Does my car need a service?

Andybez38

Deleted_User wrote: »

Anyone had an oil change done at National Tyres before? Their website is quoting me £40.46 for my 207.

Do they actually carry out the job properly?

I hope they do carry out the job properly. I just booked online for an oil change with engine flush. I used a discount code i found also. Will watch them like a hawk and post my comments here.

GTE_Boy

Andybez38 wrote: »

I hope they do carry out the job properly. I just booked online for an oil change with engine flush. I used a discount code i found also. Will watch them like a hawk and post my comments here.

And that's all you're going to have done?

[Deleted User]

I'm thinking about getting an oil change done this month. I've already changed the cabin filter last week and I have an air filter on order.

I can't see any reason to go for a "service" other than these 3 things what else will they do apart from list faults that aren't even a problem yet.

Andybez38

GTE_Boy wrote: »

And that's all you're going to have done?

Yes. I can do the rest myself. Don't want to get my hands dirty doing the oil change/flush. I will change the pollen/air filter myself. When looking at the cost of the oil & a filter, i might as well get National do it for me.

fred246

Just got some fully synthetic oil from Halfords £12.00 (I am 99% sure it's rebranded Comma) and Mann filter from Eurocarparts. Used topcashback. £15.26 for oil & filter change. Not bad.

BeenThroughItAll

Deleted_User wrote: »

I heard once that they suck it out with a machine through the dipstick hole rather than draining it from the bottom.

And that's a problem why?

[Deleted User]

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

And that's a problem why?

Leaves all the crud in the bottom of the sump.

BeenThroughItAll

Deleted_User wrote: »

Leaves all the crud in the bottom of the sump.

No, it really doesn't. I've posted about this many times before. Mercedes, for example, support the use of vacuum extraction on their vehicles, and have done so since around 1998 for some. Many main dealers use vacuum extraction. Modern oils don't sludge up, so there is no reason for there to be any 'crud' in a sump. If there is, the oil filter's not doing its job, and since the oil pickup will clog quickly in that situation, you'll have bigger issues to worry about than whether your oil needs changing.

JustAnotherSaver

I do only 6k per year and i do my oil changes every 6 months, other filters every 12 months with the exception of the fuel filter which is every 2 years IIRC.

I say it's good practice for you to learn how to do an oil change if you don't already know how to.
I'm far from being the most mechanically minded person but so long as you have a set of ramps then you're good to go.

1) You don't need to go booking your car in anywhere - inconvenience
2) It makes sure it's done. I've sent cars in before for services & i know some filters weren't even looked at. For example i once unscrewed the screws on the air filter housing of a Polo slightly so that they all lined up the same way like a + but they all lined up that way, not at any angles.
If the filter had been looked at (& replaced) then there's no way ALL those screws would line up perfectly as they'd be tightened up, which would send them out of sync with each other.
Car came back & all screws looked just like + ... it hadn't been touched.

Deleted_User wrote: »

Leaves all the crud in the bottom of the sump.

Does it really?

I personally don't like those machines although i have used one to try it out.

At my workplace our plant machinery is serviced by a chap who comes in & does it & he had one of those tools & i got speaking to him about it asking whether he rates it, so on & so forth.

He told me that he thought it was a load of crap but his workplace supplied it & he was to use it.
So he did it as instructed but he still dropped the plug out of the sump anyway after it had finished, thinking surely there's going to be a bit more that comes out as it wont get EVERYTHING.

Nope, nothing else came out. He was very surprised & totally rates it now.

With that said i still prefer to get my car up on the ramps & drop it out from the plug. I'm not buying one of those pieces of kit but my point is they do work.

System

Deleted_User wrote: »

I can't see any reason to go for a "service" other than these 3 things what else will they do apart from list faults that aren't even a problem yet.

Change spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter. Inspect tyres for signs of damage. Remove wheels, inspect brake discs, pads, drums and shoes for wear. Check wheel bearings, suspension rubbers etc. Check all bulbs work, washer jets work. Grease door hinges, bonnet hinges and bonnet catch.

Leaving some faults until they become a problem can cost you more money. For example leaving low brake pads until they start to make a noise can turn a £50 fix into a £150 fix.