More regular servicing for tow vehicles?

[Big J]

I'm wondering if you lot decrease your service intervals on your arb trucks to account for towing and other heavy work? 

 

My 4x4 sprinter now spends at least half it's time towing heavy and despite being upped to 160bhp, I spend a lot of time with my foot stapled to the floor. Devon is very hilly. 

 

I've put 7k on it since I bought it, and it was services around a thousand miles before that. I'm getting to the stage of wanting to service it again, despite the computer telling me it's not needed for another 12k.

 

What preventative maintenance do you all do for your tow trucks? 

[Matthew Storrs]

The way I see it- oil is cheap and a service is pretty easy to do if you have a spare hour. Obviously modern vehicles seem to have a longer service interval, I do my Landy every 6 months which is about 4000miles. I tow a 2.8t digger around almost daily so tend to be slightly OTT with it all.

[Big J]

Sensible policy. The hill road from Cullompton to Honiton just gets me down to 2nd gear at the top in both directions. It's supposed to be a main road too!

 

I'll get the van booked in with a Mercedes specialist, assuming there is one reasonably locally.

[wicklamulla]

1 hour ago, Big J said:

Sensible policy. The hill road from Cullompton to Honiton just gets me down to 2nd gear at the top in both directions. It's supposed to be a main road too!

 

I'll get the van booked in with a Mercedes specialist, assuming there is one reasonably locally.

yep that bits is hilly  enough.  I tend to go a bit ott on the servicing front too and the transit gets an oil and filter change every 3k,  i also ask the mechanic to spend another hour or so to have a good poke and prod at everything else like brakes, hoses etc. The 4x4 pickup gets the same treatment. If yer busy and earning you don't feel the extra cost and i prefer to over service kit rather than leaving it to run 'full term'.

[LeeGray]

Get a drum of good quality oil direct from from a merchant and buy filters a box at a time. Do it oil and filter regular yourself and not only is it extremely cheap but you know the quality of the oil and filters. 

Had my little van in for a full franchise dealer service (first time to keep there warranty) oil change warning came on 500 miles later, dropped the oil and it was shagged and filter definitely wasn’t a week old. Personally I’d rather know it was done properly 

[donnk]

42 minutes ago, LeeGray said:

Get a drum of good quality oil direct from from a merchant and buy filters a box at a time. Do it oil and filter regular yourself and not only is it extremely cheap but you know the quality of the oil and filters. 

Had my little van in for a full franchise dealer service (first time to keep there warranty) oil change warning came on 500 miles later, dropped the oil and it was shagged and filter definitely wasn’t a week old. Personally I’d rather know it was done properly 

you do not need to use a main dealer for servicing to retain warranty, this was made illegal quite a while ago by the EU.

 

 

 

[Woodworks]

1 hour ago, donnk said:

you do not need to use a main dealer for servicing to retain warranty, this was made illegal quite a while ago by the EU.

 

 

 

No but they have ways of making it difficult not too. Had my Isuzu serviced locally making sure they used the recommended oil and filters from Isuzu. Then found out my anti perforation warranty was now invalid as I had not had it inspected by main dealer each year. 

 

An extra few services makes sense if you are working you vehicle to the max around here

Edited October 9, 2018 by Woodworks

[Ironbark]

I try to change the engine oil/filter every 6k miles which is half the interval. I fitted a magnetic drain plug more out of curiosity than anything else. 

 

Don't forget the transmission too. I change diff oils and gearbox at half the interval. Also fitted upgraded magnetic plugs because the LSD does produce some metal.

[LeeGray]

9 hours ago, donnk said:

you do not need to use a main dealer for servicing to retain warranty, this was made illegal quite a while ago by the EU.

 

 

 

Very useful to know, generally only ever use main dealer if vehicle is new(ish) and want to sell again relatively quickly. Found with vans if changing every couple of years is worth it but not for pick ups or cars. 

[donnk]

last two motors Ive had (VW and BMW) neither saw a dealer for any service. The only problem you have now, they dont come with a service book to stamp its all electronic so you have to buy a paper one.