National Oil Changes

It's a gimmick lads, designed to get custom through the door. Some cars will be profitable, others not. They are hopeing to tell you that your tyres are bald and take you too the cleaners.

If an unprofitable oil change is what you want they will give you the run around and hope you will bugger off, unless they can't be arsed to argue and just do it.
 
blaze of glory said:
It's a gimmick lads, designed to get custom through the door. Some cars will be profitable, others not. They are hopeing to tell you that your tyres are bald and take you too the cleaners.

If an unprofitable oil change is what you want they will give you the run around and hope you will bugger off, unless they can't be arsed to argue and just do it.
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exactly.
 
Well my car is booked in for an oil change nest Saturday.

Just over £30, which is just over half the cost of DIYing it.
 
er yep. This thread is daft. Why anyone actually expected to get a good deal, good service and a positive experience out of this ***** promotion that was designed to get the Escort drivers to roll up and get 4 litres of "Chevrons" finest "Costco Value" oil dumped in their engine I do not know! Did anyone with an engine that required more than 4 litres of 10/40 Synthetic or better actually get the cheap oil change?
 
It says this in their T&C:

Prices based on supplying a maximum of 7 litres of oil. If more than 7 litres are required an additional charge may be applied in branch
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As for whether I'll get the cheap oil change, I'll find out in a weeks time! Mine uses 4.5 litres according to the manual, but it's more like 5.
 
danza said:
It says this in their T&C:



As for whether I'll get the cheap oil change, I'll find out in a weeks time! Mine uses 4.5 litres according to the manual, but it's more like 5.
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5 if you include a bit in the oil filter and the bit the pour on the rocker cover.

With a car that is quite oil sensitive you're a brave soul taking it to NVQ trainees.
 
Well I'll go ahead. If the oil is clearer than sooty black (i.e. they've actually changed it), I will be happy. I'll check the sump plug isn't overtightened and check the washer too.

I can't believe how someone can balls up an oil change. I'm a retard when it comes to car mechanics, and even I can change the oil/filter. I would've done it myself if I wasn't so damn busy!
 
I was going to get an oil change done at National, but after reading this thread i'm convinced the only outcomes are:

a) Me arrive and they tell me they haven't got my booking down.
b) Me arrive and them tell me they haven't got the filter.
c) Them do the oil change and overtighten the sump plug thus resulting in my engine dying.
d) Them overfill/underfill the oil thus resulting in my engine dying.

It doesn't look good!
 
Well it's simple really.

a) Ring them a couple of days in advance to check they're expecting you.
b) See above.
c) Check the plug/kick their arse.
d) Check oil level.

I would do all of this anyway if I'd had work done by someone I didn't normally use (except maybe checking the booking).
 
[TW]Fox;12137901 said:
Provided they use the correct oil, I'm struggling to see how even a YTS monkey can screw up an oil change. Unscrew sump plug. Drain. When it stops coming out, screw back in. Fill car with 6.5 litres of oil. Put filler cap on.

I know I'm going to regret saying this but.. how hard can it be? :p
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BMW sump plugs love to shear off. Mine sheared off the m3 when tried too loosen it from the sump. Could have turned into a real nightmare. Managed to use a centre punch to tap the remaining bit around slowly and got it out without damaging the sump. But it could have turned into a massive job very quickly
 
through personal experience I would get tyres changed at National but nothing else.

Had a battery changed on tuesday (ordered on line with 10% discount) and was concerned at the fitters level of competence.

1. Saw him using a screw driver 2 sizes to big to remove the plastic press studs supporting part of the induction system which needed removal to get at the battery (2 minute job). I showed him how to remove the studs correctly at which point he asked me to sit in the waiting room!

2. Managed to find my way back out into the workshop :p and noticed the battery was much larger than the factory item! when queried was advised that is what i ordered. The fitter removed the factory battery tray and manged to squeeze in the new battery!

3. 2 x battery clamps were broken during the work. They were rusty but i mentioned that wd40 might have helped I told the fitter to connect it up and i would sort it out myself. Heres the good bit.... the fitter connected up the negative lead first :eek: then kept plonking around with the positive clamp on the battery terminal:eek:... we all know the rule disconnect earth lead first reconnect last!

Anyway all sorted out now (battery clamps cost £6) and my car survived.

I suppose it's all down to the branch you use and the individual technician

As a positive I would like to say that i had a tyre replaced by National (10% internet discount)and the work was completed professionally.
 
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not sure where abouts in essex you are thricenightly but try elitedirect.co.uk in rainham, great service and cheaper than kwikfit/national.
 
Overlag said:
not sure where abouts in essex you are thricenightly but try elitedirect.co.uk in rainham, great service and cheaper than kwikfit/national.
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thanks for the advice - though elite are a bit of a drive from me.

with regard national oil changes i had an online price for fully synthetic castrol magnatec 5w/30 and oil filter at £25. this includes up to 7 litres of oil

thats a good price to just turn up with a suitable size container and takeaway to do the oil change yourself though also depends on quality of oil filter... as advised in my earlier post I would not trust their technicians to do an oil change.
 
We understand what it takes to keep your Ford car working just as it should. New Castrol Magnatec contains Intelligent Molecules for active and continuous protection, keeping your Ford car at its peak for longer.

Tested and approved to European Automobile Constructors Association (ACEA) and American Petroleum Institute (API) specifications, ideally suited for use in modern fuel efficient gasoline and diesel Ford engines including inter-cooled and turbo-charged and where the manufacturer recommends ACEA A1/B1 or API SL or ILSAC GF-3.

Meets Ford WSS-M2C913-B specification.

ACEA A1/B1

API SL

ILSAC GF-3

Meets Ford WSS-M2C913-B
 
Matt82 said:
even castrol edge only meets ACEA A3...

fuchs titan (what i put in the GF's fiesta this weekend) meets acea a5
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Meeting ACEA A5 is impossible on an oil with a HTHS above 3.5cP. The requirement is to have a value between 2.9 and 3.5 for ACEA A5. Other than that an a fuel economy test, A3/B4 and A5/B5 are identical.

You need a HTHS of >3.5 for ACEA A3/B4, also the VW and Mercedes Benz specs. Both of which are harder specs to meet than the ACEA ones.

ACEA specs are pretty basic, some engine tests are required in the OEM specifications, but with higher pass limits.
 
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