Thread: Rear shocks - D4 - 3 tonne van

Originally Posted by JamesAdelaide

Nice dodge of my question, how much do you pay at solitaire adelaide for a basic service?

so far in my experience sovereign, TRS and PCB ALL know a lot more than solitaire about land ribers...

solitaire said "you are fine with 26,000km oil changes", what a crock of BS...

Well... you made 2 quotes... I didn’t dodge it at all.
I just chose to let you believe what you will...


Should I also mention the complimentary current model vehicle I get every time? The comprehensive detail and wash I get each time? I think that’s a sign of great service value - even on the longer services where we dropped it in Friday, took the loan vehicle home for the weekend and came back the following week... (btw we live in Whyalla)

I’ve had dealings with all 3 you name... none will ever mechanically work on my current vehicles.

I’ve had things done on previous vehicles that one of those above said couldn’t/shouldn’t/wouldn’t work...

As for your brash statement on oil changes; I do oil analysis, regularly, your Crock claim is incorrect in my application. In many actually... the old “oil is cheap” adage could be applied, but why waste it? Most people don’t have a ****ing clue.

What frustrates me is that there is a denial that things progress. I admit many of the changes in longevity are driven by environmental needs, but to presume just because the EU mandate extended intervals, doesn’t mean they just extend them. Oil manufacturers are tasked in parallel to improve the product to sustain such intervals. Not sure chicken or egg, but to assume the oil cannot take it is hog wash. Now if you follow the arduous schedule because you tow or go outback then by all means change more regularly, but if you’re a city dweller, rest assured modern oils will survive the recommended duration.

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

Now if you follow the arduous schedule because you tow or go outback then by all means change more regularly, but if you’re a city dweller, rest assured modern oils will survive the recommended duration.

Hmmm stop start city commute is considered arduous

"More frequent attention may be necessary if the vehicle is subject to
stop/start operation, extremes of temperature, dusty conditions, off road driving or frequent towing
of trailers"

So basically, nearly the whole of Australia! Ha Ha

As long as you get it up to temp and blow the soot out of it regularly it’s pretty good!!!

It sounds worse than it actually is. In later vehicles hot driving is defined as long periods of constant high speeds in 50 degrees or above.

Stop start would be your constant trips to the shops with no long running or even warm up I think, but who knows.

Both my RRV and D4 are only used for towing and off road so I use the arduous service schedule and then some additional work like regular transmission oil changes.

My DS is my wife's car and is used for everything that doesn't need one of the others, including some country trips. It has just about reached 24 months old (April) but tells me it needs a service at about every 14,000km, which I follow since I assume it is the diluted oil issue in the Ingenium motors. Never any issue with the DPF sooting up though because it does do quite a lot of km at 100 kph as well as the shorter runs. The dealer tells me not to worry and let it go for the 34,000km service interval but I can't ignore what it is telling me so I get the oil changed.

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

Hi James. What do you use to determine that a 26,000km oil change “is a crock of ****?”. Enlighten me please. Is it the engine lasting 200,000km, 300,000km or 1,000,000km?
What are your success factors? Have you any?

I just personally believe 4 oil changes in 104,000 km is not worth the risk.
Such long intervals are well known marketing technique.
I guess if you literally drive your d4 stock and to the shops and back all good, but anyone who actually uses their D4 for touring/4wding/towing would be very brave to do 26k oil changes.
Just my opinion, no facts, feels pretty obvious to me.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Well... you made 2 quotes... I didn’t dodge it at all.
I just chose to let you believe what you will...


Should I also mention the complimentary current model vehicle I get every time? The comprehensive detail and wash I get each time? I think that’s a sign of great service value - even on the longer services where we dropped it in Friday, took the loan vehicle home for the weekend and came back the following week... (btw we live in Whyalla)

I’ve had dealings with all 3 you name... none will ever mechanically work on my current vehicles.

I’ve had things done on previous vehicles that one of those above said couldn’t/shouldn’t/wouldn’t work...

As for your brash statement on oil changes; I do oil analysis, regularly, your Crock claim is incorrect in my application. In many actually... the old “oil is cheap” adage could be applied, but why waste it? Most people don’t have a ****ing clue.

I'm not trying to have a go, but you have not answered the query, you said your price was actually better than TRS, so what are you paying at Solitaire for a regular service?
I am paying $480 inc GST, free loan car.
Solitaire wanted nearly double...
It takes 2 seconds to work out why, very fancy setup, lot of overheads.
No "detail". FYI I would hardly call what they do a detail, a quick vac and wash? Their technique for cleaning I would never use, guaranteed swirl marks.

Oh, it helps also having a mate who was a mechanic at solitaire for 4 years and strongly advised going elsewhere...

James