How much is a name worth.

Thought most modern vehicles use computer diagnostics to analyse oil plus time period to work out service period
I know when mines has just been serviced, it will tell me I've got 35000 miles and 2 years until next service. 15000 miles and a year later it's telling me a service is due. :ROFLMAO:
 
Wully said:
Last time I bough oil I got a decent deal from Costco but noticed all the high end oil is now sold in 4 litre containers rather than 5 to make it look a better deal.
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When I had the first service done on my van (many years ago) I took it to a Fiat (un) Professional garage, when I looked at bill it had 2x5L of oil, I asked why they had charged for 10L, they said because they had opened two 'cans' (as if :mad: ), so asked for the part used 'can', funny enough they couldn't find it.
 
Have always done all my own work,many folk come to me after big garages fecked there cars up big time,there are good garages out there but finding one can be hard to do.
One of the biggest names in belfast has been caught clocking cars plus many other naughty things.
 
trevskoda said:
Yes just paying for the name,all the spec is on the label and will meet the requirements,mind you why do you require top ups between oil changes,if using at slow speeds or few trips then change at half rec time ,or before winter,this will get rid of harmfull acids/carbon and any water held in oil suspension.
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At the mileage my old van has done it is entitled to use a pint very occasionally.
 
trevskoda said:
Have always done all my own work,many folk come to me after big garages fecked there cars up big time,there are good garages out there but finding one can be hard to do.
One of the biggest names in belfast has been caught clocking cars plus many other naughty things.
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I've physically struggled to be able to do my own services for some years now (and I'm getting lazy). If in warrantee I take it to a main dealer, yes I know any garage should be able to do it, but I can imagine the get out arguments they would use. At first MOT I take it to my 'mates' garage with the instruction "Go over it with a fine tooth comb for any possible warrantee issues", from then on he does the services.
 
Very few garages here do a proper service,i went into one a while back looking for valve shims for a toyota 1600cc ,they just giggled and said na we never do them,i said what about the service,they said we would never sell new cars if the old ones did not break down wink wink.
 
mickymost said:
And once you find a decent family run independent stick to it like the proverbial sh"t on a shovel. You know it makes sense. :)
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When we moved to Skegness I used to get all my work done at the Local Ford dealership (still there.)At one stage both me and swmbos car and two daughters cars always went there for servicing Mots Etc Etc Etc.This went on for about 10 years.When they altered the MOTS so you could carry over a month to the new years Mot I had one almighty debate with the Service Manager who swore black was blue this couldnt be done.In the end I won and he had to redo my certificate.One day I took my2005 Land Rover Freelander there which I still own and have owned since new still only has done 28000 miles from new.Anyway I took it there for a full service and Mot.When it was done and I got it home I was annoyed to find two new odd windscreen wipers.And the belly pan under the front had half the bolts missing after they did the oil change.Also the plastic jacking point covers were all missing.As I look after my vehicles I was fuming.I contacted them to complain and was told to bring the vehicle in to get sorted.No I didnt take it back and they lost all our cars to work on.Their loss.We found a Local Independent Garage who was recommended and have been with them ever since.And the prices are reasonable and they do what they claim to do.
 
As an ex motor mechanic, who's worked both at main dealers and small family run garages.
Difficult this one. The 15 year old sprinter I now have, came to us with 160,000 miles on the clock. The engine oil was black. I took the plunge and had a proper engine and fuel system flush. Using machines and not pour in additives. Any mechanic will know that this can be risky on high mileage engines, you can end up flushing the crap where it can cause damage. It turned out okay. I use the correct long life mercedes oil and a fuel additive every service. In fact not long ago it had a service and passed it's MOT with 200,000 miles on the clock. The oil was still almost as clean as it went in ( the red plastic end on the dipstick was still very clearly visible, no jokes about red ends and dipsticks please ). The exhaust emmissions were barely readable.
I think for most of us though, a good quality motor oil, with all the relevent api, sae etc etc numbers is probably fine, iff it's replaced every 12 months because of acid build up.
The most important thing is to match the viscosity exactly in modern engines. Plus iff you have a catalytic converter you need a specific oil for that.
The genuine merc oil is £75.00 for 5 litres and the sump holds 9 litres.😵
I do like to knock on a bit though and occasionally get the undercarraige up.:)
 
antiquesam said:
This really sounds condescending but isn't meant to be. I really feel sorry for people with expensive vans who have to worry about what tyres, what is the optimum pressure, what oil, the habitation check, should I go up this narrow road. In my old van with it 2.5ltr turbo Ford engine I know that when the poor old soul dies it won't be the end of the world, and if it sustains the odd scratch in its life it'll be counted as a wound won in the pursuit of adventure.
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War wounds battlescars no problem less likely to "run away" !
 
We spend maybe over £400 on insurance
A service Say £300
Tyres every 4 years so maybe £100 a year
Road tax
Ferry or tunnel.
Why skimp on oil ? how much is a new engine ????
Having said that the "garage" chooses for me !
 
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Folk used to tell me skoda engines were crap,what they ment was they would rather buy fags and beer instead of oil,this was my clock reading and ran her on asda 10/40 sem sinth.
skoda a.jpg
 
mark61 said:
Thought most modern vehicles use computer diagnostics to analyse oil plus time period to work out service period
I know when mines has just been serviced, it will tell me I've got 35000 miles and 2 years until next service. 15000 miles and a year later it's telling me a service is due. :ROFLMAO:
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That's great if you have a modern vehicle, Mark.
But those of us who have old, pre-computer engined vehicles don't have that luxury... ;)😉

An old flame who taught me how to drive was obsessive about checking the engine oil, water etc.
Oil in all his, and my, vehicles was changed at least once a year and he always bought top quality.

He was paid as a test driver for a year working in teams of pairs driving 24x7 for DeLorean.
They went all over the UK in the test DeLorean before the company went bust.
Guess it's all to do with how much mechanical knowledge you have and with what types of engine.

He always owned high end sports cars, so I guess his approach to engine oils and what/how/where to use them might be different to Trev's approach where you're servicing family cars and lower value vehicles?

But he used exactly the same 'servicing' approach to all my cheap and cheerful cars I owned at the time, so I suppose a lot is down to experience as well as personal preference?
 
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