General My 2024 says 'change engine oil' - it's done 2200miles

[flagpole]

So my car has done 2200 miles and it's saying change engine oil. which seems premature....

I'm aware that back in the day, before they figured out how to machine engines properly you had to have an initial service after ~500 miles but i thought that was a thing of the passed.

 

[simon_16vpunto]

It also goes on time too. So there is a mileage countdown and time countdown.
Also, even if the car is new/ pre registered it will go by the date it had its initial PDI (pre delivery inspection).

So for example, it was Pdi’d in say, December 2023 but may not have been sold until August for example, it’ll need a service december 2024, and not August if that makes sense?

 

[flagpole]

that is interesting, thanks.... However they did the PDI after i bought it i think. they certainly said they did. it was preregistered, but when i first switched it on the radio, the reversing camera etc didn't work and they said it was because they hadn't done the PDI yet. this was back in may '24.

 

[AnthonyH]

that is interesting, thanks.... However they did the PDI after i bought it i think. they certainly said they did. it was preregistered, but when i first switched it on the radio, the reversing camera etc didn't work and they said it was because they hadn't done the PDI yet. this was back in may '24.

Change the oil dude. Change it early, change it often.

 

[flagpole]

Change the oil dude. Change it early, change it often.

Roger

 

[flagpole]

I think i have an explanation...

The car would have been preregistered in time to hit end of year targets last year... So it doesn't need an oil change, but on the other hand it would be a one off cost to do it and then slip back into the regular service schedule.

 

[Zardo]

Indeed, it's possible to program a mileage for the "next service due". It will trigger this alert once the mileage is reached.

Likely, the countdown wasn't reset when the oil was changed the last time.

 

[flagpole]

Indeed, it's possible to program a mileage for the "next service due". It will trigger this alert once the mileage is reached.

Likely, the countdown wasn't reset when the oil was changed the last time.

i don't think so. the oil has never been changed

 

[The Panda Nut]

Chalk it to experience and change early. Give the service manager a hard stare!

 

[s130]

My 500X is occasionally showing the same YELLOW warning. It has done 4,300 miles since the last oil change and for the Service Computer based on mileage it is not due yet. The 365 day service warning came and went a long time ago. Last full service was in July 2020 at 27K miles.

If you check the handbook you will see that the YELLOW symbol is when the engine ECU thinks you have done too many short drive cycles and is erring on the side of caution. When an oil change is compulsory based on the mileage/service computer then required the legend an warning will be RED.

In my case the warning goes away after an engine stop on cycle and only reappears if I do multiple short runs.

Now one can discuss is this "you have only done multiple short drive cycles" but still well under the normal oil change mileage a Fiat mechanism to get you to visit the Fiat dealer for an unnecessary oil change, bit like the every 365 days even if the car has only been used 12 or so times.

MY opinion. If the oil is only 2200 miles old and the Service Computer is not showing service required then the yellow warning should go away and if you drive some longer distances then you should be fine. If you only ever do short drive cycles then you have to decide if you think a modern quality oil can survive under these low mileage cycle conditions.

I guess one reason this warning appears (besides getting you to visit the dealer) is that if the engine is not getting up to running temperature for a period of time then natural condensation/combustion water will not be evaporated off and recycled through the engine via the crank case breather. In this case I would expect emulsion (cream deposits) to be visible if things are getting too bad.

 

[flagpole]

My 500X is occasionally showing the same YELLOW warning. It has done 4,300 miles since the last oil change and for the Service Computer based on mileage it is not due yet. The 365 day service warning came and went a long time ago. Last full service was in July 2020 at 27K miles.

If you check the handbook you will see that the YELLOW symbol is when the engine ECU thinks you have done too many short drive cycles and is erring on the side of caution. When an oil change is compulsory based on the mileage/service computer then required the legend an warning will be RED.

In my case the warning goes away after an engine stop on cycle and only reappears if I do multiple short runs.

Now one can discuss is this "you have only done multiple short drive cycles" but still well under the normal oil change mileage a Fiat mechanism to get you to visit the Fiat dealer for an unnecessary oil change, bit like the every 365 days even if the car has only been used 12 or so times.

MY opinion. If the oil is only 2200 miles old and the Service Computer is not showing service required then the yellow warning should go away and if you drive some longer distances then you should be fine. If you only ever do short drive cycles then you have to decide if you think a modern quality oil can survive under these low mileage cycle conditions.

I guess one reason this warning appears (besides getting you to visit the dealer) is that if the engine is not getting up to running temperature for a period of time then natural condensation/combustion water will not be evaporated off and recycled through the engine via the crank case breather. In this case I would expect emulsion (cream deposits) to be visible if things are getting too bad.

Very informative, thanks.

 

[Zardo]

2200 miles in about 8 months (if you took ownership at the end of May) suggest short cycles, indeed, or infrequent use.

If that's the case, the ECU could suggest doing a long country trip rather than change the oil.

Modern cars are about to inherit the intelligence of fitness watches.

"Dave, I noticed you haven't achieved your weekly goals for the third time in a row and you still need to complete your weekly one hour drive in order to keep your activity level. In case the weekly goals are not complied with again, I'll have to ask you to drive to the garage next week for an oil change."

 

[flagpole]

so i've decided to reset the oil change idicator...
i've found this video...

which seems like it should be right. however, it says to put vehicle in to park, and to be careful to not start the car. so is the damned car supposed to be off or on, running or not?

I've taken it to mean the car is off, i briefly press the start button, so the car swiches on but doesn't start, do the thing with the accelerator, and turn the car off.

but this does nothing....

 

[Zardo]

which seems like it should be right. however, it says to put vehicle in to park, and to be careful to not start the car. so is the damned car supposed to be off or on, running or not?

I've taken it to mean the car is off, i briefly press the start button, so the car swiches on but doesn't start, do the thing with the accelerator, and turn the car off.

but this does nothing....

I don't own this type of car, but from the video, at 0:30, they state clearly to switch ignition on (or "power on") without starting the engine. I don't think all the subsystems are powered with the ignition off. The CAN-Bus is terminated on both ends with 120 Ohm resistors, which means if it's active, I can use up to 66 milliwatts if a lot of data is transmitted (dominant state of the bus). Now if the ignition is switched off, the CAN-Bus might enter a dormant state and not every subunit or function might be powered. So I think you need to press once on that power-button (ignition on, engine off) while the vehicle is in "park" and refrain from starting the car, then do the procedure as described. Hope this helps.

 

[flagpole]

Took it in this morning. 150 quid

 

[AnthonyH]

In order to reduce CO2 emmissions most petrol engines these days use a turbo. Those CO2 emmissions are cooking the planet...so instead the turbo cooks the oil in your car and puffs out less of the bad stuff. Its kind of p***sy buying a new petrol engine and then realising oil changes are even more important than before. Is this progress? For the planet yes, but not necessarily for cars, that just depends on your point of view.