How critical is the "right" oil in a service?

[cuprabob]

NiceCupOfTea said:

According to their website you have to be a business owner or manager.

As said above, that is not the case, you just need to work in an "approved" company and/or have a professional qualification so it's relatively easy to become a member for the majority. If you don't qualify I'm sure you know someone who is a member and can go with them.

But saying that, in the majority of cases you can get the products for similar prices by shopping around

[Deva Link]

cuprabob said:

NiceCupOfTea said:

According to their website you have to be a business owner or manager.

As said above, that is not the case, you just need to work in an "approved" company and/or have a professional qualification so it's relatively easy to become a member for the majority. If you don't qualify I'm sure you know someone who is a member and can go with them.

When I first started my business, we had no official paperwork and I used a letterhead knocked up using Word and an invoice for printer cartridges bought online in the comapny name. Address was home address and they accepted a utility bill in my personal name as proof of address.

Now several colleagues are members, all using the company name, but their home addresses, so they obviously don't cross-check these things, or they don't care.

[KungFuPanda]

http://www.national.co.uk/oil-vehicle-search.aspx

I use these guys for oil changes. Castrol Edge fully synthetic 5w 40 for my Audi TT. Oil and filter change for £33 if booked online.

[Deva Link]

KungFuPanda said:

http://www.national.co.uk/oil-vehicle-search.aspx

I use these guys for oil changes. Castrol Edge fully synthetic 5w 40 for my Audi TT. Oil and filter change for £33 if booked online.

There a guy on one of the Mercedes forums who used a fast fit place for an oil change. They suck the oil out of the dipstick tube (common, apparently) but in his case they used the ATF tube until they realised then swapped over but they didn't tell him and later denied it.

It was also unclear what oil they'd put in the car - everywhere it was mentioned it had a different name. Although, to be fair, that's an issue with every garage.

[spaximus]

saaby93 said:

ah I asked this the other week and it wasn't obvious you do get what you pay for, unless you like paying for the cost of having a nice logo on the bottle

I work in the parts supply trade and have visited several oil suppliers R&D sites and production facilities. Quality depends upon many things from the base oil through all of the additives. Yes there are smaller companies who do a good blend but they are limited by the supply chain as they do not refine their own base oil and buy from many scources. Castrol is first fill on many OE cars, do you think if the manufacturer could put in cheap oil safely they would? A fiver perhaps on each car saved would be a huge amount. Comma is owned by Exxon as is Mobile which many rave about.

If you get the correct specification you will not go far wrong, however too many blenders make one blend cover many vehicles because they feel their blend is okay where others do more specifics.

Comma is a top notch product at a good price. Castrol is top notch but you pay for the name somewhat, anything own label even if made by a "brand" will not be the same.

[Rich_W]

Just make sure of 3 things.

1) It's the right weight 10w40 is not acceptable to replace 0w30
2) Make sure it's the right fuel. So if it's for Diesel or Petrol
3) Make sure it's a name you have heard of. TBH Shell/Castrol/Mobil are all much of a muchness. Other lesser brands may not be.

[Deva Link]

spaximus said:

Castrol is first fill on many OE cars, do you think if the manufacturer could put in cheap oil safely they would? A fiver perhaps on each car saved would be a huge amount.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if they get it free as part of a co-marketing deal. Even if they do pay I seriously doubt they could save a fiver as they won't be paying a fiver to fill up the average car's sump.

[Deva Link]

Rich_W said:

1) It's the right weight 10w40 is not acceptable to replace 0w30

In most cars, in most conditions, that would be fine. The back of my Mercedes service book lists acceptable oil viscosities by ambient temp. In the UK you could use just about anything.

Rich_W said:

2) Make sure it's the right fuel. So if it's for Diesel or Petrol

It's widely reckoned that Mobil-1 and Mobil-1 Turbo Diesel are the same oil in different packages. The data sheets are identical.
If the car has a DPF then it must have a low ash oil.

[busta]

Deva Link said:

spaximus said:

Castrol is first fill on many OE cars, do you think if the manufacturer could put in cheap oil safely they would? A fiver perhaps on each car saved would be a huge amount.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if they get it free as part of a co-marketing deal. Even if they do pay I seriously doubt they could save a fiver as they won't be paying a fiver to fill up the average car's sump.

Exactly this. Same with tyres and any other consumables. What is cheap to the manufacturer and what is cheap to the consumer are 2 different things- they definitely don't use Castrol because 'cheaper' oils aren't safe.

I've never heard of an engine suffering due to cheap oil, even stuff a couple of grades different. Look in most handbooks and it'll recommend different oils for different climates. If it has the same specifications, then it'll do the job. And any new oil is better than old oil.

Look in most independant garages and you will see just 2 or 3 large oil drums. Whatever it says in the handbook, if they service your car they fill it with whichever of those 3 best fits the bill.

[spaximus]

busta said:

Exactly this. Same with tyres and any other consumables. What is cheap to the manufacturer and what is cheap to the consumer are 2 different things- they definitely don't use Castrol because 'cheaper' oils aren't safe.

I've never heard of an engine suffering due to cheap oil, even stuff a couple of grades different. Look in most handbooks and it'll recommend different oils for different climates. If it has the same specifications, then it'll do the job. And any new oil is better than old oil.

Look in most independant garages and you will see just 2 or 3 large oil drums. Whatever it says in the handbook, if they service your car they fill it with whichever of those 3 best fits the bill.

this is a problem where garages do not know enough abot oils and put in the incorrect type.
for example, many modern diesels have a car specific oil which is low sulpher, get this wrong and the consequences can be costly with DPF failure as one example.
20 years ago you could realsitically bang any oil in most cars but this is not the case now, hydraulic lifters, VVi systems all require the correct oil.
You take advice or a choice which may cost you in the long run.

[E30M3SE]

GTRmad said:

only £28 at costco!!

Is that 4 or 5 litres and is that ex VAT or INC?

[Deva Link]

E30M3SE said:

GTRmad said:

only £28 at costco!!

Is that 4 or 5 litres and is that ex VAT or INC?

Includes VAT but don't know if 4 or 5L - they used to sell 4L Mobil-1 but I think they've moved to Catrol Edge now and I thought it was 5L but not sure. It's on offer for the next couple of weeks with 20% off (that's 20% off the £28).

The bigger Asda stores sell Castrol Edge at reasonable prices (about £30, I think).

Edited by Deva Link on Monday 21st March 13:17

[gizlaroc]

deveng said:

Going to costco becomes a family day out! Just to rub it in.

Where do you go on family holidays for a fortnight?? Makro??

You flash git you!!!