Engine oil and filter change ?

[scotjimland]

It's been many years since I did my own servicing, never put a car or motorhome into a garage, but even a minor service, basically an old and filter change, is becoming expensive, local garage charges £75 per hour, plus parts which are always listed at 7 litres of oil at £xx per litre, (even though it only holds 5.7lt ) + a gold plated oil filter, + a gold sump plug washer .. + Labour ... so decided to have a crack myself..

Yesterday I had a look under the engine to see if the filter was easy to reach, and yes it is, as is the sump plug.. so decided to do it myself today..

6 lt Coma oil + filter + washer .. = £54

Job done ..

Who else does there own servicing ?

 

[Landy Andy]

Certainly do. All the vehicles in the family are looked after by me.

 

[steve69]

What do you do about the other service items that need to be looked at?

 

[scotjimland]

What do you do about the other service items that need to be looked at?

This was an interim service, it had it's annual service at commercial garage in January .. .. I like to change oil every 5k .. it's our daily driver, so like to look after it .

It's had new discs and pads ,front and rear; cam belt; auxiliary belts; handbrake cable, and a wheel bearing changed, all done since January ..

I am more than competent to do any other routine service items, it's a 20 year old 2.8 JTD Ducato tractor .. nothing very technical .. lol

 

[Just smiffy]

Last week I did both front discs and pads..£151.25, completely taken apart callipers and all cleaned and greased.

Oil change… 10ltrs of oil and Bosch filter… £59.80

How much did I save? 4-£500.. and I know it’s been done properly..

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[Just smiffy]

What do you do about the other service items that need to be looked at?

Yep… I can look too, just like a “professional “…

 

[PP Bear]

Do all my vehicle servicing and always have done, even on brand new vehicles. I’ve used a Haynes manual as a service record, but filled all the notes pages, so switched to adding them on my iPad.
Same with the jollybus, I filled all the service inserts in FIAT, so switched again to iPad.

Heres a small selection:

10 Dec 17. 32080. Mobil 1 oil, oil filter, Slick 50 gearbox additive, air filter.

17 Mar 19. 34350. Mobil 1 Oil, air, oil filter, slick 50. New front brake pads, cam-belt, idlers, auxiliary belt and top engine mount. Trickle charge all 3 batteries.

11 May 19. 34350. Renew sump and gasket. New Mobil 1 Oil, same oil filter as the vehicle had done no miles and another new slick 50, ouch.

25 Jul 20. 34350 renew coolant and grease rear axel torsion bars.

03 Nov 20. Replace spare key fob remote battery. The one with Dean requires changing.

16 May 21. Changed the second fob battery.

14 May 21: Replaced both leisure batteries. £232 with 2 year warranty.

15 May 21: Rectified solar charge issue. Cable had come out of the spade terminal, all rectified with no issues.

16 May 21: Repair intermittent gas ignition on the fridge. Wiring loom and replacement terminals required and repaired.

12 Jun 21: Lay carpet.

26 Oct 21: 36770. Adjusted handbrake, inspected rear brake pads and full engine service with slick 50 for MOT.

20 Jan 22: Replace remote control batteries.

21 Mar 22: 38067. Shower maint. Fit kitchen shelf. Lube all hinges, latches and windows struts and stays. Replace front exhaust section. Lube turbo boost lever.

21 May 22: Descale fresh and grey water tanks.

24 June 22: Replace headlights and upgrade all bulbs. Upgrade horn. Underseal front cross member.

6 September 22: Renew front and rear brake pads, front discs and brake and clutch fluid. 39405 miles.

21 September 22: Full engine service, oil and air filters, plus Slick 50. 39418 miles.

14 October 22: Repairs to exhaust system.

26 October 22: Failed MOT - Adjust handbrake, fuel additive for emissions test.

02 November 22: Failed MOT again handbrake and main brakes passenger side rear. Emissions

04 November 22: New rear pads and discs, cleaned hand brake shoes. £125. Engine additives £50. 39989 miles.

14 February 23: Fit new Bosch wiper blades. £25

28 May 23: Replaced 2 powder fire extinguishers. 1 behind passengers seat and 1 above the rear fixed bed. £36 Remove and clean roof light covers. Repair broken plastic blind clip. All completed at Crick Boatshow.

 

[scotjimland]

and I know it’s been done properly

Exactly my sentiments

 

[PP Bear]

Yep… I can look too, just like a “professional “…

Yeah, but do you show the crack of your butt when doing the work.

Most impressive matey, I’m in awe of your drive and determination, bloody well done mate

 

[tonyidle]

It's been many years since I did my own servicing, never put a car or motorhome into a garage, but even a minor service, basically an old and filter change, is becoming expensive, local garage charges £75 per hour, plus parts which are always listed at 7 litres of oil at £xx per litre, (even though it only holds 5.7lt ) + a gold plated oil filter, + a gold sump plug washer .. + Labour ... so decided to have a crack myself..

Yesterday I had a look under the engine to see if the filter was easy to reach, and yes it is, as is the sump plug.. so decided to do it myself today..

6 lt Coma oil + filter + washer .. = £54

Job done ..

Who else does there own servicing ?

Always have. Never had any vehicle near a garage. So far - I'm getting older though.

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[LesW]

Who else does there own minor servicing ?

Me, have done since the 60's when entering the motor trade to start my apprenticeship, major and minor servicing/maintainance.

Don't do much on the wifes MINI, 'cos you have to tell the idiot box on board what's been done, and I haven't got the necessary IT stuff.

My own homebuilt kitcar is based on a Ford Sierra so can be maintained with a knife and fork.. (you get my drift ).

 

[scotjimland]

I'm getting older though.

indeed, that was why I was having mine done by the "professionals' (ha ha) .. my wife said I was getting too old for that malarky .. (she was talking about servicing the van , not her ..lol )

age and the fact that I don't have a drive at home to work on.. but even at 74 I can still crawl under it .. and provided I am fit enough, and when there is a few bob to be saved, I will keep doing it .

 

[ivorantony]

Like wise I do all my own, This year have replaced my Timing belt and pulleys, brakes all around with new discs plus three out of four wheel bearings, the other I changed 3 years ago so didn’t need it,
this weekend changed the Aircon condenser after stone damage, definitely not a easy job on a A class when the body if fitted to a chassis cab,

 

[gus-lopez]

Who else does there own servicing ?

yes , everything.

 

[Just smiffy]

Do all my vehicle servicing and always have done, even on brand new vehicles. I’ve used a Haynes manual as a service record, but filled all the notes pages, so switched to adding them on my iPad.
Same with the jollybus, I filled all the service inserts in FIAT, so switched again to iPad.

Heres a small selection:

10 Dec 17. 32080. Mobil 1 oil, oil filter, Slick 50 gearbox additive, air filter.

17 Mar 19. 34350. Mobil 1 Oil, air, oil filter, slick 50. New front brake pads, cam-belt, idlers, auxiliary belt and top engine mount. Trickle charge all 3 batteries.

11 May 19. 34350. Renew sump and gasket. New Mobil 1 Oil, same oil filter as the vehicle had done no miles and another new slick 50, ouch.

25 Jul 20. 34350 renew coolant and grease rear axel torsion bars.

03 Nov 20. Replace spare key fob remote battery. The one with Dean requires changing.

16 May 21. Changed the second fob battery.

14 May 21: Replaced both leisure batteries. £232 with 2 year warranty.

15 May 21: Rectified solar charge issue. Cable had come out of the spade terminal, all rectified with no issues.

16 May 21: Repair intermittent gas ignition on the fridge. Wiring loom and replacement terminals required and repaired.

12 Jun 21: Lay carpet.

26 Oct 21: 36770. Adjusted handbrake, inspected rear brake pads and full engine service with slick 50 for MOT.

20 Jan 22: Replace remote control batteries.

21 Mar 22: 38067. Shower maint. Fit kitchen shelf. Lube all hinges, latches and windows struts and stays. Replace front exhaust section. Lube turbo boost lever.

21 May 22: Descale fresh and grey water tanks.

24 June 22: Replace headlights and upgrade all bulbs. Upgrade horn. Underseal front cross member.

6 September 22: Renew front and rear brake pads, front discs and brake and clutch fluid. 39405 miles.

21 September 22: Full engine service, oil and air filters, plus Slick 50. 39418 miles.

14 October 22: Repairs to exhaust system.

26 October 22: Failed MOT - Adjust handbrake, fuel additive for emissions test.

02 November 22: Failed MOT again handbrake and main brakes passenger side rear. Emissions

04 November 22: New rear pads and discs, cleaned hand brake shoes. £125. Engine additives £50. 39989 miles.

14 February 23: Fit new Bosch wiper blades. £25

28 May 23: Replaced 2 powder fire extinguishers. 1 behind passengers seat and 1 above the rear fixed bed. £36 Remove and clean roof light covers. Repair broken plastic blind clip. All completed at Crick Boatshow.

You forgot to check tyre pressures….

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[Just smiffy]

Yeah, but do you show the crack of your butt when doing the work.

Absolutely and not just when doing work….

 

[jockaneezer]

I know it's not in quite the same league, but that Briggs and Stratton engined lawnmower I worked on the other day didn't even have an oil drain plug in it, when did they start doing that, are they "sealed for life" units now ?

 

[The Wino]

This was an interim service, it had it's annual service at commercial garage in January .. .. I like to change oil every 5k .. it's our daily driver, so like to look after it .

It's had new discs and pads ,front and rear; cam belt; auxiliary belts; handbrake cable, and a wheel bearing changed, all done since January ..

I am more than competent to do any other routine service items, it's a 20 year old 2.8 JTD Ducato tractor .. nothing very technical .. lol

It could be said that by changing the oil more often than recommended your actually costing yourself money rather than saving

 

[DevonMark]

On our new (to us) Hymer I've just done fuel, oil and air filters, plus new front brake pads. Was going to do the timing belt myself, but got a decent price for the work and figured with something like that it's good to get some proof it has been done for future resale value. Next job looks like it might be fitting a new sump pan (yeah, I know I should have sorted it when I changed the oil...).

 

[Ninjabob]

Always do it myself - E&P levelling helps somewhat.

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[scotjimland]

It could be said that by changing the oil more often than recommended your actually costing yourself money rather than saving it

It’s not just about saving money , I could do four oil changes for the price of one done at the garage, changing oils more regularly saves wear .

 

[dunnah01]

Always DIY on every vehicle or bit of plant I've owned.

 

[dunnah01]

I know it's not in quite the same league, but that Briggs and Stratton engined lawnmower I worked on the other day didn't even have an oil drain plug in it, when did they start doing that, are they "sealed for life" units now ?

I once stupidly forgot to turn the fuel lever off on a little 4 stroke mower engine over winter. Checked the oil prior to 1st cut in spring and got a mix of petrol and oil all over the grass. The whole fuel tank must have drained into the sump over winter. Luckily stripped and refilled with clean oil and all was OK. Just taught me a lesson on why those little B&S/Honda type engines have the fuel cut off tap/lever.

 

[WESTY66]

Had a look through the letterbox of our 3.0L A Class and thought sod that, off to the garage!

 

[herald_400rl]

I know it's not in quite the same league, but that Briggs and Stratton engined lawnmower I worked on the other day didn't even have an oil drain plug in it, when did they start doing that, are they "sealed for life" units now ?

Turkey baster with tube on the end, or turn it upside down if your feeling buff

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[PP Bear]

I know it's not in quite the same league, but that Briggs and Stratton engined lawnmower I worked on the other day didn't even have an oil drain plug in it, when did they start doing that, are they "sealed for life" units now ?

You either buy the Briggs and Strat oil sucker, or like me, turn it on its side and drain, preferably from a hight like a B&D workmate bench or something

 

[Clivefog]

Do all my own servicing. As for the annual look at I do that every time I open the bonnet. Brake checks done while I have the wheels off to check the tyres. Only once in the last few years have I used a garage and that was for suspension work on a Range Rover which required big boy tools to do the job, the tools were far in excess of the garage rate plus parts.

 

[Stoosal]

Do most of my own stuff……bought 5 litres of oil for motorhome along with new oil filter, sump plug and cabin filter for £78. All genuine Ford parts. Checked all brakes, fluid levels etc. Not much to an interim service. Ford quoted me £256.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

Always do it myself - E&P levelling helps somewhat.

Second that, though ours is HPC. I’ve just done the engine oil/filter change, loads of room underneath to get to the filter and drain plug, plus it’s level to drain the max out of the sump. Also, where ours sits in storage the ground isn’t level so when it‘s on it’s wheels it appears overfilled on the dipstick, perfect when levelled. I’ll be doing the brakes later this year, so much easier with levellers.

 

[jockaneezer]

You either buy the Briggs and Strat oil sucker, or like me, turn it on its side and drain, preferably from a hight like a B&D workmate bench or something

I've got a big graduated oil sucker that I used, but as I didn't know how much to refill it with, I turned the syringe upside down and started to raise the plunger to expel the free air to get a measurement and a couple of cc's that were in the dip pipe made it to the garage ceiling !

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