Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 12:26:01 GMT From: Mario <mprnospamail.com> Subject: Re: A useful note from www.nospam re servicing - other Saab model owners may wish to consider too
Pooh Bear wrote: > Johannes wrote: > > >>Pooh Bear wrote: >> >>>An important aspect of caring for the Saab 9000 is regular servicing. >>>The 9000 range is of sophisticated design, with some very >>>high-performance variants. It was designed primarily for the European >>>market, where car-owners have come to expect to service their cars >>>meticulously. Excessively frequent oil and filter changes are neither >>>necessary nor sufficient on their own to keep the 9000 trouble-free. >>> >>>Presented here are service schedules from various sources. The schedule >>>varies according to type of engine (turbo/non-turbo), year of >>>manufacture and market. >>> >>>A note for foreign (non-UK and non-European) readers, especially those >>>in the US and Canadian markets: >>> >>>The oil-change intervals recommended for the European market may seem >>>dangerously long ( to Europeans, US oil-change intervals seem >>>ludicrously short ). I don't know for certain why the markets differ so >>>much in this respect. Certainly, local climate will have something to do >>>with it, but I feel that cultural differences may be partly responsible. >>>The US oil industry has done a good job of promoting frequent oil >>>changes to the extent that there are some high-mileage drivers changing >>>their oil every month and companies such as "Jiffy-Lube" have sprung up >>>to service this market. I know of no equivalent of "Jiffy-Lube" here in >>>the UK. >> >>What is 'dangerously long' and 'ludicrously short'? >> >> >>>< there isn't - Graham > >>> >>>Synthetic oil seems not to be popular in the US, possibly because it >>>would be expensive to change it with the frequency with which it is >>>changed in that market. In Europe, it is taken for granted that >>>fully-synthetic oil is used in high-performance and "quality" cars. >>>However, Saab market both fully-synthetic and semi-synthetic "turbo >>>oil". >>> >>>< I always use either semi-synthetic ( if I'm being cheap ) or full >>>synthetic > >>> >>>Additionally, I have been told by someone who sells oil in the US that >>>oil in that market is often inferior to the equivalent oil sold in >>>Europe, even under the same brand. Perhaps this again reflects the >>>expectations of oil longevity in the respective markets. >>> >>>Anyway, the upshot of all this is: if you are not comfortable using the >>>oil-change intervals recommended for the European market, feel free to >>>change the oil and filter more frequently. >> >>What is 'frequently'? >> >> >>>Anyone with a 9k may wish to vist www.nospam - even those with >>>other models. >>> >>>This info provided for your respected consideration. >> >>What is 'frequently' and 'infrequently'? Please supply some numbers. >> >>Thank you. > > > Perceptions of 'frequently' and 'infrequently' with regard to oil change > intervals differ from the US to Europe. That was what the article was intended > to draw attention to. > > Europeans are quite used to 12k miles ( probably longer now ) service > intervals for example and wouldn't think of an intermediate oil change. > Synthetic oil makes this quite safe normally, although the recently admitted > engine breather problems with certain more recent Saab models is unfortunate. > > > Graham > There are a number of factors at work here. For one, the US oil specification is controlled by the oil industry - API. In Europe, the oil specification is controlled the the auto manufactures - ACEA. The American Petroleum Institute (API) sets the service level with some input from the vehicle manufacturers. In Europe the vehicle manufacturers, ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers' Association) set the service level. Secondly, the API has specified one lowest common denominator service specification, e.g. API SM for all gasoline engines. Although the vehicle manufacturers are pushing for higher standards, they are constrained by the oil industry. Thus, they try create their own specifications and even created their own association - ILSAC - to promote their cause. Next, in Europe, the ACEA has created quality tiers, e.g. A1, A3, A4, A5 for gasoline engines. These tiers increase in quality starting from A1 and ending in A5. Even the lowest quality level, A1, is formulated with mostly Group III synthetics and has a drain interval of 12,000 miles. A5 oils are Group III or IV synthetics and have a drain interval of up to 20,000 miles. Since the vehicle manufacturers own the specifications, they naturally specify as high a quality as is feasible for their engines. Finally, but less a factor, many highways in Europe have no speed limit so engines (which are smaller on average than in the US) are run at a higher speed for longer periods of time and correspondingly operate under higher stress. This calls for higher quality oil. There are a few more issues at play, but that's the gist of it. Mario -- EngineOilSelector.com
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