Xtrail bit of an update

I did ask about chain stretch !

Originally Nissan said 9000 mile oil changes as were the petrol engines, then somewhere around 2006 went to 12500. Both are too long.

Tim..

True oil change intervals should be calculated according to actual use. A car which cruises the motorways all day is nothing like so 'hard' on the oil as one used for short town journeys.

BMW (and others) 'discovered' this many years ago. ;-)

The other day a car dealer phoned me to demand to know why I had serviced a car they had bought twice within the same year (10months) with only 3k between. I explained that the previous owner drove less than two miles to the station each day and leaving the oil in longer would be damaging. It was a Mercedes and the service light had come up each time, so presumably they also note how many starts, length of journey etc. It was the strangest serious call I can remember receiving.

Perhaps so, however my 2015 X3 (b47 20d 190) suggests it doesn't need servicing until it's clocked 18k; mostly A road runs. It can think what it likes, but will be having fresh oil at 9k.

Ran a previous E46 M43tu 1.9 to 175k with 7-8k changes and the motor at least was fresh as a daisy after that mileage.

Tim..

Well, my E39 528 runs like new too. And has only had oil changes when the service indicator said to.

Before you can truly say there is any benefit in changing oil early, you'd need to compare to one which isn't.

But the fact is that on most high miles cars servicing gets neglected, as their value is now low. A different ball game.

New chain kit and a replacement injector (failed the sustained pressure leakoff test) and it now runs properly.

Still doesn't explain why it ran perfectly ok in the other car, or for that matter why it apparently needed another chain kit at only 40k odd miles.

Still, it's finally fixed. Though for how long remains to be seen...

What brand of timing chain was used?

This one is branded BGA, it's also from a trusted supplier, so we shall see...

Just realised you may have been asking about the failed one, no idea. The car the engine was from had only done 40K ish miles, so just assumed it was original.

Doesn't necessarily mean it was though, I guess :)

Oh dear. Don't expect it to last very long and the warranty non-existent. Least you will be well practiced in taking it apart!!!!!

Tim..

"Tim @hotmail.com>"

BGA (British Gasket Association) is a very well respected OE quality supplier. I used to use a lot of their stuff when I was building race engines and never had a single problem. I believe they used to make the OE gaskets for Cooper Payen back in the day.

As for timing chains in particular, because Reynold chain has a long established dimensional and material specification it's one of the least likely things for a manufacturer to mess up.

IME, I wish I could still agree with you.

Tim..

On 16/07/2015 11:54, Tim

lots of people here saying bga is to be avoided:

Hadn't seen that...I did read a few other places where they thought they were ok. I guess we'll see soon enough.. I'd be surprised if the factor concerned knowingly supplied iffy bits though, they are normally regarded as pretty good. No, I'm not going to name them, because people will still criticise :)

Wouldn't argue that if Nissan's prices were even the extortionate side of reasonable, but gouging doesn't even begin to describe it :( :(

That the value is low is of no relevance if the car gives the transport you need. Cost of oil changes are dwarfed by cost of fuel. Some old cars have intrinsic little value £200, but runs well and will go on forever. people are just buying the wrong cars...