National Tyres oil and filter change bargain?

[BlackC55]

The car was hot and is 1 cm over max. I am going to leave it as I am too lazy to do it myself and can't face talking to the nob that did the work.

Oh well, live and learn.

You do realise this could cost you ££ in the long run?

 

[philepo]

Although I love my merc and attempt to look after it on a shoe string, it is an old bus really and worth nothing so I'm not going to get too worried. Also, although I totally respect your professional opinion, personally, I don't think merc would have built an engine with a dipstick that if reading 1 cm over (with hot, slightly expanded oil) would ruin the engine or cat.

It is going to the merc dealer for a free vehicle health check before my hol trip so I will mension it to them.

If I come on here whinging in 6 months that my car is ill, feel free to force feed me humbe pie!

 

[Alps]

Philipo, for arguements sake, just check again once cool, and if still over pop over to them again and im sure they will corect the level for you... job done!

Nothing wrong with kwik fit either, just watch them like a hawk, ive used them in the past for oil changes on my dads peugeot and sisters mk4golf, no problems.

 

[philepo]

Trouble is, how to check when cold? My car is parked on the road and is therefore off camber. Expansion of this amount of hot oil will be about 0.2 - 0.3 litres by my calculations.

If I have time I will drain a bit out this wk end. Unless I forget, which I prob will.

 

[Spinal]

I was once told that overfilling the engine oil will cause the oil to churn/whisk with air into a thick foam. This can lead to overheated motor oil, oxidation and a loss of oil pressure. Spongy aerated oil is hard to pump. It starves the engine and critical lubricated surfaces, which in turn would cause the engine to... well, break.

Just a story I was told by a friend who studied mech.eng... Not sure if it's true...

M.

 

[AnilS]

I've used National for oil changes on both our previous VW Polo and Golf GTI, with no ill effect

I have, however, watched them like a hawk so there are no issues with the quality of the work, or the oil used

 

[philepo]

Yes I agree to watch them is a good idea. I did as I wasn't convinced they would change the filter otherwise.

Overfilling is bad, I agree. But 1 mm over will be fine, 2 mm over fine ..... 10 mm over? Any more and I'd get it sorted asap, but for this amount I am not unduly worried. Tho if I have time I will drain a bit.

Thanks for the feedback, interesting points of view.

 

[Howard]

Personally i would take the advice of the professional mechanic who has posted.

Ollys no often wrong

 

[philepo]

I have booked the car in at local MB dealer to have a 'free' vehicle health check so I wil raise it with them and hopefully they will drain a bit of oil for free!

 

[Cabe]

Is the free MB car heath check a national thing? I cant find hide nor hair of this at my local (http://www.mercedes-benzofportsmouth.co.uk/) am I being daft or should I be ringing/texting the service number?

 

[Gawdi]

What, you went to Kwik Fit...?

I did too for my W124 300D - the other week - £29.99 (Ok - I did the £10 upgrade to fully synthetic oil so it was £39.99) and I was impresed. The premises were as clean and modern as any Merc main dealer. They did drain the oil, put in a unipart filter and gave it a good check underneath. Mechanic came over and complemented me on car and its condition etc..

OK they did then strap me in a chair, shine a light in my eyes and gave me the hard sell as 4 tyres need renewing - and quoted me £90 a corner... but they gave a strangle scream when I grabbed them by the goolies and said I'd gotten a quote for £52 a corner, and werent too pleased when they matched the price but I said business was still going elsewhere....

But overall I was impressed by the service... and the cost was half the price I could have bought the oil from Halfords to do it myself and, I had no problem in getting rid of the old oil......

So a pat on the back to kwick fit from me....

 

[Howard]

Are Kwik Fit doing oil and filter changes for £30 ?

 

[philepo]

Is the free MB car heath check a national thing? I cant find hide nor hair of this at my local (http://www.mercedes-benzofportsmouth.co.uk/) am I being daft or should I be ringing/texting the service number?

I don't know. If you phone them and ask I'm sure that would be easier. Not sure why or when the free check was introduced. Last year it cost me £12 labour and £10 for ATF fluid when they topped it up.

 

[Gawdi]

Are Kwik Fit doing oil and filter changes for £30 ?

Yes..

 

[Howard]

Brilliant , couldn't see it advertised on their website , i'll be off with the little A class this weekend.

 

[renault12ts]

Brilliant , couldn't see it advertised on their website , i'll be off with the little A class this weekend.

£49.95 if you want Mobil 1 (though maybe not for the A Class).

 

[fred_raven]

on a similar veign



went to halfrods the other day, had to change wishbone on gf vectra ( been quoted £150 to replace a £35 part!!! ) realized when car was jacked up and wheel off that my 18mm socket was missing ( blamed my son!!). When got there decided that really needed an extended skt & open end / ring spanner too. Problem was only one they had was 0.5 " and my set is only 3/8" , guy came over to help as i was considering possibilities and offered to lend me a 0.5" 15" bar for the night ! how bad was that seeing i was only spending a tenner on tools anyway!! so a quick vote for some of the staff at these places, he sure deserves :bannana::bannana::bannana:

 

[proser]

If only I had seem this thread, then it would have saved me from buying the stuff from Opie Oils

 

[philepo]

You do realise this could cost you ££ in the long run?

Got car booked in to have oil drained down now!

Thanks for the feedback.

P