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(DIY Service?) CRV MOT success!


stephen01

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I don't like using pattern oil filters after a mate of mine in the trade showed me one filled with Chinese newspapers. It had killed the engine within just a few miles.

 

surely he would have had a claim against the manufacturer?

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Sometimes OE filters are as cheap as chips, but generally i go for M&H or Mahle, can't be arsed with driving 13, or 30odd miles in the case of Subaru, just to buy a bloody oil filter.

 

Found K&N's at half price for the Subaru at Carparts4less so bought 4 of 'em, i'd already tried a new one of another make but the shape of the neck only saw about 2 threads on before it was tight, sod that binned it, the K&N's fit well and seem very well made.

 

Years ago i put a cheap fuel filter on one of me Diesel cars, could not get it to prime and found when i took it off again that the seal seat was badly stamped, never bought accessory shop rubbish again.

Used to buy Purolator, made in Nottingham i believe not any more, nor do i buy 'em anymore.

 

 

Interesting if you have an hour to kill, some lads on Youtube have taken various makes of filter and cut them up to examine them inside, mainly American posters so the makes don't always compute here, but interesting the differences they found.

 

There's some sites on the web that you can cross refer part numbers when filter hunting, save a good few quid that way.

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I've run through the brakes on my herald and they passed an MOT, however I've never done it on a daily driver that i shove the kids in, am I being a pussy?

 

And yes Worcester is only like 30 miles or so..

 

No you're not being a pussy, but the standard of servicing of so many garages has gone west that i'd rather do them meself, that way i know whats been done and what quality of parts has gone into the job...my venerable MB indy is the only place i know that strip out and lube the brakes every year as part of a normal service.

 

Too many garages, especially main dealers, inspect brakes by peering through or from behind the wheel and squirting bloody brake cleaner in the general direction of the caliper, this is bollocks.

 

You cannot inspect pads properly unless you remove them, nor shoes unless you remove the drums...you sure as hell can't lube the caliper sliders nor under the piston dust covers with the correct brake grease unless you have the pads out, nor check drum slaves for seepage and check for free movement of cylinder pistons and auto adustment through that little spy hole in the back plate.

 

I'm convinced this is why so many of us are buying new calipers, looked after and regularly lubed they can last the life of the vehicle.

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I use Trade Parts Specialists for VAG stuff, they are wholly owned by Volkswagen and only sell genuine stuff. £26 gets me a PD filter and 5L of Platinum 5-40w fully synth, the oil was down to £56.99 for 20L in May.

I would be interested I where you get that,any contact details?

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Depends if it's just an oil and filter change or a minor service .

For an oil and filter change I literally just do that and charge half an hour .

A minor service is an hour and includes the oil and filter obv but also check all suspension / bearings / tyres and other levels etc

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Oil and filter change on a civic 1.4 for example would be

 

Oil ( 3.4 l of 10/40 semi ) 12.24

Labour 12.50

Filter (guess). 6.50

 

Total 31.24

 

 

But I'm in cornwall where labour rates are cheaper and I don't charge vat .

30 quid is a bit unrealistic to be honest . Garages do have overheads and bills to pay and aren't a charity

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Oil and filter change on a civic 1.4 for example would be

 

Oil ( 3.4 l of 10/40 semi ) 12.24

Labour 12.50

Filter (guess). 6.50

 

Total 31.24

 

 

But I'm in cornwall where labour rates are cheaper and I don't charge vat .

30 quid is a bit unrealistic to be honest . Garages do have overheads and bills to pay and aren't a charity

That's fair enough. I didn't know if I was stuck in at least a decade ago (it happens a lot) or if they were having a larf.

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Last oil and filter on the honda was 55 quid, that was with castrol 0w40, I couldnt buy the bits for that price. phoned up the same place last week and it was over £80 just for oil and filter, and they stopped using castrol oil. 

 

All the bits turned up today, so I'll do it saturady. 

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I did an old change on our BINI about 6 weeks ago, and was concerned that the oil level is now dropping quickly. I suddenly realised that the sump plug is leaking a bit. DOH. Oil slick leaking into the stones and into the soil, and causing global warming. More importantly it's fully synthetic mobil one 0W40, so not bloody cheap.

 

I went to a BMW dealer yesterday, and purchased a new sump plug (which has an intergrally moulded Viton seal, and not a nice copper washer), for £5.05  They let me off the 5p.

 

I'm thinking that I can filter the old (almost new oil) back into the engine, using and old pair of tights for a filtration medium.

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A friend of mine said his car was running a bit rough,high mileage and not been serviced in a long time. Iadvised him to service it and get back to me. He took it to a local independent and asked for a small service. 99 quid he was charged then bought it to me a couple of days later saying it was still hit and miss. I pulled plugs to find they was old and dirty,checked air filter to find it was black. I rang garage to find out what the £99 service entailed. Oh sir,that's just an oil change. No plugs,filters etc. I wasn't best impressed. This is why I do my own service and repair

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If it's old, high mileage and you don't know if the oil has been changed at regular intervals beforehand, I wouldn't. Some say a cupful of auto transmission fluid will do the same as a flush for cheaper. Personally, I say get it nice and hot before you start, then leave it draining as long as you can - all morning or afternoon is about right.

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Should I give it an engine flush or just sack it and not bother.. 

 

 

Now, everyone speak after me!

 

I will not put any hocus pocus snake oil into my engine.

 

Again, all together now!

 

I will not put any hocus pocus snake oil into my engine.

I will not put any hocus pocus snake oil into my engine.

 

And once more! Una voce!

 

I will not put any hocus pocus snake oil into my engine.

 

Has this now been understood by everyone, or are there still any questions?

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