SWMBO before retirement was commuting on A roads and motorways to work – at least 45 mins both ways. 18,000 miles per annum. Engine oil is changed every 5000 miles. Car very happy.
Now retired madam is doing crazy low miles. Our daughter is only a mile away. Daily mileage total can now be as low as 2 miles at most……
Maybe not the only journey every day and at least one journey a week is for an hour on a motorway but this is bad bad news for the car I fear.
Already changing the oil every 5000 miles and using the FBH, but as we leave the colder weather what else can I do to soften the shock for the car? My only thought is maybe to plumb in a 240v engine coolant heater preheater? Change the oil every 2500 miles?
14th Apr 2024 7:13 pm
DN D3 Decade
Member Since: 23 Jun 2006
Location: W.London.
Posts: 2344
Local short journeys…….How would SWMBO feel about using public transport ? …. TBH that’s what I do, if it’s not reasonably walkable, (mainly to avoid ULEZ charges), but I don’t hold back using it for longer trips.D3 owned from new, P017 brake recall, BAS FBHIC, new FBH, LR013487 oil pump, new water pump. RRS front lower suspension arms. New suspension compressor/ relay. New Denso alternator. CuNifer rear brake pipes. New GKN rear propshaft. New HPFP belt & tensioner. New A/C Condenser.NO WARRANTY for many many years.
14th Apr 2024 11:02 pm
itsaguything
Member Since: 20 Dec 2023
Location: Manotick, On
Posts: 252
Vehicles are for driving. Drive it. Perhaps consider a battery maintainer if you feel the risk is high that the battery won’t be replenished on these short drives.2015 LR4 HSE Lux Aintree Green
2013 LR2 HSE Radiance Red
2007 XKR Jaguar Racing Green
2005 XJR Jaguar Racing Green
2002 S-Type R British Racing Green
14th Apr 2024 11:41 pm
PROFSR G
Member Since: 06 Mar 2017
Location: Lost
Posts: 5036
Re: Worried about the engine now SWMBO has retired.
kevofcov wrote:
Need advice please.
Daily mileage total can now be as low as 2 miles at most……
Maybe not the only journey every day and at least one journey a week is for an hour on a motorway but this is bad bad news for the car I fear.
Already changing the oil every 5000 miles and using the FBH, but as we leave the colder weather what else can I do to soften the shock for the car? My only thought is maybe to plumb in a 240v engine coolant heater preheater? Change the oil every 2500 miles?
Like you I don't like journeys that do not allow the car to warm up fully. I have a lot of short journeys, so in winter months I fire up the Webasto 15 mins before I leave to assist. If I have three consecutive short journeys I will make the next one a longer run until the car is at full temperature.
Remember though, unlike petrol engines which rely very heavily on oil misting for cylinder lubrication. Diesels have an oil jet for each cylinder as their efficiency takes them longer to reach that temperature. So I think if it gets one decent run per week you should be fine. That said, if there are too many short journeys, and short Webasto cycles it's not the best operating conditions for the engine or the Webasto.
Fire up the Webasto 15 mins before the journey and make sure the car gets a proper run every 3rd or 4th journey and it will be fine. Changing the oil more frequently than you currently are will make little difference if any.
I have two D3's one manual and one auto, both of which I have run now for many years with this regime without any issue whatsoever. Oil and filter changed every 10k kms using 5/w40. yµ (idµ - eAµ) ψ=mψ
14th Apr 2024 11:53 pm
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6398
warming upo the motor aint the issues here but temps of the gearbox where oil which is cold is much less fluid and provides less lubrication before gears get up to temps hence i hate short journeys as well
G
15th Apr 2024 6:49 am
Nasher
Member Since: 07 Mar 2009
Location: Clanfield, North of Pompey - UK
Posts: 2812
Buy her a pair of walking shoes.
Many benefits to be had by all.Heaven doesn't want me, and hell is afraid I'll take over.
15th Apr 2024 7:31 am
Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1656
Another consideration with a 2016 MY car is oil dilution. Short journeys like that will not allow DPF regen to complete properly every time , so you will end up with excess diesel dumped in your oil. You’ll need to look out for signs ( oil dilution calc on IID, or showing overfilled for instance, advising a service is due well before the service interval) and change your oil more regularly. Just wondering if DPF regeneration itself may also become an issue, ie you’ll get a soot build up that isn’t burnt off ( obviously you’ll get a warning and you can take it for a 20 min run to clear).
I agree it’s a faff and annoying and that cars are for driving, but it’s an unfortunate reality with these cars and one which no dealer ever advised about .
We have an old Fiat 500 for local journeys and the Disco is used for hauling loads, long journeys and rougher terrain roads. It does more lower mileage journeys in the summer so I do a second oil change in the autumn about 5 months after service when it starts giving me indications.
Would agree getting engine up to temp is important.Gary
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Discovery 4 HSE 2016MY
15th Apr 2024 8:39 am
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14377
Sounds like you don't need it so I'd sell it.
Why not lease a small electric car as a replacement? There are some crazy deals about at the moment.New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
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…. TBH that’s what I do, if it’s not reasonably walkable, (mainly to avoid ULEZ charges), but I don’t hold back using it for longer trips.
