Service 17D specs/advice

[Joju]

Hello

I usually get told off here for asking very basic questions, but here goes:

I need basic service specs for the army bus. I checked the wiki but it is difficult for the uninitiated to draw a conclusion.

I think it recommends 10W40 mineral multigrade. Last service was a year ago, we have onlydone about 4000 miles. The garage put in 10W40 semisynth, however the oil level suddenly dropped on our last run.

SHould I change to mineral? Will I need a new oil filter if I change?

Also last service engineer put in blue coolant ... I have learned here that this is not wise, I believe I need to change it for 9l of violet G12 plus plus ...

is there anything else I should attend to?

We are in germany, and I am wary of higher hourly garage costs, as well as shockingly high prices for consumables. Is it proper for me to turn up with my own for them to put in?

I might emphasise that the bus is the 1.7 non-turbo ... I am sure that makes little difference but to put us in a rather slow minority.
thank you for any advice!

j

[Oldiebut goodie]

Also last service engineer put in blue coolant ... I have learned here that this is not wise, I believe I need to change it for 9l of violet G12 plus plus ...

j

It is a diesel - you don't have the worry about the heads like the petrol guys - it is a normal engine. I am using the blue at present myself.

[Joju]

Thanks for that ... does that mean I can leave the coolant? I just checked and it wasn't changed last year. It could be stuff the Bundeswehr put in. Does the water need changing, ever? or just topped up? It rarely needs topping up.

Any help on my other questions please? I am getting tumbleweed here ...

[Joju]

ok, I have been advised to put in 15W40 mineral oil, so shall it be.

[California Dreamin]

Again, I think you are being panicked by the many threads talking about antifreeze and oil types for the 'wasserboxer' petrol engines. A straight non turbo 1.7D does not have any of the issues associated with petrol engine types.
Firstly: the reason for all the anxiety around antifreeze is specifically to do with 'wasserboxers' having cylinder heads studs running directly in the antifreeze itself. The diesel engines have a completely different design, so that issue simply does not arise.
Secondly: problems around oil viscosity (thickness) are also confined to the 'wasserboxer' petrol engine, as it has hydraulic tappets that tend to 'bleed down' when it is stopped from hot and left standing for a couple of days. The original Diesel engines fitted to these vans have 'shims' so there is no possibility of drain down.

In short....the 1.7D has no issues with blue antifreeze and does not need to be confined to the use of 15W 40 mineral oil.
A 10W 40 or 15W 40 are fine, as are semi synthetics, in fact I would be inclined to use a 'Diesel specific' semi synthetic oil, perhaps best to stick with a 15W40 if your engine is fairly high mileage.
As an example:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Comma-DMO5L-Tur ... oil+15w+40" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Total-Quartz-Mu ... XC3NJRPT2M" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shell-Helix-Die ... XC3NJRPT2M" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Martin

[Joju]

In short....the 1.7D has no issues with blue antifreeze and does not need to be confined to the use of 15W 40 mineral oil.
A 10W 40 or 15W 40 are fine, as are semi synthetics, in fact I would be inclined to use a 'Diesel specific' semi synthetic oil, perhaps best to stick with a 15W40 if your engine is fairly high mileage.

Thank you ... that is very clear! It is difficult to get definitive answers to simple issues from the wiki. Mileage on the bus is pretty low, however the oil change has been done now, it is full of 15W 40 mineral oil.

[California Dreamin]

OK...so that will be fine, however, just bare in mind that mineral has a fairly short service life so change it every 5,000 miles/8,000 kilometres.
15W40 Diesel is a cheap oil but does need changing regularly, I'm sure you will find it for under 20 Euro's in Germany, oil filters under 10 Euro.....you don't need a garage to do this, it's a 20 minute job to change yourself ...

Martin

[Joju]

Thanks for the advice.


HOWEVER ... since the oil change, we now have the blinking oil pressure light on (light only, no buzzer) when braking/running slow.

We had to finish our journey, so we ignored it. Could it be as a result of different oil, or is it more likely as a result of my changing the instruments and the oil pressure switch?