how to make sure your'e getting what you paid for

[mazjak]

Just engaged a new mechanic to replace the lower radiator hose on my Vt and do a minor service.
$315 later .The only thing I can tell for certain was done was new radiator hose with new clips and new wipers.
The service included flushing out radiator, changing engine oil and supposedly topping up others( which I know didn't need doing ) adding coolant after hose was replaced and a new air filter.
I have doubts about whether the oil was changed at all or the radiator was flushed and thought the sparkplugs etc should have been changed.
Anyone have any tips on how to check if oil has been changed and if radiator has been flushed and also whether in this case the spark plugs should have been changed or is that generally part of a major service.I was originally quited $150-200 for the service

Any advice appreciated
Maz

[Calaber]

If the service includes oil and filter, one trick is to remove the old filter, wipe it clean and write the car's odometer reading and date on it with texta pen where it won't be seen when it's screwed back on. Check to see if it's been replaced when taking delivery. Spark plugs can also be marked with texta which won't be seen when the leads are reconnected.

[F l a k]

The oil will be all clean and nice looking on the dipstick if it's been changed, black if it hasn't.

[VYMAD]

If it's had an oil change, the oil should be extremely clean, with no petrol or burnt smell to it.

[azkwazere]

If the service includes oil and filter, one trick is to remove the old filter, wipe it clean and write the car's odometer reading and date on it with texta pen where it won't be seen when it's screwed back on. Check to see if it's been replaced when taking delivery. Spark plugs can also be marked with texta which won't be seen when the leads are reconnected.

Okay, how are you meant to remove the filter without loosing all the oil all over your floor?
2nd... how are you meant to then check it again after you've got the car back? Both require you to drop the oil!

aZk.

[VYMAD]

Removing the filter won't lose much oil, or get under and do it without removing it.

[Calaber]

Okay, how are you meant to remove the filter without loosing all the oil all over your floor?
2nd... how are you meant to then check it again after you've got the car back? Both require you to drop the oil!

aZk.

Umm, have you ever removed your filter? As VYMAD says, little is lost, it can easily be caught and put back into the motor before servicing. The filter only holds about half a litre - not the whole sump full.

And you know the writing's there - you can get under to see if the filter has been swapped or not.

YOu obviously haven't done this or you wouldn't have asked.

[nemesis_adrasteia]

spark plugs are usually part of a major service.

as said above the oil should be clean have a look at the filter if it hasnt been replaced it will at least have some dirt/road grime on it. check your air filter... pull it out and look at it.

[Grennan]

If you take the filter off you may as well just do the service yourself...

A minor service is usually oil, oil filter and a top up/check of your other fluids. You might also get away with a fuel and air filter change.

Pretty easy to tell if your oil has been changed. Even a dirty engine with new oil in it, the oil will have a honey tinge to it. The filter will look pretty clean to.

315 bucks sounds fairly hefty...lets say its 100 bucks in parts which would be fairly generous.

[MikeCuzzy]

My service the other day cost $319 that included:

Oil/Oil Filter, Air Filter, Spark Plugs, Fuel Filter, Fan Belt, Coolant flush, General checkover (she's done a fair few km's and needs a thorough going over), Adjusting handbrake, a nice variety of clamps and pipes were loose and well partly broken - amongst other things that were done too - so counted as a major service. I don't think Holden planned for the 450,000km service...

Some people reckon that he charges a bit steep, but this guy does a good job and has been working on this car for 12 years and it hasn't broken yet

[m.c ren]

you et wat you pay for

[Grennan]

My service the other day cost $319 that included:

Oil/Oil Filter, Air Filter, Spark Plugs, Fuel Filter, Fan Belt, Coolant flush, General checkover (she's done a fair few km's and needs a thorough going over), Adjusting handbrake, a nice variety of clamps and pipes were loose and well partly broken - amongst other things that were done too - so counted as a major service. I don't think Holden planned for the 450,000km service...

Some people reckon that he charges a bit steep, but this guy does a good job and has been working on this car for 12 years and it hasn't broken yet

320 bucks... Id say for that what you get is entirely reasonable.

[Munz]

dude you own a 97 berlina not a drag car



go buy a manual and learn how to do it yourself and start saving $$$

[DAKSTER]

$320 sounds like a pretty decent price for the job. Just the oil and parts would cost half that, and the mechanic doesnt work for free.

Good mechanics used to return your old parts to you in the box the new one came in, unless it was an oil filter or something that was particularly grubby. He'd take the time to show you the part he replaced, and often explain why it had needed replacing, pointing out the worn bits.

Some old school mechanics still do that. Its a shame most dont though.

[Asmodai78]

If your paranoid about getting someone else to service your car go and get your self a UV light pen and light, mark everything (oil filter, oil sump plug, spark plugs, air filter etc etc) and before you leave your mechanic/ service centre check it and dont pay till its done if you catch them out.

[azkwazere]

Change my oil all the time and it pisses out every where... half a litre of oil is a shit load... the sump (mine) only holds 4litres of oil (4.1 from dry)...a 1/4 of your total oil capacity is a lot to loose. If a mech. is going to dodge you, he will do things like clean off the filter etc. with turps so any writing you have disapears... they do things like wipe down the sump plug with degreeser and shit so it looks like they changed it. I've even heard stories of mechs. pouring a bit of oil on the headers and claming it was overflow when filling to make it sound legit.

Im pretty impressed if you are will into go to the effort of getting you car on ramps, undoing the filter, catching the oil, disposing of the oil, cleaning the filter, marking the filter, reinstalling the filter, paying to get the car serviced, getting the car back on ramps, removing the new filter, catching the oil, checking the filter, re-installing the filter again, topping up the oil you just lost.. etc.

Go to that much effort and you may have well just changed the oil your self.

Easy method is to just run a stanley knife down the lendth of the filter so it scores it, marks still there when you get it back then you know its the same filter. For spark plugs, get some of your mrs nail polish on a brush and just mark each of the ceramic areas of the tops (dont need to take them out, just pull the leads off). If they go to the effort of pulling them out to clean the marks off then its highley likely they will just put new ones in.. Air filter, just put a cut in it somewhere.

Bit hard to tell if they've flushed your radiator out or not.. if its a decent flush then they would have taken your radiator out to do it (reversve flush etc)... You can always mark some blots clips etc. with a paint pen to see whats been moved etc.

Easiest thing with your oil is to check your dip stick.. if it was due for an oil change it would have been getting dark. If its noticably lighter in colur then its safe to asume they've changed it out.

aZk.

[Calaber]

I don't do any of those things I suggested. Servicing my car is bread and butter stuff and I'm damned if I'd pay someone else to do it. The OP asked how you can be sure you get what you pay for. I suggested a couple of things that let you check parts are being replaced as they should be.

However, writing the odometer reading on the oil filter before putting it on the car is a safeguard you can use. However, my idea of removing it, marking it and replacing it really doesn't make much sense. If you can do that, you might as well put a new one on. But you sure don't lose a quarter of the total oil capacity when you drop it - it's mounted above the normal full sump level and the only oil you lose is that in the filter itself.

[strgas]

next time you want a service and worried about what you getting then try supplying your own parts to used oils filters spark plugs etc etc and ask for the return of old parts unless they contain fluids like oil petrol could be messy if left in a box in the back of your car . I have seen many customers supply their own parts , weather its being suss on their mechanic or cause they like to use brand name oils or just the use of genuine parts only Many reasons but always check before and after dropping off your car for service .

[Grennan]

$320 sounds like a pretty decent price for the job. Just the oil and parts would cost half that, and the mechanic doesnt work for free.

.

If you saw the prices of parts. You would kill your mechanic.

The bulk of the cost is labour and expenses.

[azkwazere]

lets see... $320

Decent Oil - $50-60
Oil Filter - $15
Air Filter - $15
Spark Plugs - 6? x $3-4 = $24
Radiator Fluid Concentrate - $30
Radiator Hose - $20
Clamps - $3

Rough Parts Cost: $167

Now, its takes a good hour to flush and fill your radiator and another hour to change your oil and filter + top up other fluids.
So lets say 2 hours labor... @ $70 (conservative) per hour cost = $140

Total Cost: $307... not far off the money there kids.

aZk.

[304runner]

Okay, how are you meant to remove the filter without loosing all the oil all over your floor?
2nd... how are you meant to then check it again after you've got the car back? Both require you to drop the oil!

aZk.

LOL! Yeah so Im guessing you have never serviced you own car ey...

And for whats its worth, I use to use a glow in the dark ink pen to mark any bolts required to be removed on what ever it is that needs doing by a mechanic I didnt trust while my normal mechanic was away sick, and check it with a black light that I picked up from Bunnings for $4 when I get it back.

The ink gets damaged when a tool has touched it so you'll know if they have done what the charge you for when you look at it.

[azkwazere]

LOL! Yeah so Im guessing you have never serviced you own car ey...

And for whats its worth, I use to use a glow in the dark ink pen to mark any bolts required to be removed on what ever it is that needs doing by a mechanic I didnt trust while my normal mechanic was away sick, and check it with a black light that I picked up from Bunnings for $4 when I get it back.

The ink gets damaged when a tool has touched it so you'll know if they have done what the charge you for when you look at it.

...did you even read the rest of the thread??...clearly not...nice work champ!

[304runner]

...did you even read the rest of the thread??...clearly not...nice work champ!

Yes, yes I did...

Please refer to my original post.

Kind regards....