loveshandbags said:

Today I looked at an Abarth 500 esseesse with 13,075 miles registered May 2010 that had NO oil changes since new. I lifted the cap and I saw heavy scum and scum inside the top of the 'engine'. Checking the dip stick and after several 'ins and outs' to get a 'marking' found that the oil was thin and appeared to be different colours. After probing the salesman he said that it was topped up last week since none was registering on the dip stick. It was done before going on a 'company night out' about 80 miles down the road with another colleague. Oil on this particular model should be changed every 6K miles as per the revised service schedule. When I looked into the 'scum' problem it may not be a 'show stopper' since it can happen with a car lying in cold wintry conditions and not getting an opportunity to burn off the vapour.

In the US there was a bit of scam with people believing that oil should be changed every 3K miles. The 5K oil service has been bantered around as the ideal mileage at which to give a new car its FIRST oil change.

On another thread I learned from 'the study' done on Mobil oils that 8K miles was the optimum change. You metioned Shell with the 9K miles - well Mobil guarantee their oils up to 10K miles whilst their 'Extended Performance' (not available in our viscosity range) states 15K miles IF used with their special filter. On the severe conditions that can reduce the service interval is Excessive idling - so the majority of cars (possibly 75%) would 'fall' into this category.

So I would still stand by a 5K mile change on the FIRST and there after a 8K mile or 12 month (whichever came sooner) as recommended by JR providing you were not doing the Nurburgring.

http://www.trustmymechanic.com/change_oil.html

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_should_you_'break-in'_a_new_car
The first oil change is often a lot sooner than later ones as during break in rough edges from manufacturing will be worn off and end up in the oil.

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/286912-oil-change-9.html?p=2903216
Mobil oil has to 'break in' i.e engine wear decreases as the oil ages and that the optimum change is at 8K miles (coincides with the US A500 service schedule).

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7467
as recommended" by who? Ford says 5000 miles. Read your manual.

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loveshandbags said:

Today I looked at an Abarth 500 esseesse with 13,075 miles registered May 2010 that had NO oil changes since new. I lifted the cap and I saw heavy scum and scum inside the top of the 'engine'. Checking the dip stick and after several 'ins and outs' to get a 'marking' found that the oil was thin and appeared to be different colours. After probing the salesman he said that it was topped up last week since none was registering on the dip stick. It was done before going on a 'company night out' about 80 miles down the road with another colleague. Oil on this particular model should be changed every 6K miles as per the revised service schedule. When I looked into the 'scum' problem it may not be a 'show stopper' since it can happen with a car lying in cold wintry conditions and not getting an opportunity to burn off the vapour.

In the US there was a bit of scam with people believing that oil should be changed every 3K miles. The 5K oil service has been bantered around as the ideal mileage at which to give a new car its FIRST oil change.

On another thread I learned from 'the study' done on Mobil oils that 8K miles was the optimum change. You metioned Shell with the 9K miles - well Mobil guarantee their oils up to 10K miles whilst their 'Extended Performance' (not available in our viscosity range) states 15K miles IF used with their special filter. On the severe conditions that can reduce the service interval is Excessive idling - so the majority of cars (possibly 75%) would 'fall' into this category.

So I would still stand by a 5K mile change on the FIRST and there after a 8K mile or 12 month (whichever came sooner) as recommended by JR providing you were not doing the Nurburgring.

http://www.trustmymechanic.com/change_oil.html

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_should_you_'break-in'_a_new_car
The first oil change is often a lot sooner than later ones as during break in rough edges from manufacturing will be worn off and end up in the oil.

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/286912-oil-change-9.html?p=2903216
Mobil oil has to 'break in' i.e engine wear decreases as the oil ages and that the optimum change is at 8K miles (coincides with the US A500 service schedule).

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7467
as recommended" by who? Ford says 5000 miles. Read your manual.

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ahmett said:

So we are concluding that Fiat are stupid in recommending 18k or 12 month oil changes?

Yes the abarth is turbocharged, turbo engines are more of a mess generally = )

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Chrisilda said:

Correct if wrong but Fiat mentions at the manual the normal services (big ones as we call them here). An oil change could not considered as a main service process. + I have been told by the Fiat dealer about this 8k (km) oil change!

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Most Easterly Pandas said:

Will be interesting to se if this makes it to mainland UK and to all models or just the 500.

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loveshandbags said:

Thanks to Gavin in the Lee garage in Cork for this. He said that he might be able to get the small print from the one of the reps. Also mentioned that there's a 'get together' in Milan for the launch of the 2012 Panda in Feb and it should be available here in March 2012. They are expecting quite a few sales with the new model along with the 5 year guarantee. Note the mileage hasn't changed it is just spread over a longer period and it's supposedly a 'bumper to bumper' - so no 'dealer bit'.

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loveshandbags said:

Please be advised that all Fiat vehicles registered from 1st January 2012 until 31st March will carry a 5 year, 100,000km warranty. This additional cover also includes 5 year roadside assistance.

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grimwau said:

This sound a bit like the free servicing offer Fiat made a couple of years ago that hardly anyone was able to take advantage of due to the small qualifying window. It benefits anyone who buys a "stock" vehicle but anyone who orders one from the factory as of now might not get their car in time.

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loveshandbags said:

Can't see it happening in the UK on the Abarths.

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Most Easterly Pandas said:

It's a fiat warrantie not abarth. They're different companies

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grimwau said:

This sound a bit like the free servicing offer Fiat made a couple of years ago that hardly anyone was able to take advantage of due to the small qualifying window. It benefits anyone who buys a "stock" vehicle but anyone who orders one from the factory as of now might not get their car in time.

Click to expand...