General Sedici oil changes

[timufea]

I've just bought a 2008 Sedici 1.9 and am puzzled about when the engine oil should be changed.

The service schedule section of the handbook says that the "Actual interval to change engine oil and oil filter depends on the conditions of use of the vehicle and it is indicated by the relevant instrument panel warning light (see section “Warning and indicator lights”), or in any case every 2 years."

In the "Warning and indicator lights" section of the handbook there are two lights that might be "relevant": the "oil pressure light" and the "service vehicle soon (SVS) light". There is no explanation of what the SVS light means. If the oil pressure light blinks/flashes then apparently the oil should be changed immediately!

Does this mean that oil changes are not done as part of the 9000 mile services, and must be done at short notice when the "relevant" light comes on? Or can the oil be changed at next 9000 mile service after the "relevant" light comes on? And which is the "relevant" light anyway?

 

[cmm.sedici]

Here's where common sense clashes with factory engine management systems!

I change the oil on my 56 Sedici every 6-12 months depending on how generous i'm feeling. I get this done at my local independent garage.

However, every 2 years (i think), the oil degradation light will come on to tell you to change your oil. This isn't an intelligent thing on the car, it's a preset timer that reminds you that you haven't had your oil changed at a FIAT dealership and therefore they haven't plugged it into their computer to reset it.

In my opinion it's a complete con to get you to service your car at a main dealer. I had to pay £40.25 to get it done at FIAT Aldershot on the 7th July 2009 so guaranteed it'll come on again this July and i'll have to shell out again.... even though it's out of warranty now.

I should be able to do whatever the hell I like with my car once it is past it's warranty period. Need to do some research on how to do it myself.

Here's the original thread on this topic from this forum...
http://goo.gl/0l4lx

 

[timufea]

Thanks for that. I assume that the "oil degradation light" is what the handbook calls the "oil pressure light".

I was wondering if anyone knows under what conditions the SVS (Service Vehicle Soon) light comes on?

 

[cmm.sedici]

I think they're the same thing but not completely sure.

I've never had the service light "orange spanner" come on and i've never had it serviced at a a FIAT dealer.

 

[tinytim]

I change the oil & filter in my 1.9JTD marea (same engine) every 5000 miles using fully synthetic oil; 10,000 mile changes providing using fully synthetic oil and doing long runs is probably OK; dirty oil=premature turbo failure=megabucks
also when stopped after heavy driving/turbo use then let the engine idle for a while to let the turbo cool and prevent oil carbonising in the bearings.....
I think the Sedici has a DPF see other posts re this