Ford Ranger Servicing Options

Looking for some advice and suggestions please.
My 2015 XLT diesel Ford Ranger is coming up for a 120,000 km service. Obtained a quote from the local dealer today $730.00 inc gst which made me gulp.
This vehicle no longer has warranty so I don't mind looking around for possible alternatives. Are there any businesses capable of competently and honestly performing this service without overcharging for scheduled parts replacement and hopefully doing so at more reasonable cost ? My Ranger has always been serviced on schedule which I wish to maintain.
I should add any businesses preferably within the Auckland region.
Thanks for any info offered. Cheers.

Probably not that bad cost wise. I service my ranger myself and all filters and good oil is $300+

Pays to shop around, last service on our Colorado was $850 here in Nelson (100k service even though truck had only done 55k apparently they just do the next service in the book).

Now when I was in Ashburton last month I blew a headlight and went into Morrisons Mitsubishi as they have taken over the servicing for Holdens. They were running a "Holden Colorado Owners special" service for $305 from memory. Oil/Filter and 50 point check whatever that means so pretty much what cost me $850 in Nelson. Go figure

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Originally Posted by 30.06king

Looking for some advice and suggestions please.
My 2015 XLT diesel Ford Ranger is coming up for a 120,000 km service. Obtained a quote from the local dealer today $730.00 inc gst which made me gulp.
This vehicle no longer has warranty so I don't mind looking around for possible alternatives. Are there any businesses capable of competently and honestly performing this service without overcharging for scheduled parts replacement and hopefully doing so at more reasonable cost ? My Ranger has always been serviced on schedule which I wish to maintain.
I should add any businesses preferably within the Auckland region.
Thanks for any info offered. Cheers.

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Does it need anything significant like cam belt?

If not, that seems steep.

Almost 10L of fully synthetic oil, plus filters fluff hoist charge disposal and about 2 hours of time. That's about $70 over what the local outfit was doing them for?

In the end went with the local dealer as it was the easiest way to get it done.
I hurt my back in early Feb. which was slowly coming right but I wasn't as mobile as usual. Had plans to shop around a bit for a better deal but probably couldn't have taken the Ranger anywhere further from home in my current state. Then last week I injured my back again, foolishly, and went back to square one. I relented and booked the service which was done yesterday. $ 739.06 inc gst.
Not entirely happy but about the that cost but best solution under present circumstances. Treading very carefully now for a few weeks. Both daughters wedding and hunting with son coming up in May.

My 2021 Isuzu MU-X service costs $500, including $100 labour and nearly 8 litres of fully synthetic oil.

Copy of the bill here.
Only unusual item is the new wiper blades I asked for.
South Auckland Motors, Pukekohe.

https://i.postimg.cc/qR0j0TJj/CCF31032023.pngimage share

What, they haven't charged the 1 dollar to top up the windsceen washer fluid that my wankers in Puke do and which I question them about every service (I always make sure its full before I drop it off.)

At first, $739.06 seems a lot for service,
after seeing the breakdown, all charges seem reasonable
but $739.06 still a lot for service.

Had my LC200 serviced last week,
new alternator, new battery, oil change, sparkplugs, and some other stuff
all came to just under a grand (my next door mechanic).

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Originally Posted by Snap 4T

At first, $739.06 seems a lot for service,
after seeing the breakdown, all charges seem reasonable
but $739.06 still a lot for service.

Had my LC200 serviced last week,
new alternator, new battery, oil change, sparkplugs, and some other stuff
all came to just under a grand (my next door mechanic).

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I was shocked when first quoted but looking at the breakdown it looks more reasonable, as you say.
I think you did very well getting all those parts, fitted, at that cost. Your neighbour sounds like a pretty fair guy.

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Originally Posted by zimmer

What, they haven't charged the 1 dollar to top up the windsceen washer fluid that my wankers in Puke do and which I question them about every service (I always make sure its full before I drop it off.)

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Haha, I bitched about them always topping up the reservoir and diluting my mix so much the fluid is useless. This time they listened and didn't touch it. It's only taken three or four goes for it to sink in.

Just been quoted $1300 for a 65k service on my 2019 Isuzu D-Max from the local QT dealer. Going to be asking some questions over that one.

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Originally Posted by 30.06king

Copy of the bill here.
Only unusual item is the new wiper blades I asked for.
South Auckland Motors, Pukekohe.

https://i.postimg.cc/qR0j0TJj/CCF31032023.pngimage share

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What's the third line item. 70 dollar filter but no type

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Originally Posted by Danger Mouse

What's the third line item. 70 dollar filter but no type

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Fuel filter? But yeah, not stated.

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Originally Posted by Danger Mouse

What's the third line item. 70 dollar filter but no type

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Fuel filter.

Most general services are just oil filter changed .and b.s comments like clean car .pressure wash.check all levels
Mostly generic reproduction of level of time service. I opt for no wash anymore as the amount if time my car has come back with shitty brush marks Over it.both our new cars out if warranty now.so I do the servicing myself.always change oil.with the best oil I can afford at the time .usually full synthetic .and change usually every 6k.

A lot of the checks are BS and the sheets are probably ticked back in the office. Over the years I have caught out dealership servicing on my cars over several brands.
The most recent one was classic - "remove wheels and check brakes", TICK! Problem was I had ommitted to leave out the socket for the locking wheel nuts, so how did they get the wheels off?
Check air filter - locking tabs still dusty underneath, never been unlatched. And so on.

Servicing is the dealership's golden goose, not what they make selling you the new vehicle.

Wasn't there a possible urban rumour that you have drain engine oil on a ranger and refill it with 10 minutes? As the oil pump doesn't re prime and can lead to engine failure ?

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Originally Posted by 30.06king

Haha, I bitched about them always topping up the reservoir and diluting my mix so much the fluid is useless. This time they listened and didn't touch it. It's only taken three or four goes for it to sink in.

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I would have stuck a bit of masking tape with the words ‘Leave Alone!’ on it stuck over the reservoir lid!

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Originally Posted by Finnwolf

I would have stuck a bit of masking tape with the words ‘Leave Alone!’ on it stuck over the reservoir lid!

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You have a sharp intellect. I should have thought of that.

If its an auto, the service interval is 240000kms from memory for the trans. Pant's off the trans for that job, so that'll pump the bill then!

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Originally Posted by DemocKot

Wasn't there a possible urban rumour that you have drain engine oil on a ranger and refill it with 10 minutes? As the oil pump doesn't re prime and can lead to engine failure ?

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Correct.
I've had two Rangers for work vehicles and seen all the service invoices that came across my desk. I now have a Colorado, seems so much simpler to service too.

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Originally Posted by Kimber 7mm-08

Just been quoted $1300 for a 65k service on my 2019 Isuzu D-Max from the local QT dealer. Going to be asking some questions over that one.

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Apparently that is correct and the servicing costs the dealer never mentioned when you were buying it.

Our new branch manager used to manage a Izuzu dealership and we were talking servicing costs since I had had to take the colorado in for one.

Actually he is shocked that our charge out rate p/h is less than what they were charging their mechanic's out at!!

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Originally Posted by DemocKot

Wasn't there a possible urban rumour that you have drain engine oil on a ranger and refill it with 10 minutes? As the oil pump doesn't re prime and can lead to engine failure ?

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Yes - not just a Ranger thing it's a Pugeot idea. Variable displacement oil pump which takes less energy to drive the pump to deliver the correct volume of oil, but the consequence of that is if you let the oil drain out of the pump it's a bitch to reprime it and the usual methods like push the accelerator down will definitely not help and can destroy the engine. The only really easy ways to reprime the oil system if it's needed is way overfill the sump and leave the thing overnight for the air to migrate it's way out or wrangle up a device to mechanically backflush the system to push any air out. I would like to find out what they do in the factory to sort this out on first fill and test run, they must have an adapter that they fit up somehow to circulate oil through the system in such a way that the engine is mechanically protected while they run the thing and the pump clears itself and starts working all by itself...

Apparently the change process for these engine types is get everything prepped and ready to go including prefilling the new oil filter and turning the cellphone off, drop the old filter and replace with new, drop the sump plug and replace plug gasket while it's draining, as soon as the sump stops draining refit the sump plug and torque to spec, drop the premeasured amount of oil into the top of the engine and check dipstick to show it's registered and cross fingers and start the b'arch. Less than 10 minutes is a good rule of thumb, but there isn't a set time for this as it is basically oil draining back into the sump from out of the pump casing and pickup that causes the issue. I've heard of engines that the owner had no idea and did several oil changes including a coffee break to allow everything to drain and never had an issue, and then I've heard of one case where a dealer in Aus had issues even following the procedure and had to rebearing an engine (had to give the owner a loan vehicle, which ironically got written off in flooding a few days before his own vehicle was fixed and ready to be picked up). I think that's the reason for replacing the new filled filter prior to draining the sump - try and prevent everything draining back through the pump casing.

Why do they use 0w30 oil?
Surely it doesn't get cold enough to warrant that.

I'd have thought 5w30 was a fair bit cheaper being more common in NZ.

Fully synthetic uber trick expensive stuff - it will be what they speccd to get 0.002% better economy figures over cheaper oil no doubt, and set the clearances to match the oil.

And here in lye's the reason I bought an old 94 nissan /datsun single cab welldeck 1600cc petrol. Dead basic to fix , no creature comforts but good heater and stereo . oil filter $22. engine oil 4lt great western oil on sale at supercheap $35 ,only takes 3.8ltr ,no rucs to pay ,rego cheap and ute only cost $1300 ,reliable My Diesel mistral sits in garage most of time, I couldnt afford to run a new ute at those service costs.

And that's the reason why I run a landcruiser. 9.2 litres of 15/40 Castrol Vection oil. Bought in bulk for $4.20 per litre. Filter cartridge every 5000 kms. Grease every 2500 kms. Fuel filter every 10.000 kms. Air filter cleaned or changed when its needs it.

Easy and cheap. I only get the major services done at the shop when diff and gearbox oils need to be done.

I heard the other day that a new ranger service is 800 odd dollars. No thanks.

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Originally Posted by 30.06king

Haha, I bitched about them always topping up the reservoir and diluting my mix so much the fluid is useless. This time they listened and didn't touch it. It's only taken three or four goes for it to sink in.

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Get friendly with a car parts rep, then prices get cheap. I get mine serviced at oil changers, about $300.00 while I wait.

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Originally Posted by tac a1

And that's the reason why I run a landcruiser. 9.2 litres of 15/40 Castrol Vection oil. Bought in bulk for $4.20 per litre. Filter cartridge every 5000 kms. Grease every 2500 kms. Fuel filter every 10.000 kms. Air filter cleaned or changed when its needs it.

Easy and cheap. I only get the major services done at the shop when diff and gearbox oils need to be done.

I heard the other day that a new ranger service is 800 odd dollars. No thanks.

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Only if you pay someone else to do it.
New vehicles aren't that much more expensive than older generation ones, it's just people are scared of electronics so pay someone else to do everything.

Being a Land Rover guy I pretty much have to do everything myself, between people being scared to work on them, local parts being stupidly expensive and the fact they break all the time (kinda but not really) I'd hate to pay someone else to do the work.

My later generation vehicle doesn't cost me much more to service and doesn't break down anymore often, it's really only the increased complexity means parts are a bit more expensive and you need to own a computer to read codes/reset things.

Obviously if your common rail diesel goes bang it cost a lot to fix but everything cost a lot to fix.
I enquired about getting my steering rack reconditioned the other day, was going to be $750+GST and that was basically just replacing seals which the seal kit I can buy for $100.

I don't at all regret going for a newer vehicle, its better in every single was than a vehicle from the 90s, if I need to do a bit of research i to how the car works to fix something then so be it.

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Originally Posted by Beetroot

Only if you pay someone else to do it.
New vehicles aren't that much more expensive than older generation ones, it's just people are scared of electronics so pay someone else to do everything.

Being a Land Rover guy I pretty much have to do everything myself, between people being scared to work on them, local parts being stupidly expensive and the fact they break all the time (kinda but not really) I'd hate to pay someone else to do the work.

My later generation vehicle doesn't cost me much more to service and doesn't break down anymore often, it's really only the increased complexity means parts are a bit more expensive and you need to own a computer to read codes/reset things.

Obviously if your common rail diesel goes bang it cost a lot to fix but everything cost a lot to fix.
I enquired about getting my steering rack reconditioned the other day, was going to be $750+GST and that was basically just replacing seals which the seal kit I can buy for $100.

I don't at all regret going for a newer vehicle, its better in every single was than a vehicle from the 90s, if I need to do a bit of research i to how the car works to fix something then so be it.

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Do you go online fir your parts? If so, is it land river specific sites you use?

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Originally Posted by tac a1

And that's the reason why I run a landcruiser. 9.2 litres of 15/40 Castrol Vection oil. Bought in bulk for $4.20 per litre. Filter cartridge every 5000 kms. Grease every 2500 kms. Fuel filter every 10.000 kms. Air filter cleaned or changed when its needs it.

Easy and cheap. I only get the major services done at the shop when diff and gearbox oils need to be done.

I heard the other day that a new ranger service is 800 odd dollars. No thanks.

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Not hard to do diffs, probably easier than engine oil changes?

No I just don't want to buy the oil for them. I know how to do it.

They have it in bulk and its just easier to put it on the hoist and change it there.

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Originally Posted by Danger Mouse

Do you go online fir your parts? If so, is it land river specific sites you use?

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Possible the best thing about land rovers is how easy it is to buy parts. There a dozens of websites you can buy them from, mostly in the UK (shipping is usually well priced) but Australia, the US and locally you can buy online. Its easy to find part numbers too which is nice.

Every other vehicle I've tried buying parts for is a pain in the arse in comparison but if you can find part numbers you can buy buts online too.
I bought a bunch of service parts for a VW Golf recently from Latvia and saved a fortune over buying from the dealer or Repco.