Quote:
Originally Posted by CarsAndGuitars
One other thing to consider... when formulating recommended change intervals were automotive design engineers unaware of this? Did they not study the impacts or padded their results / recommendations to account for lazy owners or unforeseen conditions?
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Various factors involved.
Obviously the factory doesn't call for early oil/filter services. Thus a vast number of new car/vehicle owners drive blissfully unaware of what may be lurking in the oil.
But there doesn't seem to be a vast number of new engines manifesting any issues. At least not under warranty...
I used to read UK car mags. Some featured "long term" reviews of cars. Cars that had the 1st scheduled service some thousands of miles from new received favorable mention of this. I recall one review of an Audi the driver was positively orgasmic in his feelings for the car as he drove on to 20,000 miles. He did mention oil consumption increased as the mileage closed in on 20K miles and the car's first scheduled service.
Too bad the end of his long term review -- IIRC one year -- coincided with the car's first scheduled service. Would have been interesting to know how the car/engine fared the next 20K miles...
The flip side was a long term review of a Subie for which the factory called for an early oil/filter service (at IIRC 3000 miles) the reviewer made some negative comments about this.
Auto makers tout extended service intervals as a sign of superior quality. This is really just marketing. They get away with it because any issues that arise from this are generally covered by the warranty. The cost of which is I believe considered part of marketing and thus has a tax advantage. While money to cover warranty costs doesn't grow on trees the increase in sales makes up more than makes up for the increase in warranty costs.
Issues that occur after warranty receive various levels of response from the car owner. Some owners will get (rightly so) upset and vow to never buy another -- in this context -- BMW again. And storm off the BMW lot to a competing brand of car lot. But chances are he'll be passed by someone storming off this lot on his way to the BMW lot.
Others will be prompted to trade in the car for another. Some will seek help from an indy shop.
None of the above are acceptable to me. The factory probably should schedule an early oil/filter service but I don't need the factory's sanction to treat the new engine to an early oil/filter service. My experience with rebuilding engines and as a machinist (long ago career) provided me with evidence a new engine or rebuilt engine "needs" an early oil/filter service.
Also, I'm old enough to remember when auto makers called for early oil/filter services even early transmission and diff fluid services. Nothing has really changed in the years to make this still not a good idea.
I buy my cars with the idea of owning them forever. Regardless of what the auto maker may call for I believe an early oil/filter service or two is something reasonable to do to give the engine every chance of delivering a long and trouble free service life. The exception -- so far in my experience not encountered yet -- being the auto maker cautioning no early oil/filter service should be done.