Hello All - I just dropped my new 2025 Defender off at my dealer and they seem to have jacked up the price for an oil change - $399! The are running a summer special for $289 - when I asked about the special, the Advisor said he wouldn't recommend it because it doesn't come with "oil and gas additive". What is this non-sense - is anyone actually using oil and gas additive these days? I didn't think it was needed with synthetic oil?

Thoughts? If you folks do recommend additives, what brand are you using - I cannot imagine it would cost $110.

Thanks - sorry for the dumb question - I plan to do my own oil changes moving forward!

 

This sounds like a typical "stealership" scam...yes, scam. LR does not recommend additives, at least they are not mentioned anywhere in the manual and/or service guide.

Your point about synthetic oil is correct, too. Just do the standard oil change when the vehicle tells you to do so. If you follow the LR guidelines, you will be well within their warranty guidelines and not waste money on the silly dealership suggestions.

A quick Google search confirms, "Generally, new cars do not require fuel additives. Modern fuel and engine technology are designed to minimize the need for aftermarket additives. While older vehicles might benefit from additives, new cars typically have fuel systems and engines that are well-equipped to handle modern fuels and their inherent additives." Plus the oil change interval is much longer (per LR) than the dealerships would like:

Defender Service Intervals

The recommended service intervals for your Defender may vary depending on the model, specifically which engine your vehicle has:

• Four-cylinder engine: every two years or 21,000 miles
• Six-cylinder engine: every two years or 21,000 miles
• Eight-cylinder engine: every year or 16,000 miles

 

Thanks for the feedback and confirmation - much appreciated!

 

That’s insane (the 100 for the oil additive)

There is a service bulletin out from JLR that specifically says not to use oil additives on new Land Rovers. I’ve read it.

Have they not seen this?

 

Thanks nashvegas - I will bring this to their attention!

 

Land Rover primarily recommends using high-quality, fully synthetic engine oil, like Castrol EDGE Professional, without the need for additional additives in most cases. They advise against using random additives as they can potentially disrupt the delicate chemical balance of the engine oil.

Elaboration:

• Factory Fill:
  Land Rover vehicles leave the factory with Castrol EDGE Professional oil, and this is the oil they recommend for optimal performance and protection.
• No Need for Extra Additives:
  In most situations, if you're using a high-quality, fully synthetic oil like Castrol EDGE Professional and changing it regularly, you likely won't need extra additives.
• Exceptions:
  There are rare exceptions, such as using specific additives for older vehicles with high mileage or for limited-slip differentials (LSDs).
• Potential Risks:
  Adding random oil additives can potentially disrupt the carefully balanced chemical composition of the engine oil, leading to unintended consequences, according to Liqui Moly South Africa.

 

in addition to all the great info above, for less than the price of their "summer special" oil change you can buy an oil extractor and change it at home in less time than it would take you to drop it off. It couldn't be simpler, the extractor just sucks it all out, no mess, no tools needed except for the filter socket.

 

Don't even need a filter socket. Its hand tight but any large adjustable wrench will work fine. No special tool needed. Cost is about $90 for oil and filter. Takes about 30 minutes. So quick and simple with the MityVac. Possibly one of my favorite tools.

Dealer additives are pure bunk. Contra-indicated. Avoid.

 

I got taken advantage one time by the LR dealership with a bunch of extra fluff. It was my mistake and I should have simply said no thank you. I personally still prefer to have the dealership do my services as it uploads the service information to Carfax. This becomes useful when trading or selling your car. A report showing no service records can lead to a lower sale price. For those who do their own service maintenance, hang on to your receipts and records. I wish there would be a way for owners to report directly to Carfax for services they perform.
I am not saying that Carfax reports are always accurate, but they kind of have become the source when buying a car and judging the car's value. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

Thanks Everyone for the great advise, I know this topic has been covered many times and I do appreciate the feedback - I have learned a lot here - such a valuable website! I do plan to purchase a MityVac and do my own oil changes.

Now if I can only get an OTA update for the PiviPro - sitting a waiting for a future update!

Regards!