Fastidious maintenance, versus, drive it till it stops

Mate, thats it in a nut shell!!.

Cheers.

NSW you have to get a pink slip every year - basic check of lights etc, bearings, rust and a mechanical brake test. NSW older cars are visibly less rusted but road safety rates not much different from other states.

Max

So true Steve. I think tour operators like us have an obligation to keep their cars in good condition - unfortunately many don't - seems NT has more of them that class than elsewhere, and I won't name names but you probably know.

I know that if you have your car serviced by your regular passenger vehicle shop, they will largely service it by the book. For me, I like to regularly (5-10 ks) change the oil, and filters because it is easy and inexpensive, and gives me opportunity to see first hand what is going on.

Interestingly, when I take it to a Diesel specialist working mainly on commercial vehicles, their approach is much more analytical - they assess the sort of work the vehicle is doing, have the oil analysed, and are much more aware of what the real duty cycles are of key components, rather than the manufacturer's worst case, humping the kids to school and back each day, toorak taxis or whatever, schedule suggests.

I think this could be a major part of the OP's observations - manufacturer schedules are ultra conservative for many long distance biased vehicles which have far fewer cold starts, short runs, stop/start traffic etcetera - except at Uluru at sunset ;-)

Cheers
Andrew.

The whole shamozzle is scary!, To much variation with inspection stations in NSW. .But thats a post on its own if anyones game!!.

Not sure were your coming from Andrew,as I said all tour vehicles taxis bus's have to go over motor vehicle registry every 6 months for a full safety inspection not just any vehicle safety inspection.
NT rules New cars every year after its 3rd year any car over 3 years and as above for passenger vehicles.

Hi Steve,

On the NT note - putting aside regulation, I am commenting on what I notice. I noticed at least two backpacker style fast and furious operators with troopies (mostly) that may well have passed safety inspection in the 6 months before, but which still break down and leave their passengers stranded. I came across 4 examples in one season, and I am not in Kakadu that often (all were there).

The rest of the post was more on topic and not directly related. I was saying that I service my vehicle to a typical passenger vehicle schedule, but diesel specialists who I trust tell me that what I do is overboard for the long distance touring I do. This may be why Axle's brother has few problems - Axle might not really need to service his vehicle as frequently, although it is not hurting him that he is.

Cheers
Andrew.

Yeah Andrew know what you mean now, Young drivers that drive them like they stole them and till they stop.
Good thing is I know how they are and I employ them to wash my truck let alone drive them.

Steve has it in one.

"Yep know what you mean, owning a tour business I do most of my own servicing, and you do your best only to have things fail occasionally.
Yet I see so many vehicles on the road that wouldn't have seen a mechanic since Noah played fullback for Jerusalem, that seem to go forever. "

Yep, it is the ones that don't go on for ever that you don't see, because they are off the road or at the wreckers due to a mjor failure.

couldnt be said any better, but i think my GQ gets looked after better than me. Col