On Dec 6, 4:00*pm, "Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article
,
* *thirty-six wrote:

I'm not convinced it does. Most engines outlast the car anyway these
days - unless they suffer a failure like a broken cambelt or cooling
system, neither of which will be prevented by frequent oil changes.
With two or three years between servicing, it's likely to be more
prevalent.

Most have a maximum time between services as well as a mileage limit -
specifically for low use vehicles. But there's nothing to stop you doing a
look over the engine as often as you want, rather than hoping it will be
done at oil change time.

I can - just - remember when cars went from 3000 to 5000 mile oil changes..
Exactly the same arguments were used then...

Today's cars are less tolerant of under-pessure cooling systems and
are reliant on anti-freeze to aid thermal transfer both in the engine
and radiator. Annual coolant pressure and coolant checks should be
peformed as a matter of course. Cambelt(s) should be checked as a
matter of course (unless one is to adopt automatic replacement at 8
years/100,000miles) and it's probably also a good time to check oil
pressure. Starter syatem checks should also be performed as a matter
of course. Other systems/parts are generally mileage dependant or
should be noticed and rectified by the driver as and when faults
appear. Headlight bulb efficiency is possibly another check not fully
covered in MOT testing which possibly should be included in an annual
service. I think you are lucky to get good brightness levels much
after 1000 hours of use.

Iron/copper electrode spark plugs still benefit from dressing every
3000 miles and the distributer rotor is still a better system than
double ended coils or split tension systems. Unfortunately the rotor
and cap do need attention each year due to erosion and corrosion and
probable replacement at three years or 20,000 miles. It still gives a
bigger bang, and that's what counts when doing your own servicing.
It's an insignificant expense countered by improved engine efficiency
and the high price of fuel.