Bangernomics - how much to spend on servicing? £50 kwik-fit oil change?

onomatopoeia99

10 litres of oil, blimey. That's over two gallons and double what most cars take.

Gloomendoom

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

10 litres of oil, blimey. That's over two gallons and double what most cars take.

I exaggerated. It's actually nine and a half.

arcon5

I'd do nothing and drive it til the end. But if ya gonna service it then engine oil oil filter and gearbox oil

Norman_Castle

A friend had a similar age Accord. Nice car but thirsty. That did at least 30,000 without an oil change without a problem. Overheating on the motorway due to a punctured radiator ruined the engine. Her replacement, a 2.0 hdi did over 45,000 without an oil change. Finally scrapped due to mot costs.
It depends on how long you expect to keep this car and how you value it. At this age and value its more likely to be scrapped due to mot repair costs rather than a worn engine. I would be stretching the oil change intervals.

[Deleted User]

Thanks everyone, I reckon I will stretch the oil change interval, but still do it until I've reason to suspect it'll fail it's MOT for a more expensive reason.

Just tried the national tyres website, and got £40 for an oil change on my accord. I won't be touching my local national tyres branch with a barge pole however, I've had trouble with those cowboys there before.

Countrywalks

I used Horsham Kwik Fit for a similar reason i just wanted a oil and oil filter changed as i've only just brought the car and the oil was as black as hell. the car only had its MOT 50 miles ago.

After the MOT i took the car to Kwik Fit Horsham who told me i needed 4 new tyres two bulbs and the tracking done. so i gave the go ahead on two new tyres, bulbs, and the oil and filter. and that's what i was billed for.

When i got the car back i was shocked that the steering wheel was no longer straight and the oil was still black as hell. I've reported Kwik Fit Horsham to trading standards and watchdog.

My advice to the Guy that opened this thread is to go to a local garage that's got a good reputation and get to know them, they will be happy to have your business.

SomeRandomGuy

Is it really worth getting it serviced? Just top the oil up if it burns or leaks oil and the level gets low. I see a £350 are disposable really, I wouldn't be servicing or fixing anything unless it was a safety issue.

[Deleted User]

Countrywalks wrote: »

I used Horsham Kwik Fit for a similar reason i just wanted a oil and oil filter changed as i've only just brought the car and the oil was as black as hell. the car only had its MOT 50 miles ago.

After the MOT i took the car to Kwik Fit Horsham who told me i needed 4 new tyres two bulbs and the tracking done. so i gave the go ahead on two new tyres, bulbs, and the oil and filter. and that's what i was billed for.

When i got the car back i was shocked that the steering wheel was no longer straight and the oil was still black as hell. I've reported Kwik Fit Horsham to trading standards and watchdog.

My advice to the Guy that opened this thread is to go to a local garage that's got a good reputation and get to know them, they will be happy to have your business.

Yeah, sounds like National tyres who 'fixed' my suspension. I think with these chains there are few ok ones, and lots of cowboys. My nearest F1 autocentres is probably the best of the chains that I've found.

Unfortunately I know of no garages near me with a good reputation, I've heard complaints from different people about all of them

I do have a local independent garage round the corner, I've used them a few times and they have been pretty helpful, at least they have mechanics who have started shaving (unlike the chains), but I was warned off them by someone I know who's aunt took them to court (but I don't know any more details).

Possibly unrealistic to expect to find a garage where you only hear good reports.

bigjl

SomeRandomGuy wrote: »

Is it really worth getting it serviced? Just top the oil up if it burns or leaks oil and the level gets low. I see a £350 are disposable really, I wouldn't be servicing or fixing anything unless it was a safety issue.

So you think spending £30/40 once every 5/6k miles as a waste of money?

When it could potentially mean the vehicle is usable for several more years?

mcjordi

i do my own it costs me £20 or just under for a yearly oil and filter change ( i do less than 5k)
i do as much car maintenance myself