simonprelude

Having a quick look around the markets for some sort of practical car, they all seem to be going for 20,000 mile service intervals.

Apart from the fact that most people don't even know how to open the bonnet, never mind check for oil it seems like a bad idea to me. How many of these cars are we going to see at the side of the road due to engine seizures.

Also is it just me or would you expect oil to actually perform after 20,000 miles or will it have just broken down into various surfactants.

Moggy

Are there that many petrol engines with a 20k service interval?

Unbveleivable the M5 is approx 15k miles (along with all beemers). No way would I wait that long to change the oil in it.

Fieldl

The 997(911) has 24,000 mile or 2 years service intervals.
It also has (as does the 996) and electronic oil guage which shows oil level every time you start the car. It evens warns you when the level is low.
If they warranty it with this interval then I guess Porsche think it must be fine.

Moggy

[QUOTE=Fieldl,Sep 6 2006, 09:50 AM] The 997(911) has 24,000 mile or 2 years service intervals.
It also has (as does the 996) and electronic oil guage which shows oil level every time you start the car.

aldfort

Most of these cars require long life oils to sustain the service interval. Basically if the oil is still in grade and the filter is big enough then why not. With some Merc's you can't even check the oil any more. The car tells you to top up.

BMW have had "variable" service interval for ages based on how the car is used. Audi have the same thing as well.

TBH coming to the Honda was a step back in time from a servicing point of view. for years I had been used to the Audi telling me when it needed to get serviced.

lovegroova

I think the relatively short service intervals of Hondas have contributed significantly to their excellent reliability. My 91 CRX VTEC had 6k/6 month service intervals with intermediate 3k oil changes a recommended option. This meant that anything likely to go wrong was picked up before it happened rather than after.

I change the oil on the S every 4.5k. It's a relatively low cost thing to do and ultimately better for the car...

Fieldl

[QUOTE=Moggy,Sep 6 2006, 10:03 AM] IMO that's wayy too long for an oil change in such a hightly tuned car (EDIT:given the way you drive it).

Worth doing earlier than that Lee-

nickrg3

I was reading an amusing article about this - reckoned that the average A4 driver learned to live with scratched windows from where the wiper rubber disintegrated and slick tyres as if the service was not due then this was perfectly acceptable