......or so word has it with the boys down at the Winchester club.!

    : -- )

    • Post Points: 50
  •  Mon, Sep 28 2009, 1:41 AM

    • ATM
    • Top 25 Contributor
    • Joined on Sat, Oct 04 2008
    • Travelling anywhere but Europe (GB ain't Europe!)
    • Shopaholic
    • Points 15,020

    Re: Car Servicing

    CMK, spot on there but I have to hang on for dear life trying to avoid the local drivers who don't believe in indicators or brake lights.

    Shady places of ill repute - Au contraire! would moi visit such a joint?

    • Post Points: 5