FLEET Management Services has attacked the minority of manufacturers still insisting on 6,000-mile service intervals for their diesel vehicles. As improving reliability pushes the industry norm to 9,000 miles, and beyond in some cases, FMS is urging Citroen, Nissan, Peugeot and Renault to extend the service intervals on their diesel ranges to bring them into line with their competitors.

FMS has calculated that the average 100-vehicle fleet will be paying as much as £37,000 in extra servicing charges over the life-cycle of an all-diesel fleet consisting entirely of vehicles from the four car makers.

Director - fleet services Derick Perkins said: 'This amounts to a serious penalty being placed on those fleet managers who opt for diesel models, usually because their cars cover large distances. In financial terms, too-frequent servicing costs an average £230.80 per vehicle over 60,000 miles and £378.40 over 100,000 miles. This adds up to £23,000 to £37,000 for a fleet of 100 diesels made up of Citroens, Nissans, Peugeots and Renaults.'

He added: 'It is high time that the motor manufacturers in question extended the service intervals affecting these otherwise excellent diesel models to bring them into line with the rest of the market if for no other reason than to maintain their competitiveness.'

The manufacturers targeted said they were sticking to the service intervals their engines were designed to require, but some hinted that changes may be afoot.