Oil Change

[darth mensor]

Hi All,

Just ooking for a small bit of advice.
It's been about 5 years since i last owned a diesel engined car (02 Ford Mondeo - Dont ask why, honestly the worst car i've ever had) and prior to that had diesel company cars throughout the 90's. Most service schedules were 10k service intervals iirc, but i always religiously did an oil change at the mid point between as this was the advice given at the time to prolong the engine life.
So my question is does this advice still hold true for newer diesel engines? Should i consider the same for the Alfa diesel engine?
Only had the car 5 weeks and 3k miles, and was serviced before i purchased, however the onboard mfd is saying service due in 7k miles. So do i wait for the full service to change oil or do one in 2k miles?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks,

D

[Red156Ti]

As the car is 'new' to you I'd go ahead & change the oil in 2k. then again after another 5k. From then one i'd stick to the 10k intervals.

Just remember to ALWAYS change the filter when changing oil. Remember to replace the fuel & air at least once a year or every 20k miles. So if these have not been replace perhaps do them in 7k miles.

[jf_cole]

I always change the oil and filters before the manufacturers say so. It might be overkill, but I think manufacturers are pushing out service windows to make cars more appealing for both customers and fleet owners who want to service their cars less. I think its ESPECIALLY important with Turbo Diesel cars as the oil lines which cool the turbo get clogged up.

Then you have people like my mum who just got her car serviced for the first time, only because its due an NCT. She bought it new..... In January 2007 !!

[darth mensor]

Thanks for the tips, just paranoid with the high mileage i'm putting on the clock (500+ pw). So will change oil n filter in 2k.

[Cathal_H]

Originally Posted by jf_cole

I always change the oil and filters before the manufacturers say so. It might be overkill, but I think manufacturers are pushing out service windows to make cars more appealing for both customers and fleet owners who want to service their cars less. I think its ESPECIALLY important with Turbo Diesel cars as the oil lines which cool the turbo get clogged up.

Completely agree.

Hey Darth.. I'd service it straight away if it was my car.

I've 10k miles coming up on our diesel and I've the oil & filter ready to go. I just can't leave it go to 18k or what ever it is; I'm a bit old school I'm afraid.

My petrol car has an 18k mile (25k km) interval and that car also gets fresh oil (& filter) at 10k intervals. I followed the Alfa recommended intervals for the first 2 years of it's life and the timing chain stretched. Wonder if that's related? I was even told by an Alfa dealer to change at 10k and ignore the Alfa recommenced intervals. So who's right?

Error on the side of caution.. which it looks like you're doing!


BTW I bought Castol Edge there recently in Halfords at the reduced price..

[Dermo]

Errm I had to top up the V6 before adare and couldnt remember what type of oil I put in (only did 3k on it !!) so I changed it as I now know whats in it .. mad or what . All the cars in our stable are changed at 6-7k whether they need it or not. The Mini one has an interval of 30K ffs , never would i leave oil in that long . It has 46km's on it (2007) and the oil has been changed every 6k ..