Current experiences with car servicing?

[jj4091]

I gave up changing oil when I stopped buying Leyland cars!

Like my old Chevette the oil passed through the engine too quickly to ever need replacing

 

[norseman]

I would do that if the filter was accessible from the top too, even on my own cars. Saves a lot of time and aggro.

I know my local garage (family run concern) actually drains the engine oil as they've just re-cut the sump plug thread (alloy sump) as the new crushable washer wouldn't prevent an oil weep after the latest service.

I don't know their hourly rate but I've never felt overcharged.
10mins walk from home & they MOT on the premises.

 

[mikehammer69]

I was tempted at one stage to do my own oil changes
My mechanic who I trust said not to bother as I could easily make a mistake on it

 

[Koolpc]

Yes, I heard he is there to 1;30 some days.

Andy

No, 1:31 to be precise!

 

[Diver Fred]

Since we are talking about Oil (& filter) changes I'll mention what was the norm in the USA when I was there on company business for extended periods (1997-98) - There the Tyre 'shops' also did Oil & Filter changes for a reasonable sum - depending on the amount of Oil used the cost was between $40 to $60 parts and labour. There wasn't a need for the O&F change to be done by a dealership. Oil & Filter changes appeared to be every 5000 miles no matter what make; from what I saw every car's service book had separate pages for Lubricant service and other parts of the service.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Did the cars last longer with 5000 mile oil services?

Andy

 

[Diver Fred]

Did the cars last longer with 5000 mile oil services?

Andy

I couldn't say but with the distances driven in the USA - the chap I was working with his daily commute was 75 miles each way, as was many others in the project. I think the average car annual milage would be in the 50,000 miles region. There are/was a large number of 2 or 3 YO cars with over 100,000 miles on the clock.

From experience when I did my car own servicing (principally BMC A-series transverse lumps) I'd do O&F changes every 6000 miles with a garage service every 12,000 miles. When I sold the last car of that type the car had completed 150,000 miles and still had 60psi Oil pressure and ran as quietly as new. Did the same with the Honda Civic/Rover 416 (same car - different badges) that followed and completed 130.000 miles in that car without trouble.

 

[Mottie]

I was tempted at one stage to do my own oil changes
My mechanic who I trust said not to bother as I could easily make a mistake on it

A non mechanical minded mate of mine decided to change the engine oil on his Cortina about 40 years ago. Warmed it up, drained the oil, put the plug back in, put the oil in and found it was halfway up the dipstick. When he checked again, he’d taken the gearbox drain plug out and drained the gearbox oil!

 

[Avocet]

I rang a local indy garage, one with a good reputation, as I am fed up with the experience of the main dealer I have been going to.
Not so much the actual service, but the condescending attitude from the office staff.

I was surprised to hear that the price would be similar to the main dealer for a basic service.

All I really wanted was oil and filter. There are things like ancillary filters that I can do myself, but I don't want the hassle of an oil change, and also get the service book stamped in case I ever decide to sell it.

However, it seems that most garages consider a basic "oil and filter only", as something different from a basic service, in which they do additional checks in addition to the oil and filter.

Am I correct in this?

To clarify, my main dealer has a basic service (oil filter and checks) of around £215.
The indy garage is in line with this too it seems.

What do most people on here request for a garage service to get a book stamp?
What would you be happy to pay for a basic service.

Looking online, oil and filter only seems to come in around £125 ish

I'm not sure many garages would only do "oil and filer" if you wanted the service book stamping. They'd be liable if anything that was on the manufacturer's service schedule wasn't done and subsequently failed. Obviously, a lot depends on the car and its age and value. By the time they're 10 years old and well and truly out of warranty, there's a bit more "flexibility". Of course some cars (like my daughter's previous Mazda) don't even have service books. It's all online now!

 

[Mottie]

If you're really on a budget, have an oil and filter change the same time as a mot. In the mot you’ll get your light, brakes, steering, tyre, suspension, exhaust emissions, brake efficiency etc tested. Of course, a mot just tells you what it’s like at the time of the test whereas a service give an indication of what won’t last until the next service.