A question for the experts...

juma

What I want to know is how the "Service Now" system works on a car? Does it just come on after you clock up a certain amount of miles or is there more to it? I plan on doing a college project on cars and the enviroment and this could be one of the main topics if its a fairly good piece of technology. Any information is appreciated!

colm_mcm

Basic ones go purely on mileage. Some monitor the condition of the oil, some monitor your driving style aa well.

As above, some factor in if the miles are long spins or spot start. Cars and the environment, please tell me this is some transition year stuff and not a 3rd level project.

unkel

juma wrote: »

Does it just come on after you clock up a certain amount of miles or is there more to it?

Depends on the car. BMW has used their own system for a long time and the service interval is based on the actual miles, but some miles count more than 1 mile depending on if the engine is cold or if you're revving the engine with this formula:

Technical details of the service reminder lights:

Mileage is estimated based on the following formula:

e= a(1+t+r)
e=Estimated mileage
a=Actual mileage traveled
t=1 if engine temperature is below operating temperature, else t=0
r=.5 if engine is above 4500 RPM, else r=0

So if you travel a mile with a cold engine revving over 4500RPM, the mile counts as 2.5 miles.

rebel.ranter

BMW used to base their system on a mix of miles/days, it was called SIA. They have changed to a more complex "Condition Based Servicing"
Details of CBS here:
http://www.autodiagnos.com/fileadmin/assets/en/downloads/pdf/technical_bulletins/bmw/bmw_cbs_bulletin.pdf
Basically the CBS system is a mix if sensor fed info & the traditional time based interval.
At some stage in between they used itres of fuel consumed to determine service interval.

juma

RoverJames wrote: »

Cars and the environment, please tell me this is some transition year stuff and not a 3rd level project.

Well considering I referred to it as a college project....
Look if all you want to do is belittle something that I plan on putting alot of time and effort into (and something that I'm very interested in) then maybe you shouldnt bother posting in this thread.

Thanks for the input guys. Does anyone have any links to futher reading on the subject, those high market one's mentioned could be beneficial to me.

The mind boggles that there are 3rd level courses where you can pr1ck about and do such a project. Also if you were that interested in the subject you wouldn't be on boards.ie asking about it, do some proper research you lazy git

If you are genuinely interested in cars and the environment do some project on comparing the pollution caused by a 15 year old family saloon ran for 10 years compared to that caused by making a new car, then send it on to the Green party and ask them to justify their motor tax system

Pique

RoverJames wrote: »

If you are genuinely interested in cars and the environment do some project on comparing the pollution caused by a 15 year old family saloon ran for 10 years compared to that caused by making a new car, then send it on to the Green party and ask them to justify their motor tax system

Amen to that !!!!

mickdw

Condition based servicing on modern cars reads various parameters from the cars useage since previous oil change.
Some of the parameters would be oil type, oil level, oil soot content, oil viscosity at various temperatures & temperature change versus time with reference to engine revs. Also monitored would be journey type, driving style re revs used etc.

I would consider this to be very suitable for 3rd level work. There is a whole load of research that still needs doing to relation to condition based servicing for one thing not to mention the whole area of engine efficiency & doing a basic starter project on this area will certainly not harm anyone & may result in the OP having a great interest in this area & perhaps go on to do a thesis on engine efficiency & longevity versus oil condition and perhaps further change the way we use cars.
I personally think a governor on all engines wouldnt be a bad idea, again linked to temp & oil quality to prevent excess revs until ideal operating conditions are reached or also to prevent harsh driving when oil is in poor condition. I believe it would make people change oil on time & also prevent much engine damage.
Now OP, there is a project for ya.

juma

RoverJames wrote: »

The mind boggles that there are 3rd level courses where you can pr1ck about and do such a project. Also if you were that interested in the subject you wouldn't be on boards.ie asking about it, do some proper research you lazy git

If you are genuinely interested in cars and the environment do some project on comparing the pollution caused by a 15 year old family saloon ran for 10 years compared to that caused by making a new car, then send it on to the Green party and ask them to justify their motor tax system

I'm sorry but didn't I say my project was about car and the enviroment and that the "Service Now" system was just one area section of the project. Its quite insulting that from that very basic outline (basic because I dont want to give away too much detail on a public forum) you feel you can judge my project as being inadequate because of this? And as for the lazy remark; I dont start back in college for another 3 weeks and it'll probably be a further 3 weeks before projects are assigned. Yet here I am putting together a possible plan and just because I ask for some help on a public forum you feel the need to call me a lazy git?

I like said, I you dont want to help me dont bother posting in this thread. There is plenty of people here who are willing to help and for that I am greatful.

What are you doing in college ?

juma

Computer Science. And since I have always been interested in cars I thought it would be good to do a project on car software and technology aswell as developing some useful software myself. But like I said I dont like giving out too much details about it on a public forum.