Diesel Car: Late first service

CarPark2 · 06-01-2015 1:07am #1

I preface this by saying that I know very little about cars!

My impression is that for Diesel cars (maybe all cars?) the first service is really important. Is this correct?

In particular, I am looking to buy a second-hand Ford Galaxy, and while the recommended service interval is 12,500 miles, some of them are showing a first service at 18,000 miles. Is this something that should cause concern?

Should it be a deal breaker?

Atlantic Dawn · 06-01-2015 1:13am

How old was the car when it got first service? Has it only ever had 1 service? How old is it now?

CarPark2 · 06-01-2015 1:36am

First service at 13 months, 17,990 miles
Second service at 28 months, 25700 miles.

Recommended service interval: 12,500 miles.

MarkR · 06-01-2015 10:13am

Could be a sign that it wasn't maintained very well in the first year. Is it a UK car (in miles)? My focus is due a service, and I swear I can feel it, even though the oil levels are perfect. May be in my head though. Going half again over the recommended service is a hanging offence in my book, but probably not all that uncommon. Was it serviced in a reputable garage?

Caliden · 06-01-2015 10:37am

MarkR wrote: »

Could be a sign that it wasn't maintained very well in the first year. Is it a UK car (in miles)? My focus is due a service, and I swear I can feel it, even though the oil levels are perfect. May be in my head though. Going half again over the recommended service is a hanging offence in my book, but probably not all that uncommon. Was it serviced in a reputable garage?

I can definitely feel when the car has been serviced. It's a diesel and the EGR usually gets a cleaning. More responsive after a service anyway.

vectra · 06-01-2015 10:49am

MarkR wrote: »

Could be a sign that it wasn't maintained very well in the first year. Is it a UK car (in miles)? My focus is due a service, and I swear I can feel it, even though the oil levels are perfect. May be in my head though. Going half again over the recommended service is a hanging offence in my book, but probably not all that uncommon. Was it serviced in a reputable garage?

How about cars that have not reached the specified service mileage in the first year and not serviced for say 18 months?

MarkR · 06-01-2015 12:01pm

vectra wrote: »

How about cars that have not reached the specified service mileage in the first year and not serviced for say 18 months?

I was trying to think of scenarios like that, but isn't it always mileage or 1 year, which ever comes first? Was thinking maybe it was parked up, to explain why it didn't get done in the year, but the mileage criteria would have kicked in.

Do any cars have a service interval > 1 year?

CarPark2 · 06-01-2015 12:16pm

Car is from NI.
It was serviced at the main dealers, but as you said the mileage was almost 1 1/2 times what it should have been.

Anyway, given that it was so late with its first service, is this likely to cause long term damage to the car?

MarkR · 06-01-2015 12:22pm

I'll have to leave that one to someone more knowledgeable than me! I would think that if you left it a long time, the oil would turn to sludge. I'd want a mechanic to check out the car for me, rather than relying on a dealer guarantee.

Found these links I found interesting.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/safety-regulatory-devices/never-changed-oil.htm

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC-SxrsgEwo

This car was left about 50k miles too late, so not quite apples and oranges, but you get the idea!

Diesel Car: Late first service

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