Technical Two Year Service Interval?

[SB1500]

Just studied the owners manual for my Panda... It's telling me to service it every 24 months / two years. Surely, this is a bit of bad advice?

I serviced my former Panda (an old car) every 6 months with new filters / oil OR every 7,000 miles (as advised by the YouTube mechanic Scotty Kilmer) - before it went 'bad', or anywhere close to sub-optimal.

Feels like I'd be abusing the car leaving this every two years? Surely, every year or maybe even my former extreme 6 months.

I'm going to use the Selenia stuff they recommend:

http://www.selenia.com/en/dettaglio-prodotto.asp?code=1411

Anybody else use this (or not) and why?

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Like you, I feel very nervous about these extended interval services which are such a common option these days. I know the recommended (often very expensive) oils are probably up to the job but it doesn't take into account the driving regime and if contaminants enter the system then they are there for an awfully long time?

I opted for the yearly/mileage option on my new Ibiza and I have all 6 of the "family fleet" on the same plan. I've done this for years and don't have lubricant related problems.

The Twin/Multiair engines seem to be especially sensitive to oil issues and, although I have never owned - or even worked - on one I would never recommend extended interval servicing on them.

Regarding the Selenia - Absolutely cant go wrong with the correct Fiat "stuff" can you. I've seen that it's produced by Petronas and when I get my service items from Shop4part they send me actual Petronus branded product. So far all is well. If you want to be conservative and eliminate worry just make sure that whatever brand you buy it has the Fiat certification number on it (for our wee '10 plate Panda 1.2 that's "Fiat 955535-S2) My boy's '12 plate Punto 1.4 8 valve is running on Fuchs titan GT1 5w-40 which actually states on the back of the container that it complies with this.

Oh, and by the way, Fuchs don't state on their containers that it's "synthetic" because German regs forbid it but in fact it's the same base stock as many others use and call "Fully Synthetic" (group 3 as far as I know although their Race Pro range is more exotic, & expensive). In fact if you go on the Opie Oils site and look at the specs they state that it is indeed synthetic.

Because she's Direct Injection and Turbo Charged I've been doing quite a bit of "digging" about oils just of late in preparation for taking over the Ibiza's servicing now she's out of warranty and "talking" to manufacturers and suppliers. It's all been very interesting and a little confusing but one thing which is emerging is that oils are getting much thinner (big subject, maybe for another day) but I was astonished to learn that Suzuki are already actually recommending a 0w-16 and have a 0w-8 in the pipeline for the future. My flabber has never been so gasted, as Frankie Howard used to say! 0w-0 anyone? Wonder if oil seals will be up for it or are we going to find messy black stains in all our garages and driveways?

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I feel distinctly uncomfortable with going two years between inspecting brakes and hydraulics. Oh and then there's ball joints etc to worry about too - No! yearly - or sooner -for me please.

PS - just looking at how the "Frankie Howard bit" reads. I don't think Frankie would know anything about oil at all would he? Ha Ha.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Technically, I don't think it is a two year interval? For the TwinAir, Fiat used to say 18000 miles or 24 months (so can be less than two years) . It is interesting (to remind) that Fiat later changed from this to an 'inspection service' every 9000 miles or every year... but did not alter the oil change interval (so the oil is still only changed every second visit, at 18000 miles). That 'inspection' meant that things like the brakes did get looked at more frequently. If you read the list of 'actions' though, nothing at all is replaced or adjusted at these inspections, just 'looked at'.


Modern synthetic oils have a very long life, and changing it 'unnecessarily soon' means throwing away (with all the issues of environmental disposal that go with that) a product that is still in useable condition, and expensive. Although changing it early can of course give peace of mind... so long as it is done according to the schedule, the warranty is not affected.

My 4x4 diesel has no oil changes shown in the service chart - just 'wait till the dash warning shows' or after 24000 miles. And, apart from the pollen filter, the first items shown to be 'replaced' rather than 'checked' are at 42000 miles!

And, for 'interest', link to an old post of mine about the brand of oil to use. (Note: I wrongly say there that Peugeot recommend Elf - in fact, its Total) - https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii...ross-short-service-intervals-6.html?p=4138734

 

[The Panda Nut]

Technically, I don't think it is a two year interval? For the TwinAir, Fiat used to say 18000 miles or 24 months (so can be less than two years) . It is interesting (to remind) that Fiat later changed from this to an 'inspection service' every 9000 miles or every year... but did not alter the oil change interval (so the oil is still only changed every second visit, at 18000 miles). That 'inspection' meant that things like the brakes did get looked at more frequently. If you read the list of 'actions' though, nothing at all is replaced or adjusted at these inspections, just 'looked at'.


Modern synthetic oils have a very long life, and changing it 'unnecessarily soon' means throwing away (with all the issues of environmental disposal that go with that) a product that is still in useable condition, and expensive. Although changing it early can of course give peace of mind... so long as it is done according to the schedule, the warranty is not affected.

My 4x4 diesel has no oil changes shown in the service chart - just 'wait till the dash warning shows' or after 24000 miles. And, apart from the pollen filter, the first items shown to be 'replaced' rather than 'checked' are at 42000 miles!

And, for 'interest', link to an old post of mine about the brand of oil to use. (Note: I wrongly say there that Peugeot recommend Elf - in fact, its Total) - https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii...ross-short-service-intervals-6.html?p=4138734

New ones its 9000 miles. Modern oils will do the longer intervals without issue if you use the recommended oils and grades. As oil performance is vital I prefer to over rather than under do it and like to change yearly. I had an Astra company car that was not changed for 75000 miles a year or two back, it seemed worse after it was changed!

 

[AndyRKett]

VW offered a 2 year service which they claimed was just as good and cheaper.

However I never bought into it and carried on with 10,000 mile services which given the mileage I was doing, was two services a year for the first 3 years, moved base in my job so now get the train but still getting a service done annually.

On the flip side when I was doing very little mileage in my Punto in the past I left it a couple of years maybe longer with out a service, but I was probably doing less than 4000 miles a year.

 

[KPat]

Like you, I feel very nervous about these extended interval services which are such a common option these days. I know the recommended (often very expensive) oils are probably up to the job but it doesn't take into account the driving regime and if contaminants enter the system then they are there for an awfully long time?

I opted for the yearly/mileage option on my new Ibiza and I have all 6 of the "family fleet" on the same plan. I've done this for years and don't have lubricant related problems.

The Twin/Multiair engines seem to be especially sensitive to oil issues and, although I have never owned - or even worked - on one I would never recommend extended interval servicing on them.

Regarding the Selenia - Absolutely cant go wrong with the correct Fiat "stuff" can you. I've seen that it's produced by Petronas and when I get my service items from Shop4part they send me actual Petronus branded product. So far all is well. If you want to be conservative and eliminate worry just make sure that whatever brand you buy it has the Fiat certification number on it (for our wee '10 plate Panda 1.2 that's "Fiat 955535-S2) My boy's '12 plate Punto 1.4 8 valve is running on Fuchs titan GT1 5w-40 which actually states on the back of the container that it complies with this.

Oh, and by the way, Fuchs don't state on their containers that it's "synthetic" because German regs forbid it but in fact it's the same base stock as many others use and call "Fully Synthetic" (group 3 as far as I know although their Race Pro range is more exotic, & expensive). In fact if you go on the Opie Oils site and look at the specs they state that it is indeed synthetic.

Because she's Direct Injection and Turbo Charged I've been doing quite a bit of "digging" about oils just of late in preparation for taking over the Ibiza's servicing now she's out of warranty and "talking" to manufacturers and suppliers. It's all been very interesting and a little confusing but one thing which is emerging is that oils are getting much thinner (big subject, maybe for another day) but I was astonished to learn that Suzuki are already actually recommending a 0w-16 and have a 0w-8 in the pipeline for the future. My flabber has never been so gasted, as Frankie Howard used to say! 0w-0 anyone? Wonder if oil seals will be up for it or are we going to find messy black stains in all our garages and driveways?

Fuchs race oils are mostly group 5 esther synthetic.
Their XTL range of oils are very good synthetic blends of group 3, 4, and 5.
Attached safety data sheet is the only clue to what "XTL technology" really means. see section 3.