Hi

My 03 1.9 JTD went for its 72,000 mile service yesterday at local main dealer. I wasn't impressed. Lots of personnel changes since the last service and didn't do some little niggly jobs I asked them to do.

Anyway my main point. They didn't change the fuel filter. Should this be changed at every service?

Also it is on a 12,000 mile interval service but should I be getting the oil and filter changed every 6,000 miles? They do use the recommended Selenia.

With reference to another thread. The front wiper mechanism has failed on mine but an easy diy replacement. Very cross at having to have it complete with motor when there was nothing wrong with the old one.

Keep up the good work!

Cheers

TJE

Welcome to the world of Fiat main dealers 'customer care'.

If your JTD is the same as Mrs_G's then the fuel filter should be changed at every service. To not do so would be false economy - if an old filter let some dirt through the cost to repair the high pressure fuel pump and injectors would wipeout any savings made skimping on the cost of a fuel filter many many times over.

I suspect that your dealer gave your vehicle to an 'apprentice' to service (despite charging you for a fully trained technician) and then failed to check the standard of work carried out.

6,000 mile oil changes? Unless you do lots and lots of short journeys where the engine never gets fully warmed up I would think its a waste of money. Mrs_G's Cargo gets a fresh filter and oil at each 12,000 mile service, requires a top up of about half a litre about 9,000 miles later on and is still going strong.

fuel filter at 36K,72k or 3 then 6 year etc.

other factors can be distance since last service, vehicle working conditions etc, its best to discuss the service beforehand (fiat tend to change the schedules alot so ask to see the latest service interval sheet) and if you want extra or parts changed earlier then add them on at the time.

T,

So from what you're saying I may be getting Mrs_G's fuel filter changed too often then???

Niall

as mentioned Fiat do change the schedules and there was a update to this recently, I would need to look into this. Lower mileage services are now not included on alot of engines (think doblo & sedici are excluded) but you need to take all things into account, especially in your case as these vans are your business, and changing the fuel filter yearly is wise for the reasons you have already stated and taking into account the huge mileages your vans cover. Its worked for you so far so why change a winning formula.

As for TJE, why they did/did not change fuel filter only they know after all its easy to change so unlikely they couldn't be bothered?

T14086 said:

Niall

as mentioned Fiat do change the schedules and there was a update to this recently, I would need to look into this. Lower mileage services are now not included on alot of engines (think doblo & sedici are excluded) but you need to take all things into account, especially in your case as these vans are your business, and changing the fuel filter yearly is wise for the reasons you have already stated and taking into account the huge mileages your vans cover. Its worked for you so far so why change a winning formula.

As for TJE, why they did/did not change fuel filter only they know after all its easy to change so unlikely they couldn't be bothered?

Click to expand...

T, looked into it myself until blue in the face!! all the booklets with the vehicles say fuel filter and air 36,72 etc but fiat uk and dealers say new schedule is every 12000miles or a year for all the filters not just fuel.

For me also as a work asset the van needs to be in tip top condition or I'm losing money.

T,

You're absolutely right of course. Even if Fiat had changed the recommended filter duration on Mrs_G's Cargo I would have still had the filters changed at each service.

When at my local independent garage last week I asked about the cambelt duration on my Volvo V70. Over the past 8 years, for the same car, Volvo have changed their recommendation from as low as 80,000 miles/8 years up to as high as 110,000 miles/10 years. The latest recommendation is for 90,000/? years. (I can't remember the time interval). I suspect they are in a bidding war with other manufacturers trying to keep the 'total cost of ownership' down by gambling with cam belts/engines until they start getting warranty claims for failed belts. One thing is for sure, I'll be getting mine done at the lowest figure they have recommended, book time for the job is only 1.1 hours so why gamble?

Oh, looks like I've wandered off the subject a bit.

If its any help. I changed the diesel fuel filter on a 1.3 multijet engine at 24,000. The filter was clean except for a few particles in the housing and not a drop of water.
I formed the conclusion that it would be fine for at least 50,000 miles and possibly a lot more.

I think these 12,000 diesel filter changes - with normal UK fuel - are just a `nice little earner`.