So when you dissect all that information, what conclusions can
you come to? There are a few key points that all of our experts
revealed, both in the information we printed and in the stuff we
couldn’t fit in. They are;SERVICING IS KEY
The absolute number one key to longevity is servicing. Even
though vehicle manufacturers are constantly pushing the
envelope in terms of service intervals, they’re doing it in an
effort to reduce ownership costs over the first three or five
years of new vehicle ownership. As well, they assume that most
vehicle owners will never leave the blacktop. That’s dramatically
different to the type of usage that we as 4WDers expect to place
upon our vehicles. Service your vehicle often for the best chance
at longevity possible.NO 4WD IS WITHOUT ITS FAULTS
While some vehicles have developed a reputation over the years
for problems, and while it may be true that some have more
problems than others, there aren’t any out there that aren’t
without their faults. That’s especially true when you add the
stresses of 4WDing to the mix – working your vehicle hard in
dirty, dusty, muddy or otherwise strenuous conditions. Your best
bet is to do your research with owners’ groups to fi nd out what
applies to your specifi c make and model of vehicle.THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS
‘SEALED’ OR ‘MAINTENANCE FREE
We’ve said this multiple times before, and we’re glad our experts
are continuing to push this point. There’s no such thing as a
‘sealed’ anything! That ‘sealed’ gearbox isn’t welded shut, it just
isn’t as easily user-serviceable as old transmissions used to be.
Enlist the help of genuine experts to ensure your vehicle’s
servicing is carried out as it should be, if you want to see
seriously high kays on the odometer one day.4WDING DRAMATICALLY
DECREASES SERVICE INTERVALS
Have a look in your owner’s manual and you’ll see that
recommended service intervals are substantially decreased if
you operate the vehicle in ‘severe’ environments. While ‘severe’
to us might mean the Tele Track, in manufacturers’ terms ‘severe’
means anything that isn’t a city street. At the very least, continue
to service your oil, and your oil, air and fuel fi lters like you would
an old-school mechanical diesel – 5,000km oil and oil fi lter
changes, 10,000km air and fuel fi lter changes. When most
manufacturers expect a vehicle’s real service life to be maybe 10
years max, that’s obviously at odds with what we as Aussies ask
of our vehicles. If you want to see 20 or 30 years out of your
common-rail diesel, regular servicing is key!How to give your modern vehicle the best possible
fi ghting chance at hitting that magic million-kay markCONCLUSIONS &
RECOMMENDATIONS
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