Engine flush / oil change intervals- ZX D

arry_b · Post by **arry_b** » 23 Dec 2002, 19:29

My recently new to me, 93 1.9 ZX D (non turbo) is nearly due an oil change.
Mileage is 78K and has been regularly serviced. Seems clean (for a diesel) inside, but engine oil is of course black.
I'll be doing 3K semi-synthetic changes and a genuine filter at each change from now on. It's my first diesel and I've always done this on my petrol cars.
Would you use an engine flush now or not?
Is 3K a sensible interval?
Filter change every time?
'arry
ZX D
XM V6 Sei
err... and a Vauxhall.

colouredcob · Post by **colouredcob** » 23 Dec 2002, 23:01

Hi Arry,
If you dont know its service history, or the services have been neglected in the past, do your engine flush.
After that if you are going to do between 3k and 5K oil and filter changes you should never need to flush it again.
Good luck and happy christmas
Zoe

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 23 Dec 2002, 23:32

Every 3000 on semi-synth is a bit pessimistic. I look after four family diesels and I do every 5000 with a new filter each time. More to the point - if you don't know the history of the car - change the cambelt NOW - for the sake of a tenner and a few hours work, it might save you a lot of grief.

madman · Post by **madman** » 23 Dec 2002, 23:34

I would tend to disagree with your oil change intervals. The reason oil lasts longer these days is due to the quality of the oils. When API CC was avalable then oil changes were frequent (1981 CX D 3k miles but CC was the best around). The reason for changing oil was that the additives were breaking down. Wynns was an oil additive package that could allow changes to be extended. My Last CX, a 1989 CXD Turbo 2, needed spec API CD but changes at 6K. Both cars had the same engine apart from a turbo and intercooler and these would not have given the oil an easier time!
If you use semi or fully synthetic which contain very few additives then I would happily change at 10k.
My C3 HDI 16 valve recomends 12.5k, I will always use fully sythetic and am satisfied that this will be OK. They wouldn't give the cam belt a 150,000 mile life if the engine were going to expire.
Bob T

louis1 · Post by **louis1** » 24 Dec 2002, 07:35

Hi while on the subject of oils, i have a 1993 zx td and was woundering if i coulduse synthetic oils and what are the benefits if i was to use it.
cheers

bencowell · Post by **bencowell** » 24 Dec 2002, 14:10

Madman, if the cambelt broke at 150,000 miles, Citroen wouldn't care, they wouldn't have to pay.

arry_b · Post by **arry_b** » 24 Dec 2002, 19:18

Thanks all for your replies.
Luckily, I've got a full Citroen dealer service history with the car, and the cambelt and head gasket were done 9K before I got it to cure an oil leak at the back of the engine.
The plan is to use a flush this time, use new filters and change the oil at 5K intervals and see how we get on.
'arry
ZX D
XM V6 Sei
err... and a Vauxhall.

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 25 Dec 2002, 00:12

Anyone who wants to leave their oil in their engine for 12500 miles is welcome to do it, but I for one will continue to give my four engines a new filter and an oil change at half that mileage.

Dave1 · Post by **Dave1** » 28 Dec 2002, 02:56

I would say it is better to be on the safe side with oil change but everyone seems to have overlooked in what conditions the engines are used. One with starts many times day in the cold and does little mileage will be draw on the oils protction more than one used in warm weather, starts a few times and does longer trips. Hence more changes needed. Even if you do not do the suggested mileage in winter, if you do short trips etc. I would say there is not harm in changing earlier.

alan s · Post by **alan s** » 28 Dec 2002, 03:57

Out here it costs me about $45 to do an oil change and about $4500 to do an engine change.
I'm no mathematical genius but for the life of me I can't see the logic in seeing how many miles I can get on the clock before the oil turns to sludge; a bookie wouldn't give you those odds on a 3 legged horse.
This academic argument regarding "lengths of molecular chains" are as logical as the "length of a piece of string" if driving & climatic conditions aren't taken into consideration & even the oil companies will admit that after 7000 klms, the amount of suspended contaminents including metal particles are an unknown commodity & off the record they will also tell you that between 7 & 8000 klms is as far as they are brave enough to allow; after that the luck element clicks in. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Just my thoughts based on a lot of years experience and personal observations.
Alan S

Rich · Post by **Rich** » 29 Dec 2002, 00:40

Hi everyone,
This is an interesting one, i have a Xantia Exclusive HDi, it has only covered 23k miles, and although Citroen say 12,500 miles or one year, i'm going with 6000 miles or six months, with a genuine Citroen/Purflux filter too. It says five years in the service book for a coolant replacement, f*** that!! Not with the history of dodgy Xantia heaters! I think maybe two years is more like it, although i'm inclined to go for one year as i don't fancy stripping out that dash.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>
Take care everyone, Rich.