4 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

If I only drove to and from work my annual mileage would be about 2k, lol.

I only have a petrol ST because my work mileage is so low, otherwise I couldn't really justify having it.

However being that it is so much fun to take out and drive, I have already done 1500 miles in 3 months, lol.

Our Primera would love to live with you then - 1,500 is less than what it covers in a month!  Poor engine.

I'm sure the engine prefers long steady trips to short stop start journeys!!  It probably won't make 300k though, even with decent servicing you notice the 'looseness' on a 300k diesel, let alone a petrol.  It'll still be adequate, but noticeably less power and MPG when compared to others.

I don't know how you guys do such low mileages though, I barely go anywhere and still can't get my mileage below a tank a month...even in February lol!

On 19/02/2016 at 11:10 PM, Liam40 said:

Hi,

Unfortunately I have to confirm that yes 'Only 3000 a year'.

Shameful I know!!! 

Liam.

That's over three times more than I did last year (between MOTs), which was 956 miles which makes your 3000 look intensive.

 

On 20/02/2016 at 6:58 AM, jmurray01 said:

On the plus side, you'll only need to get the oil changed once a year, unlike me who has to do it every 3-4 months!

I do mine every 6 months regardless of mileage, or as turned out last year, an average of 478 miles between oil changes

2 hours ago, GMX said:

That's over three times more than I did last year (between MOTs), which was 956 miles which makes your 3000 look intensive.

 

I do mine every 6 months regardless of mileage, or as turned out last year, an average of 478 miles between oil changes

That's true, with modern synthetic oils though 12 months is OK - but with my personal vehicles it is 6 months regardless.  Not that my vehicles get to 6 months before the mileage prompts a change!

2 hours ago, GMX said:

That's over three times more than I did last year (between MOTs), which was 956 miles which makes your 3000 look intensive.

 

I do mine every 6 months regardless of mileage, or as turned out last year, an average of 478 miles between oil changes

Change your oil every 6 months, that's hardcore! Bless my car, she's had 1 oil change in the last 2 years 😱.

I was going to treat my car to a basic service after she passed her 7th out of 8th MOT December last year, but in November last year, I had extensive shoulder surgery, and I couldn't drive her. I've only started driving again, so I think I'll give my car a treat!

Liam.

30 minutes ago, Liam40 said:

Change your oil every 6 months, that's hardcore! Bless my car, she's had 1 oil change in the last 2 years 😱.

I was going to treat my car to a basic service after she passed her 7th out of 8th MOT December last year, but in November last year, I had extensive shoulder surgery, and I couldn't drive her. I've only started driving again, so I think I'll give my car a treat!

Liam.

No, that's what used to be recommended by manufacturers - before they got lazy and said "nah, every 24 months/30,000 miles will be fine"...

Oil's lubricating properties break down just from sitting in the sump for too long, so you can never be too safe.

It's not lazy, it's due to modern oil technology coming a long way in the last 20 years!  Do you really think the dealers like losing servicing frequency lol?

I don't agree with longlife oil, but I also don't see normal engines such as that of the primera or 405 needing 6 monthly changes, yearly or 12k is fine with good quality oil and filters.  My Aunt owned a petrol Primera for 10 years on yearly servicing without an issue...until the short, cold jorneys got to it and popped the headgasket anyway lol.

On 19/02/2016 at 5:36 PM, MONDEO TXS 2.2 said:

Please enlighten me as to why you think Diesels are harder to start than petrols in cold weather ?

 

Higher compression is a good place to start - striclty speaking not just cold weather related though.

1 minute ago, stef123 said:

 

Higher compression is a good place to start - striclty speaking not just cold weather related though.

Never had a problem in over 11 years - including the bitterly cold winters of 2008/2009/2010

Just now, stef123 said:

 

Higher compression is a good place to start.

Add to that a lack of spark plugs, higher flash point and thicker engine block to sap away the heat...

Diesel is also "thicker" than petrol, more so at low temps.

Having had both, diesels do take longer to start and are even worse if the glow plugs need changing.

Diesel has different additives in winter to stop it gelling.  Modern diesels have electric heaters in the fuel line to warm it a bit before injection. 

The only diesel I've ever found harder to start in the cold was a 106 with a snapped glowplug, started alright with foot on the throttle but knocked like a bugger and plumed white smoke until that cylinder warmed up lol.  That was an old IDI though!

Of all the modern diesels I've owned, both common rail and pumpe deuse, none have really had any difficulty in starting, nor have the petrols.  I never understand why there's often people turning engines over for ages or unable to start them on cold mornings, I can only imagine they've got rubbish batteries where as I replace mine at the first signs of failing, rather buy a battery than risk a breakdown!  Though I do realise that some people only do short journeys and like draining batteries with lights and audio while parked (one of my mates does this and gets through loads of batteries lol).

Just by the laws of phyics, it is more difficult to burn diesel.

Vehicle manufacturers have just found ways of working around the issues.

Modern diesels will usually start their glow plugs, fuel heaters, pumps, etc as soon as you unlock the car so by the time you sit in and turn the key or press start it has had time to prepare.

Even then, my petrol ST starts on a below 0 day basically instantly, where my previous 2.0 TDCi would take a few secs of cranking before starting when really cold.

It's not a massive difference, but is noticeable.

12 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

Add to that a lack of spark plugs, higher flash point and thicker engine block to sap away the heat...

Diesel is also "thicker" than petrol, more so at low temps.

Having had both, diesels do take longer to start and are even worse if the glow plugs need changing.

Add to that no H.T. leads to break down / get damp, no coil packs to break down, no spark plugs to foul & very often a far higher a/h battery with higher cca & a well maintained diesel should never be hard to start in low temperatures

As per my previous post, manufacturers have found way of making diesels easier to start.

But diesel is always going to be harder to burn than petrol, because of their different physical properties.

Not to say it is hard to start a modern diesel, but it will always be harder to start a diesel than petrol, even if that harder work is being plugged by components fitted to the car to help it start.

I have nothing against diesels, I have owned more diesels than petrols :)

37 minutes ago, MONDEO TXS 2.2 said:

Never had a problem in over 11 years - including the bitterly cold winters of 2008/2009/2010

Neither have I in the years I have driven diesels, personal or work vehicles - All have been common rail though. But stick a meter on a diesel engine turning over and a petrol engine turning over and the diesel will be pulling much more juice.

I think we are running away at a tangent slightly here - I think the answer to the question is yes diesels are harder or maybe more appropriately, more demanding to start on battery and starter motor etc but in terms of ignition they are just as good as petrol at starting in cold weather now.

11 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

It's not lazy, it's due to modern oil technology coming a long way in the last 20 years!  Do you really think the dealers like losing servicing frequency lol?

I don't agree with longlife oil, but I also don't see normal engines such as that of the primera or 405 needing 6 monthly changes, yearly or 12k is fine with good quality oil and filters.  My Aunt owned a petrol Primera for 10 years on yearly servicing without an issue...until the short, cold jorneys got to it and popped the headgasket anyway lol.

Well, for the sake of spending £30 at a garage (or doing it myself for £15 in parts) I'd rather do it every 6 months than 12, especially as the engines in question are now 11 and 20 years old!  Also, setting a 6 month limit is better because if you forget and go a couple of months over, then it is only 8 months which is still OK.  If you set a 12 month limit and go a couple of months over, then it is 14 months which is certainly not advisable. 

That said, as previously stated our engines get oil changes more frequently than 6 months due to the mileage accrued.

Oh - so my theory of diesel's being harder to start had some merit after all!  Go figure.

11 hours ago, jmurray01 said:

Oh - so my theory of diesel's being harder to start had some merit after all!  Go figure.

Some diesels maybe  . . .  not all & certainly not any owned by me !

Hi Everyone,

Thank you again to all those that have replied to my topic, appreciated!

After listening to all your advice, I have decided that due to the sort of mileage I do in a year and short journeys I do, it wouldn't be worth having a diesel in the long run! So therefore I am sticking with a petrol engine, but I'm not going for a normally-aspirated engine, I shall go for an EcoBoost for my next car. I'm hoping it's going to be a Focus as this is what I really would like, but if things change I might have to go for a Fiesta or B-Max.

Now the problem is, which engine 1.0 or 1.6 EcoBoost??? 

Liam.

 

We've just been having that discussion here lol.

1L or 1.6L Ecoboost?

TL;DR is basically try both as each has their merits but it depends what you are after.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, alexp999 said:

We've just been having that discussion here lol.

1L or 1.6L Ecoboost?

TL;DR is basically try both as each has their merits but it depends what you are after.

 

 

 

Hi Alex,

I remember the topic you mention above. I'm in the process of reading through them. Come to think of it, I believe I may of been there and just briefly read some of the posts on this topic, lol 

Thank you for the advice!

Liam

On ‎19‎/‎02‎/‎2016 at 6:52 PM, GMo said:

I totally back up what everyone else says. Definitely petrol! Unless your doing about 20k a year or more you're wasting money getting a diesel. You'll get more car for your money if you get a petrol. I

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk

ye but you get more for diesel come selling time

1 hour ago, theredfox said:

ye but you get more for diesel come selling time

But paying more for it in the first place would most likely make it false economy. 

I totally back up what everyone else says. Definitely petrol! Unless your doing about 20k a year or more you're wasting money getting a diesel. You'll get more car for your money if you get a petrol. I

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk

ye but you get more for diesel come selling time

Should Liam not just get an electric car then?

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk

On 9 March 2016 at 0:53 PM, GMo said:

ye but you get more for diesel come selling time

 

Should Liam not just get an electric car then?

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk

Lol, I think I'll pass on an electric car. One lightening bolt and I'm crisped, lol.