National Oil Changes

[therealnerd2]

i was about to get one done when the car broke down on the way there

 

[Tom|Nbk]

Ok so we all know this bunch are offering unfeasibly cheap oil changes at the moment. Just quoted £33 to change the oil in my car with Castrol Edge 0w30. Have decided it's worth getting it changed - although the OBC is telling me I don't need a service for another year I just dont like the idea of oil being in the car for 2 years, and I've only done 5k since the last service a year ago.

So, that said, has anyone actually done the National oil change deal? How did it go? Were they reasonably competent?

Are they going to trash my car, or fill it with 10 litres of mineral oil, or cockup in other as yet unimaginable ways or is at all very pleasant and easy?

I've made countless threads on this you may remember but yea I've always taken it there. They have just recently started to get Ford spec oil in which is even better for me. The service has always been very good for me.

 

[flat-6]

I've told the story on here before. They spilled oil on my hot manifold and I got home to an engine fire.

 

[milgo]

Hmm i wouldn't personally take it there. But i don't trust anywhere to work on cars really. I have always heard its best to stay clear of third party filters as well, which they will definatly use. I would happily use a mann filter or whatever on an old car but not on something i care about.
Have you got a costco near you? Mobil 1 0w/40 for my car is nearly £50 for 5 litres in halfords but its only £23 for 4 litres in costco. Worth a look?

 

[zeppelin101]

I explained what oil it is in the first post - it's Castrol Edge 0w30. I've no idea why its expensive, it just is. Car takes 6.5 litres but the smallest practical amount you can buy yourself is 8 litres @ £40ish a can.

Why do you need that specific oil if you don't mind my asking?

 

[Tom|Nbk]

I've told the story on here before. They spilled oil on my hot manifold and I got home to an engine fire.

This is why you supervise all work. I always go into the workshop while they do it.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Why do you need that specific oil if you don't mind my asking?

I've no idea, you'll have to ask BMW. It's the oil they recommend for my engine. The engine must be run on BMW LL01 Approved oil of which the Castrol is the recommended brand (And is used by the main dealers). There are alternative quality oils but these are also reasonably expensive.

 

[zeppelin101]

Ok fair enough BMW logic make sense.

Well it doesn't but you know what I mean...

 

[Simon]

Ok so we all know this bunch are offering unfeasibly cheap oil changes at the moment. Just quoted £33 to change the oil in my car with Castrol Edge 0w30. Have decided it's worth getting it changed - although the OBC is telling me I don't need a service for another year I just dont like the idea of oil being in the car for 2 years, and I've only done 5k since the last service a year ago.

2 years will be fine. I appreciate that you may feel better changing it now though. The USA is currently having a big education roll out from all the oil companies to try an get them to change there oil less often. Out there 3,000 mile changes are still normal. Even though longer drain intervals will mean less oil sold, the enviromental benefit of less used engine oil to dipose of far outweighs it.

 

[Dandle]

IMO they wont be using the specific recommended oil for your engine(if you want them to use Edge 0w30 that is) unless all the oil they have in at that viscosity is the same brand. My brother used to work up london servicing company cars and all the oil he used and was supplied with was Esso stuff(various grades). Which no matter what was recommmended if it was the right grade it went in the car. On the other hand I dont think unless the cars in warranty it will matter as long as the oil is of similar quality, its not like your keeping it in the engine for years and years and oils dont break down llike they used too so are good for a long life now anyway. a lot of people get carried away with oil changes when its not necessary, its not like the old days with cars that carboned up the old mineral oil pretty quickly with poor tolerances and it needed changing every 6k miles.

 

[Dandle]

2 years will be fine. I appreciate that you may feel better changing it now though. The USA is currently having a big education roll out from all the oil companies to try an get them to change there oil less often. Out there 3,000 mile changes are still normal. Even though longer drain intervals will mean less oil sold, the enviromental benefit of less used engine oil to dipose of far outweighs it.

I have seen and cant believe a lot of americans menatlity on this. Both on the Audi and BMW forums some of the guys insist as soon as their oil looses the honey colour and gets a bit dirty on changing it. They wont listen to anyone else in their eyes its now dirty and knackered.

 

[[TW]Fox]

IMO they wont be using the specific recommended oil for your engine

I should hope they will given this is exactly what I've ordered (and infact already prepaid for):

Quantity Part Code Description Discount Price VAT Total
1 OC0W301 Castrol Edge 0W30 Full Synthetic

I have seen and cant believe a lot of americans menatlity on this. Both on the Audi and BMW forums some of the guys insist as soon as their oil looses the honey colour and gets a bit dirty on changing it. They wont listen to anyone else in their eyes its now dirty and knackered.

The Americans seem to be utterely obsessive about preventative rather than reactive maintainenance even when it's far from appropropriate. Over on the Yank forums it's absolutely essential, apparently, to change the entire cooling system (Radiator, Expansion tank, pump, thermostat and all pipework) every 60k. And most of them actually DO do this...

 

[Lashout_UK]

Madness! Intriguing though, I wonder what causes it! Maybe it's a spiral of decline, someone starts doing it and it spreads like wildfire that it's 'required' or something along those lines.

 

[zeppelin101]

It's probably related to their fear of old stuff tbh

 

[[TW]Fox]

I mean fair enough the cooling system is garbage and will die when your car hits 4-6 years old but... every 60k!?

 

[Overlag]

i heard that that cost is only for like 5 litres, so will cost more for what you need?

 

[Dave85]

my caddy needs oil changes usually about 3-4 thousand miles this sounds like a good deal as mine takes quite a bit of oil, that saying my garage usually does it for £48 with castrol and a filter by fram. Might give this a bash though but i will want to watch them doing the work though.

 

[Scania]

The Americans seem to be utterely obsessive about preventative rather than reactive maintainenance even when it's far from appropropriate. Over on the Yank forums it's absolutely essential, apparently, to change the entire cooling system (Radiator, Expansion tank, pump, thermostat and all pipework) every 60k. And most of them actually DO do this...

For a very good reason - I have relatives in Houston, Texas who run an e60 550i given the somewhat extreme temperatures over there (especially in the Summer) its not surprising that they pay so much attention to the cooling system - it has to work damn hard.

preventative maintenance is always better than reactive imo and is something that apply's equally well to trucks as well as cars.

 

[moss]

I have always heard its best to stay clear of third party filters as well, which they will definatly use. I would happily use a mann filter or whatever on an old car but not on something i care about.

The majority of dealer filters we have had at work are aftermarket filters rebranded, iirc the last Honda filters we ordered in were Champion filters, vauxhall use Fram filters etc.

 

[SB118]

i heard that that cost is only for like 5 litres, so will cost more for what you need?

That's a good point, do they price for "a bottle" or for "an engine full" ?