WARNING - When is 10,000 Miles NOT 10,000 Miles ???

[Bear]

When it applies to an oil change.

We took M. Clive in today for his 10k oil change (at our KC dealer). His odometer showed 9,960 miles. Guess what, the oil service "counter" still showed 1,600 miles before he needed his oil changed and we were told to return when the "counter" had less than 1,000 miles to go.

I have been driving since 1964 and you know what, I learned something new today...

So save yourselves some time and watch the "counter" and NOT the odometer.

Or is this a common way of doing business at all dealers??


Bear

[BartMack]

I think it depends on how you drive
My counter maxxed at 7500 miles

[minibat]

The computers on cars today dictate when you need to change the oil based on your driving style. Hard driving will make it sooner. I have a Silverado pickup and dont change to oil until the computer tells me to...its kinda nice, the light says "change oil soon" when it is time.

Motor on

[Meg]

When they reset the indicator it is not always accurate, I was told it was not possible to get it at exactly 15000 miles. After my first service the indicator read 15500 or something like that. But since it adjusts to driving styles I guess it really doesn't matter.

[Ddraig]

I haven't changed my oil since I got it, and my first service is in about 1400 more miles. I was wondering if this is a bad thing? It feels rather strange not to take it in for service every 3000 miles or so.

[dansmini]

Bear: The counter is the boss, that's for sure.

Ddraig: The oil change topic has come up many, many times with no consensus or agreement reached. I say do what you are comfortable with. FYI: I changed mine at 5k miles, just because the car was new. I just had MINI do the 10k mile service. I will now let it go the full 15k plus until MINI does it again.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Ddraig:

I find it interesting that, as oils and engine design have improved, the response of many manufacturers is to stretch recommended service intervals to the point of neglect.

It would seem that whilst an older design of engine might have an ultimate life of 100,000 miles before serious work is needed a modern engine might see 200 - 250,000 miles. That is, until you then double, or even triple, the oil change intervals and bring the life of the engine down to nearer the 100,000 mile mark again!

There is a great temptation for any manufacturer to do this as they may then sell a new car to a customer based upon a low "total cost of ownership". This means that the relatively high cost of financing the car may then offset by promises of low service bills.

I recently had a new car (from another manufacturer) with 20,000 mile service intervals. Even the first oil change didn't take place until 20,000 miles. It destroyed a set of camshafts and one entire engine before it had reached 17,000 miles. After the first camshafts were replaced at 13,000 miles the garage even refused to replace the engine oil (complete with all the swarf from the ruined cam lobes) until I insisted! In addition the car had to booked in for other parts, such as brake pads, that would wear away completely before the first service interval.

So in answer to your point about being uncertain of moving away from short service intervals, whilst 3000 miles is unnessary, I will be sticking with MINIs standard service intervals and ADDING oil changes at 7,500 mile intervals. In addition there will be a change after the first 1,500 miles to get rid of all of the "running in" contamination.

This has to be about the cheapest way of greatly extending the motor's service life that I can think of.

Tigger.

[stryder]

Its MINI Policy to only go by the counter, and since MINI pays for your services as part of the free maintence, the dealers all listen to them. As your dealer said, MINI will let them do it with less then 1K miles left, but 1600 is a lot.

I wouldn't worry about the range, people have ranged from as low as 8000 to 13000 I think for the first change. Just usually means you do a lot of highway driving if you're in the high end.


Please don't turn this thread into a 'is the reccomended oil interval correct'. If you want to discuss that - read any of the posts in Maintence (where I've moved this thread) such as this one: http://www.mini2.com/forum/maintenance-mini-care/37990-anyone-really-waiting-10k-miles-oil-change.html

Then, if you feel like getting in the middle of the argument, post in one of the other threads.

[ncdave]

The computer controls the intervals. My first service was performed at around 8K miles and my 25K mile service looks like its going to fall around the 21,500 mile mark. It completely depends on your driving style. Not to worry.

[Bear]

Thanks for all the responses..

I just wanted to let folks know so they wouldn't do as I did and waste some time that would be better used "motoring". Instead I drank the dealer's coffee and ate their doughnuts. Which were both awesome as always.


Bear

[stryder]

There's no doughnuts like the ones that are free once you've paid $20K for the car to get them

[grumpy07470]

I went in for my first oil change when the car was one year old (dealer told me to) I still have not made it to my service milage yet.

[minibat]

We are controlled by computers. Anyone see the Terminator series? How about the upcoming I, ROBOT? Are computers dependant on us, or are we dependant on them?

Motor on

[sorphin]

funny, i had my 1st svc at 11,xxx miles, and when they reset, my next svc is 15,000 later.. soo... that means ~10k to the 1st oil change, then 15,000 till the next one... that's... getting stupid... glad i do in-between changes myself (Mobil 1 all the way)

[stryder]

Quote: Originally Posted by sorphin

funny, i had my 1st svc at 11,xxx miles, and when they reset, my next svc is 15,000 later.. soo... that means ~10k to the 1st oil change, then 15,000 till the next one... that's... getting stupid... glad i do in-between changes myself (Mobil 1 all the way)

Please don't turn this thread into a 'is the reccomended oil interval correct'. If you want to discuss that - read any of the posts in Maintence (where I've moved this thread) such as this one: http://www.mini2.com/forum/maintenance-mini-care/37990-anyone-really-waiting-10k-miles-oil-change.html

Then, if you feel like getting in the middle of the argument, post in one of the other threads.