Fluid change intervals?

deegs

Spent a good few weeks looking for 6-10 year old cars with under 100k on them (eventually bout a 04 discovery and 05 156).
NONE of them had the correct fluid changes. Most of them were running the original brake/clutch/power steering/axle/diffs/gearbox fluids etc. Same with coolant. Most have said they have just been topped up every now and then, others said they didn’t know, others said that would have been done as part of the services but there are no records in the service history.
I think this is pretty important as my wife’s previous car had gearbox failure and when it was replaced we were told that the gearbox was empty of oil.
Supposedly garages wont do these unless you specifically ask.

Both the above cars I got have full service history... but the fluids have not ever been replaced... and this is a job I plan to do immediately!

But am I crazy to do it? If most cars on the road have not had their fluids changed, am I just overly worried?

I’d be interested to know your thoughts.

jayok

I suppose you've gotta look at what a lack of fluid change can make:

1. Gearbox - becomes "sticky". Manual less of an issue than Auto
2. Brakes - pedal softens under hard-braking?
3. Coolant - less efficiency?
4. Power Steering - groaning, PSP failure, rack?
5. Diffs - groaning, noise


I suppose for critical fluids the risk is accelerated wear of the said component. It depends how long it's been run. For example for my Honda the intervals are:

1. Gearbox - every 75K miles
2. Every 3 years
3. Coolant - every 10 years or 120K miles
4. Power Steering - no defined interval
5. Diffs (N/A) for me.

biko

Tbh, any fluid change will make a massive difference. Unfortunately "most" Irish are the kind that is happy to only fill fuel and top up the washer reservoir, and then they get upset when something breaks.