Fiesta oil level

[figbat]

- some new cars can use 1l per 1000 miles.

This is the line most OEMs use when faced with excessive oil use complaints. It’s considered a de facto maximum acceptable usage across the industry.

Of course it is far from acceptable, especially with sensors and filters and catalysts in the exhaust, not to mention spark plugs.

Even though it’s good business for the oil companies, one of which I used to work for, I would still not agree that this is acceptable.

 

[tyred]

I do mine weekly and before a long journey under the "old pilots, bold pilots" principle.

It never ceases to amaze me the effort folk go to when getting in hock to buy a car they cant afford, and then having acquired the second most expensive asset after their house proceed to neglect even basic checks that could save them a fortune in repairs.

My sister seized a low mileage Fiesta (old OHV engine) that had developed a slight leak but she never checked on it. "But I got it serviced last year!"

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I do mine weekly and before a long journey under the "old pilots, bold pilots" principle.

It never ceases to amaze me the effort folk go to when getting in hock to buy a car they cant afford, and then having acquired the second most expensive asset after their house proceed to neglect even basic checks that could save them a fortune in repairs.

In a Cul de Sac of 35 houses I am the only one who ever has the bonnet of their car open. People have got used to it now and regard me as a bit of an eccentric, but when I first moved here every time I was checking the levels I'd invariably be asked if I'd broken down. I used to be regarded by many as the local car expert because I changed the oil myself.

 

[bikingdad90]

Alot of modern cars have an oil level sensor and Mercedes has even gone as far as to remove the dipstick in some models; much to our amusement/fustration when trying to find it!

 

[tyred]

In a Cul de Sac of 35 houses I am the only one who ever has the bonnet of their car open. People have got used to it now and regard me as a bit of an eccentric, but when I first moved here every time I was checking the levels I'd invariably be asked if I'd broken down. I used to be regarded by many as the local car expert because I changed the oil myself.

In my flat, I decided I would replace the brake pads on my 205 as they were due a change so I did it in the carpark outside rather than bother taking it home to my parents. What I found was that I attracted a few know-it-alls who were happy to stand watching me and telling me how to do it!

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Alot of modern cars have an oil level sensor and Mercedes has even gone as far as to remove the dipstick in some models; much to our amusement/fustration when trying to find it!

I'm not keen on that for two reasons;

1/ Replacing a simple device that never goes wrong with an expensive piece of electrical trickery is never a good idea.

2/ Opening the bonnet at regularly can catch leaks and other problems before they get serious.

 

[ActionMan76]

To be fair any car from about 2000 should not need anything doing to it between services ... Other than topping up washer fluid, but them some people don't even do that....You can generally relay on the warning lights to let you know ... cos 90% of people never open the bonnet, some don't know how to, and some don't even have the space to...with all the street parking there is.

However if you are also not having a 12monthy service, which also checks all yer warning lights are working, then all bets are off.

I did read a statistic that said 75% of all cars are on a finance deal... And if you read some of them they come with a service level agreement, so owners have got used to not doing anything. But as I've never had a new vehicle, I have found that a relaible local service garage is rather handy and once you are over 200,000 miles then usually time for a replacement, cos the basic fabric of the car is wearing out.

 

[Drago]

By the time a warning light has come on- if indeed it comes on st all... - the damage is often done.

 

[mistyoptic]

Alot of modern cars have an oil level sensor and Mercedes has even gone as far as to remove the dipstick in some models; much to our amusement/fustration when trying to find it!

And BMW

 

[Drago]

And Volvo.

 

[mistyoptic]

some new cars can use 1l per 1000 mile

Even my RX8 didn’t use that much

 

[ActionMan76]

Drago ...Its called a Warning light, cos its a warning to do something .... if it was already to late it would be called a 'Call the AA' light

What I have found, is that by the time someone asks the question about the 'warning' light, its already been on for 5 days ... So yes, by then the damage could already have been done.....
The amount of times I've heard ...Well the car is still running, so it can't be that bad, I'll wait till it stops then fix it !!!!!!!

 

[Electric_Andy]

I once heard that newer cars use more oil because the piston rings are generally less tight, so less friction and more efficiency, but a bit more oil will seep past. Don't know if that's true or not

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I had this once - I took the car back
then "fixed it"
then next time they did the same

My uncle came round to see my Mum - his sister - and I asked him
he said that it was one or two things
a) they were used to fords and this was a Nissn but they just used the amount they were used to - i.e. they are not good mechanics
b) they were putting too much in so that it would bloe a gasket and they would get paid to fix it

either way I stopped going there

 

[ActionMan76]

That certainly is not true .... modern engines have way less clearances on metal to metal surfaces than they ever had ... and compression ratios are way higher ...you'd never turn a modern engine over to fire it up with a starting handle like you could with a mid 60's Morris minor .... Thats why Oil used to be thick a honey, so it clung to stuff and filled all tha gaps up, and why you had to warm engines up ....so all the bits had got warm and expanded to work properly.
Modern engines are start up, and off you go ... the electronics will take care of it all ... and why modern synthetic oils are like pouring water, cos high pressure oil feeds and tighter tollerences, along with alloy everything means you need less clearances... Hence more efficient.

And why a modern 1000cc will outperform an 80's 2000....... If you go to F1 engines, they are essentially SIEZED SOLID when they are cold, they get hot water pumped round them prior to starting up to expand the components.