smart51
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| posted on 6/9/09 at 12:21 PM |
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Tin top servicing - do things need to be replaced that often?
I've just completed a major service on my suzuki cappuccino. Many of the thinks I took off look perfectly fine. The service intervals on each
of the parts are x miles or y months. Do they really need to be changed that often in low mileage use or will things reliably last longer than the
months figure? I expect to do about 3000 miles per year on average.
oil and filter 3000 miles or 6 months.
spark plugs 12000 miles or 1 year.
HT leads 48000 miles or 4 years
gearbox and diff oil 12000 miles or 1 year
air filter 24000 miles or 2 years
AC belt and generator belt 24000 miles or 3 years
brake fluid 24000 miles or 2 years
coolant 24000 miles or 2 years
Being a small turbo with high output for its size I can imagine it hammers the oil, but spark plugs, for instance, I would have thought not
deteriorate with age. Everything that came off looked in first rate condition. The oils were clean. The coolant looked like new. I've even
kept the spark plugs as spares because they're so good. So what do you reckon? Which bits will last longer than the specified time if the
mileage is low?
[Edited on 6-9-2009 by smart51]
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tegwin
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| posted on 6/9/09 at 12:33 PM |
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At the end of the day, those parts/fluids cost very little...
So why skimp on the recomended life etc....
Better to overservice and underservice IMHO!
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Would the last person who leaves the country please switch off the lights and close the door!
www.verticalhorizonsmedia.tv
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britishtrident
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| posted on 6/9/09 at 01:07 PM |
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Spark plugs life depends on the type of plug -- on some cars with platinum or other long life plug the official plug change interval is the life of
the vehicle. Personally I would recommend re-gapping every 12,000 miles and changing platinum or iridium plugs every 30,000.
With conventional non-precious metal plugs provided the plug is the correct heat range for the engine have a double copper core plugs have a life of
15,000 miles--- re-gap every 6,000 miles or so.
Conventional non-copper core get a bit iffy if used for more than 10,000 to 12,000 miles.
Air filter change interval really depends a lot on driving conditions, a visual inspection will tell you a lot. With modern injection engines the
fuel consumption is less affected by a dirty air-filter than it used to be with carbs but a choked air filter restricts performance.
The life of HT leads depends a lot on how well the spark plug gap is maintained, if the spark plug gap is neglected and the gap grows too wide the HT
voltage rises the insulation of HT side of the ignition can break down rendering the HT leads and coil packs scrap.
Generally on a well mantained engine I would not expect to have to replace HT leads before 60,000 miles.
Cam belts and timing chains should be replaced strictly according to the manufacturers recommendations except with Alfa and Saab engines. On a modern
Alfa Romeo I would not go beyond 25,000 miles without changing the belt. On modern Saab take the opperchancity to change the timing change if any
major work is being carried out on the engine.
Fully synthetic oil lasts a very long time and is the only oil that should be used in a turbo 15,000 miles between changes is fine with fully
synthetic even on a turbo the exception to this rule is SAAB and other GM engines also the Toyota Avensis change the oil on these every 5,000 to
6,000 miles if you want it to see 80,000 miles.
VW spec ESP synthetic oil can stretch the oil change interval to 30,000 miles.
Auxiliary belts are generally good for 60,000 + miles.
Brake fluid changing DOT4 fluid every 2 or 3 years to get absorbed water out the system. lengthens the life of the system and preserves the boiling
point of the fluid.
No need to change all the fluid just take most of fluid from the reservoir with a turkey baster or vacuum extractor bottle
and when you fit new pads don't push the fluid back to the reservoir, clamp the pipe and push excess fluid out through the nipple. doing it this
way avoids bleeding the system.
DOT 5.1 brake fluid is much more hygroscopic than DOT4 or DOT 3. DOT 5.1 should really never be used for more than 2 years without a complete fluid
change.
Coolant change intervals depend on type of coolant green/blue (or on Japanese cars dark red) coolant should be changed every two years but I prefer a
partial change by draining off approx 50% of the capacity every year and topping up with 50% solution. Red Japanese coolant is slightly different in
composition in that it contains silicon but has the same base as blue/green antifreeze so the two types can be mixed but it is better to get the right
stuff.
Modrn Pink/orange "OAT" coolant is long life coolant which lasts for 5 or 10 years depending on manufacturers spec I usually draw off
about 20% every year and top up with 50% solution.
Never mix the main two coolant types if you want to change to long life coolant flush he system with running watter.
BMW MINI coolant is an OAT long life coolant but if mixed with another coolant "goes off" and turns into something the colour of melted
Mars bar --- best to get the official BMW coolant.
Conventional manual gearboxes and final drives generally only need the oil changed at over 60,000 miles but should have the level checked at least
every 15,000 mies.
Automatic gearbox fluid changes -- here be dragons especially with JATCO transmissions. changing the fluid can cause more harm than good, seek
advice of auto-transmission specialist before attempting and if you do change the fluid make 100% sure you have the correct grade and follow the WSM
procedure to the letter.
[Edited on 6/9/09 by britishtrident]
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iank
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| posted on 6/9/09 at 01:38 PM |
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Those replacement periods serve two purposes.
Rounded down worst case life of the consumable - you can tell these aren't calculated accurately since they are all multiples of 3000 miles and
0.5 years.
To give the main dealers a nice regular source of quick/easy jobs for which they can charge the earth.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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zilspeed
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| posted on 6/9/09 at 01:43 PM |
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My wife has a Seat Ibiza that she bought in October around March 02 when it was 2 years old. It's a W reg.
Apart from tyres and the occasional bit of exhaust, we just chuck some oil in every so often. It's had a couple of sets of brakes pads and two
front springs to replace broken ones too.
It's certainly never had spark plugs in the 7 years she has had it.
It goes the same now as it did then.
It'll probably get a new exhaust front section later this year as the current has a bit of a light blow on the flexi bit.
Oil and filters are the important bits.
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iank
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| posted on 6/9/09 at 02:03 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
...
Oil and filters are the important bits.
and cam belts.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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britishtrident
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| posted on 6/9/09 at 03:41 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by iank
Those replacement periods serve two purposes.
Rounded down worst case life of the consumable - you can tell these aren't calculated accurately since they are all multiples of 3000 miles and
0.5 years.
To give the main dealers a nice regular source of quick/easy jobs for which they can charge the earth.
With the previous generation of Hondas I am pretty convinced you could have bought one and ran it for 80,000 miles plus without ever openning the
bonnet, only thing required would be brake pads at about 50,000 miles and of course tyres.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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