checking car serviced correctly?

ThriceNightly · 9 Jan 2009 at 07:55

this week took the car in for a service to my local service station for a "full service".

the garage is known too me as they mot my classic car and also mot and service my mums car.

i have a suspicion in the back of my mind that not all the service was carried out on the day. After dropping the car off at 8am it was still parked in the same spot at midday and i got a call at 4pm to say it was ready (though still parked in the same spot- this of course could be coinicidence)

they seemed really busy on the day with lots of other cars -mostly mot work

the service was too include new spark plugs, air filter and oil and filter change, general checks and top ups

i'm thinking of pull the airfilter and a spark plug out to check if they are in new condition

will also visibly check the oil filter but are there any checks i can do to on the oil?

any other advice appreciated

ThriceNightly · 9 Jan 2009 at 08:01

another query on the service was the use of forte engine flush and forte fuel treatment billed at a total of £20.

difficult to check / prove that these were used?

SoliD · 9 Jan 2009 at 08:02

Oil would be golden if its brand new and depending on how old the other stuff should more than likely be a dark brown colour.

ThriceNightly · 9 Jan 2009 at 08:16

SoliD said:
Oil would be golden if its brand new and depending on how old the other stuff should more than likely be a dark brown colour.

will check this.

was thinking of checking for fresh socket marks on the sump plug - though i think some garages use a pump to remove the old oil?

bad_ass_neil · 9 Jan 2009 at 09:00

the oil may not be golden! depending on the car.
my diesel dirtys the oil up almost straight a way. but the teg stays golden for a good few thousand.

clean oil filter (on the out side) could be checked. but i guess the easiest would be the air filter. should look spanking new.

oh and you will never be able to prove the engine flush. but i would never let that stuff touch my car anyway.

Defcon5 · 9 Jan 2009 at 13:40

bad_ass_neil said:
oh and you will never be able to prove the engine flush. but i would never let that stuff touch my car anyway.

I think the forte stuff is supposed to be good

ThriceNightly · 9 Jan 2009 at 16:06

well looks like i was being a bit paranoid......

spark plugs are definitley new ngk

the air filter & oil filter has definitley been changed and the oil seems okish. it's possible that that it's been quite some time since last service and the engine flush (if used

) is still doing its job. I might for peace of mind treat the car to another oil change in 1 month with some good stuff (doubt the garage stuff is up to much)

If the garage were less busy on the day and paid me a bit more attention I would not have not had to pull their work apart to check, but at least they appear to be honest in having carried out what they charged me for.