Land Rover service schedules - 2010-2011-2012

Are you wondering what service are due on your late model Land Rover?  Read on . . 

For the 2010 model year, Land Rover changed from 7,500 to 15,000 miles for its basic service interval.  They now recommend service annually, or every 15,000 miles, whichever comes first.  High performance synthetic oil is now required.

Here are the other highlights of the newest service schedule:

• ·      Thanks to a larger element, the change interval on the air filter has been increased to 60-75,000 miles.
• ·      The cabin pollen filter is called out for change annually
• ·      Brake fluid is now changed every three years
• ·      Coolant is supposedly good for ten years
• ·      Spark plugs are rated to last 105,000 miles
• ·      The fan belts are rated to last 105,000 miles
• ·      Automatic transmission fluid and regular differential fluids are rated to last 10 years
• ·      Transfer case, locking differential, and dynamic response fluids are rated to last 75,000 miles
• ·      The fuel filter is rated for ten years
• ·      Land Rover is now calling for replacement of the flexible brake hoses every six years
• ·      Instead of calling for a full system scan, LR now says, “If fault lamps are lit check with IDS.”

In many cases, improvements in service parts, fluids, and vehicle design do make these longer service intervals possible without compromise.  Unfortunately, if the extended service intervals prove insufficient, LR warranty will be long since expired, and the owner will be left to face what might have been preventable failures.

If you own a 2010 or newer Land Rover V8 I suggest the following modifications to the factory schedule:

• ·      Even with long life oils, I suggest oil changes at 10,000 mile intervals or annually.  The incremental costs of these extra oil changes are trivial when compared to the expense of any internal engine repair that might otherwise result from sludge building or accelerated wear.
• ·      The brake fluid change interval is based on brake fluid’s natural tendency to absorb moisture from the air.  That property has not changed in recent years, so I see no reason to deviate from the two-year recommendation Mercedes, Rover, and many other companies promulgated for many years with good result
• ·      I think leaving transmission and differential fluids in those components for ten years is ridiculous; it invites disaster.  I would change all those fluids by 75,000 miles, just like the transfer case lube.
• ·      Land Rover is not the first company to extend coolant change intervals to a decade.  I have my doubts about that, but the ph. of coolant can be tested.  If you plan to leave in in place, I encourage you to test it annually.  If you cant do that, replacement is the safer bet in my opinion.
• ·      Land Rover no longer recommends scanning all systems at every service, but I recommend that be done anyway.  The reason:  It’s the only way to tell if electronic faults are current or recent.  If you never do a full system scan and clear you could have a system fault when the truck is four years old, and find the relevant diagnostic codes hidden by a plethora of other codes that came and went over the life of the vehicle.  Codes need to be read, evaluated, and cleared on a regular basis.  Not doing so renders the sophisticated diagnostic systems useless.