I dropped off my P300 yesterday to get my horn fixed as well as having some trim pieces replaced. I'll shoot over the N892 bulletin to my service advisor and try to get an oil change out of it. I'm not due for another 2k miles, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

 

I just did it on my own at 10k miles. I own the car and I’m not taking any chances

 

Agree, spoke with a firm that only deals in all defenders....rebuilds of 90's etc and urban outfits for the new ones....they told me, first one a t 5K then maybe 5-10 thereafter. I only have 3K on my 24 defender p300 4 cylinder and I'm keeping it so I am not taking any chances. that is only a sales line they use to get you to buy it thinking wow, til the lease it gone I have no maintenance....that is where the problem comes from

 

l bought my 2022 90 outright.

It's had an oil change at 5,000 then 10,000 and 15,000

l'lll probably get it changed annually now, which is around 9,000 miles intervals.

The arguments as to whether it's necessary will go on for ever, but for under £200 each time l am not taking any chances.

 

While everyone is free to decide what they prefer. Calling those who don't subscribe to your thinking dumb is indeed very dumb in my opinion.

This oil change conspiracy theory will never die....

I remember about 20 years ago how everyone was telling me that I was crazy and dumb to follow Audi schedule oil change which was every 10k miles or 1 year. Everyone swore that you had to do it every 6 months or 5k miles or else all kind of problems will start to show up after 50k miles.

I continued to follow Audi schedule and the car was sold eventually with over 200k miles on it. No timing belt issue, no carbon build up problem, nothing!


​​​​​
​​​

 

How much are your local dealers charging for an oil change? Newport Beach CA is around $1700 which is shockingly expensive.

 

Oil change only is about a few hundred dollars.

21k and 42k scheduled maintenance service is about $1200

 

This push to extend intervals for replacing fluids in modern vehicles is mainly becuse the manufacturer gets emissions credits for having longer intervals. The theory is based on how much waste oil a vehicle peoduces over its lifetime. Basically, the engineering teams design these components to help do this and also have taksed the fluid manufacturers to develop longer lasting products. The balance of component longevity and emissions regulations will continue to push these limits. Having 20k oil changes gives the manufacturer some credit towards fuel economy and tailpipe emissions. Less pollution in one place, a bit more allowed in another. I remember when BMW released SULEV models in the early 2000s. They installed a carbon catalyst coating to the vehicle radiator designed to scrub/clean the air that travels across the radiator fins. Since the vehicle is cleaning some air passing they the radiator, it offsets some evaporative/tailpipe emissions. Other items like deleting the oil level diptick is another one. If there is no dipstick, you cant accidentally leave the dipstick out or loose which will create pollution. They give points for potential pollution like this. Its pretty wild. So the manufacturer has determined that the oil change interval for the 4 cylinder is too long based on driving habits. It releases them from the liability of motor issues, but confirms that jlr calculations may have been incorrect or didnt think that a lot of people drive their cars for very short intervals which is not good for engine oil. This will peobably trigger the likelihood of the 4 cylinder phasing out or being pushed into hybridization. Again, the hybrid push comes from the mandatory push to electrify. The hybrid allows manufacturers to continue to deign and build ICE engines. Just remember that the manufacturers are not building vehicles to make sure they last a very long time. They want to sell you a new vehicle and meet regultions. Its a numbers game. So i will continue to be one of the old men that believe in preventative maintenance. Replacing fluids can only help longevity of components imo. Just my 2c.

 

The JLR manual actually states clearly that the 21k interval should be shortened if the vehicle is driven under more demanding conditions (stop and go traffic, short distance repeated cold starts, dusty environment and etc).

Also, the on board computer monitors the time/mileage to display "service needed" reminder. E.g. vehicle that only has 35k miles on the clock would get a "service needed" prompt on the dash if it's been almost 2 years since last oil change.

​​​​​The fact is that motor oil manufacturers did invest significant R&D resources to create long interval motor oil and such oil is a reality and it performs properly for a long interval.

In a way, changing oil more frequent than the recommended intervals is like replacing the roof of your house every 5 years just in case.

 

I just paid $760 for an oil change, a cabin air filter replacement, and new windshield wipers at my local dealer in Maine- which I found to be catastrophically ridiculous.

I'll be changing the oil in the Defendah from now on.



For what its worth, my service advisor at my local JLR dealer agreed that the 21k interval was too long - and he recommends a 10k oil change interval to all of his clients. So if its a conspiracy theory - the dealers seem to be in on it.