Service intervals: Is this normal?

This whole process is just crazy. I once tried to get a service done before a long trip in my 4x4. I knew the magic number would happen when no where near civilisation, but the agents point blank refused because it was too early. I then pointed out that when I get back from the trip I would be 3000 km over the service point. All they then offered that I would have to pay for that service myself because " it was out of the limits".

That is the day I lost total interest in the warranty and any ideas of an extended warranty. I bought the consumables and did my own service before the trip.
I did the so called "missed service" in the veldt myself. I stamped the card myself.

The manufacturers and their insurance companies who buy these warranty plans off them can all go to hell.
 
c3n0byt3 said:
Ok so I had a chat with the service people themselves.
They say that this is the policy and is endorsed by the manufacturer, even though the owners manual says otherwise (unless I've missed some sort of ambiguity). The service manager says the same as you; oil will be fine for 20000+km. I only need to bring it in when the odo reads 30000km. He says the vehicle will be fine. Hopefully my nerves are fine after doing the next ~8000km.

All of this goes against traditional thinking re. service intervals.
Whether or not it is appropriate we'll never know. Maybe one day I'll try and contact the techs at the plant!
However traditional thinking still exists for 3rd party maintenance plans; and the service manager said he'll talk to them to straighten it out and make sure the plan isn't affected. Naturally I'll have all this in writing.
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BMW and VW and possibly others used to offer a Long Service option not sure if they still do.

Basically it required fully synthetic oil from the word go and then didn’t adhere to a service interval but rather the car decided when it was ready to be serviced and this would be completely dynamic but often go way beyond the usual 15,000km.

However in that case the manual very clearly states it from the start and there is a sticker that goes in the door on the engine somewhere or both.
 
Archer said:
What a load of poop. Some items on a vehicle must be done according to a time frame, not mileage. Sounds like a great way to have some fun failures down the road

edit: like brake fluid for instance (on bikes anyway, I can't recall right now if cars are the same). Now I don't know about you but I like having a functional brake system
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Not really.

Brake Fluid is two years or longer and often never even gets replaced.

Most things would happily do 40,000km (air filters etc) and it’s inherently only really oil.

Think about it. Your very first service at 15,000 (or 20,000km) for some cars is nothing but an oil change really and so is every other service.

So it’s not really that crazy.

But even so the car would then be geared for it.

The fact that in this case the car is literally saying “please service me” and the dealership is wilfully ignoring that is the really dodgy part.

I would not skip this service without having it in writing.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Not really.
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Yes really, read your owners manual ;)

Change brake fluid, entire
system
every 2 years or every
20000 km (whichever
comes first)
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Alternator belt on my bike is every 40,000km or 6 years (since the rubber perishes). Brake fluid every 2 years if you don't hit the mileage, my owners manual states the same as yours. I've now checked and several car manufacturers also insist on changing brake fluid every 2 years regardless of mileage. Now I'm no expert on what actually happens to the fluid etc, but if my owners manual / maintenance schedule calls for something to be done on a time basis I'll be damned if a dealership tries to tell me otherwise
 
Archer said:
Yes really, read your owners manual ;)



Alternator belt on my bike is every 40,000km or 6 years (since the rubber perishes). Brake fluid every 2 years if you don't hit the mileage, my owners manual states the same as yours. I've now checked and several car manufacturers also insist on changing brake fluid every 2 years regardless of mileage. Now I'm no expert on what actually happens to the fluid etc, but if my owners manual / maintenance schedule calls for something to be done on a time basis I'll be damned if a dealership tries to tell me otherwise
Click to expand...

BMW is the first motorcycle I’ve owned that actually adheres to it and they actually do it at every service even though not required.

Both my Buell and Triumph it was never done at 2 years and both got to near 40,000km or over.

Suzuki I don’t remember.

Not much at all should really happen if it’s not changed though. It’s a sealed system and you should just get mode pedal/lever travel really.

But I do like that BMW takes it so seriously.

40,000 is not the equation we initially referred to though and no vehicle can do that without service attention.

Brake fluid at 20,000 is a bit overzealous of BMW. Besides that cars are a bit less high performance.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Even highly stressed bikes have 20,000km service intervals in some cases these days due to the oil technology.
.
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Freaking race motard I had converted to road use (I added lights and indicators) needed oil change every 1500km.
 
Right, so in conclusion, Mazda still stands by their policy.
Vehicle will only get a service at 30000km regardless of mileage done in-between.
The factory warranty will not be impacted.
The Motorite warranty extender I have will also not be impacted.
I have all this in writing.

Had a look at the oil (on the dipstick) and it's still pretty much clear after 15000km.
I'm not gonna pull the plugs to check.
So I hope this is the end of story.
 
crysis said:
LOL 2 stroke oil goes in the fuel, technically its changed constantly. He's probably referring to a highly strung race engine (see motocross) that required regular servicing.
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True I forgot you actually top it up with every tank.

For some reason I remembered you just did it more regularly or every few tanks.
 
c3n0byt3 said:
Right, so in conclusion, Mazda still stands by their policy.
Vehicle will only get a service at 30000km regardless of mileage done in-between.
The factory warranty will not be impacted.
The Motorite warranty extender I have will also not be impacted.
I have all this in writing.

Had a look at the oil (on the dipstick) and it's still pretty much clear after 15000km.
I'm not gonna pull the plugs to check.
So I hope this is the end of story.
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I would at least change the oil myself, regardless. Mechanicly I doubt you would have an issue but drain the oil and replace, cost you what? R200 in oil and 15mins?
 
Kosmik said:
I would at least change the oil myself, regardless. Mechanicly I doubt you would have an issue but drain the oil and replace, cost you what? R200 in oil and 15mins?
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Wouldn't that **** up the warranty that he has confirmed in writing will not be affected?
 
crysis said:
LOL 2 stroke oil goes in the fuel, technically its changed constantly. He's probably referring to a highly strung race engine (see motocross) that required regular servicing.
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Yeah, ex race four stroke rmz. What a frikking laugh riot that was in traffic.
 
pinball wizard said:
Wouldn't that **** up the warranty that he has confirmed in writing will not be affected?
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Changing oil? Hell no, that's like saying putting fuel , brake fluid or wiper fluid in your car goes against warranty. I doubt the mechanical parts or even filters need replacement, I'm saying purely the oil.

And if he has it documented, I would actually insist on the document being signed by Headoffice, not just the dealership.
 
Highly doubt the oil is R200.
Requirements are 5L of 0w-20 fully synthetic oil with moly.

If anything I'd rather pay the dealership to do a proper oil change. i.e. change filter and sump plug.
There's also a few things that need to be reset apparently according to the manual.
 
c3n0byt3 said:
Highly doubt the oil is R200.
Requirements are 5L of 0w-20 fully synthetic oil with moly.

If anything I'd rather pay the dealership to do a proper oil change. i.e. change filter and sump plug.
There's also a few things that need to be reset apparently according to the manual.
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Ok so 5w-40 synthetic is R499/5l , not a trainsmash still. As to the resetting, the stealership is refusing to do it as per op, hence the problem.
 
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