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It’s real easy to get lost with all the new oil specs.
for example most modern GM motors need dexos2 certified oil and not just the API spec. The oil has become another major part of these new engines efficiency. just like VW/BMW and many other manufacturers only recommend oils tested by them. You risk losing your warrenty using other oils even if they are good enough or better than required.
However there are plenty of fully synthetics out there designed with older cars in mind with the A3/b3 b4 specs. Mobil 1 have many synthetics to meat the various specs, also getting there oils certified by all major the manufacturers probably adds to the price too.
It’s never entirely straight forward.
It’s real easy to get lost with all the new oil specs.
for example most modern GM motors need dexos2 certified oil and not just the API spec. The oil has become another major part of these new engines efficiency. just like VW/BMW and many other manufacturers only recommend oils tested by them. You risk losing your warrenty using other oils even if they are good enough or better than required.
However there are plenty of fully synthetics out there designed with older cars in mind with the A3/b3 b4 specs. Mobil 1 have many synthetics to meat the various specs, also getting there oils certified by all major the manufacturers probably adds to the price too.
It’s never entirely straight forward.
[quote=”SpawnedX” post=46287]
I, as a certified technician, advise everyone to change their oil and not just their filter. Detergents, anti-rust additives, etc. will break down. Why risk it on the hopes that a quart of new oil at a time is going to protect you. Cars are thousands of dollar investments, a proper oil change is the cheapest and most proven insurance you can buy.[/quote]Exactly, The Additives package will not last. Nor will top up’s add enough to replace the existing additives.
Not to mention I’d rather get all the potential Vanish and Sludging agents like acids, that accumulate partially from burning fuel, out of my engine. The Dirt can’t be great for the engine ether.
The only way you get most of that crap and contaminates out is with an oil change, Ideally a flush too. you keep them away by doing it regularly.
[quote=”SpawnedX” post=46287]
I, as a certified technician, advise everyone to change their oil and not just their filter. Detergents, anti-rust additives, etc. will break down. Why risk it on the hopes that a quart of new oil at a time is going to protect you. Cars are thousands of dollar investments, a proper oil change is the cheapest and most proven insurance you can buy.[/quote]Exactly, The Additives package will not last. Nor will top up’s add enough to replace the existing additives.
Not to mention I’d rather get all the potential Vanish and Sludging agents like acids, that accumulate partially from burning fuel, out of my engine. The Dirt can’t be great for the engine ether.
The only way you get most of that crap and contaminates out is with an oil change, Ideally a flush too. you keep them away by doing it regularly.
Things Change plenty fast enough. Rock bands still the rounds at pubs and clubs here, and some dammed good ones too.
Things Change plenty fast enough. Rock bands still the rounds at pubs and clubs here, and some dammed good ones too.
[quote=”jeffrey” post=45922]Consider television sets. When I was a child they had “television repairmen”. Remember those guys?
[/quote]Funny you say that, My TV is in for repair, Id’ do it myself if it wasn’t for the warenty. Still, they would of swapped it out for a new one if it wasn’t worth £2000. I still Fix TV’s today as a hobby or keep some old CRT’s living. It’s surprisingly cheep if you take labour cost out of the equation.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Still alive and kicking. 🙂
What is scary is just how fast technology is progressing and how hard it is to keep pace and consider the consequences of it all, while trying to be a non super geek or nerd and have a life.
[quote=”jeffrey” post=45922]Consider television sets. When I was a child they had “television repairmen”. Remember those guys?
[/quote]Funny you say that, My TV is in for repair, Id’ do it myself if it wasn’t for the warenty. Still, they would of swapped it out for a new one if it wasn’t worth £2000. I still Fix TV’s today as a hobby or keep some old CRT’s living. It’s surprisingly cheep if you take labour cost out of the equation.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Still alive and kicking. 🙂
What is scary is just how fast technology is progressing and how hard it is to keep pace and consider the consequences of it all, while trying to be a non super geek or nerd and have a life.
wow. This is looking more and more like the consumer electronics industry with this side of things.
It doesn’t bother me too much because of my IT/ Electronics grounding.
I don’t think the changes will be too far beyond what we are already used to.
What does bother me is the lack of repair info that likely to be forthcoming ( and is far more likely to come from users and groups on the internet as it does for many things) because dealer will probably just swap faulty units out and they’ll be sent somewhere else for repair or recycling or just be discarded. It may well end up cheaper to just replace them anyway. Just Like other car parts. Most people I know don’t bother repairing TV’s or dvd’s or VCR’s anymore, usually because the repair will cost as much as a new one unless you know exactly what to look for and how to DIY or figure out how to DIY fix it.
The Diagnostic situation has been around for nearly as long as the OBD-II standard anyway most manufacturers have the own extended protocol that runs on the OBD port anyway what gives them access to many, many, more subsystems ( not vital to engine/HAVC/ABS operation) already that wouldn’t come up on a bog standard obd-II scan tool also these can give you far more useful info than the standard obd-ii scan tool as I found out on my 1998 VW golf. That should give diagnostic info like signal level from various antennas, indicating possible faults with those antennas, and other sensors, and even the devices themselves.
The possibly of incomplete and buggy software installed on these devices that could affect the operation of the basics of the car if these devices become too heavily integrated becomes normal. and The potential for privacy invasion, and new opportunities for theifs. In the consumer Electronics sector there are many companies who just struggle to even get the basic functionality right.
I can see firmware/software updates becoming a normal thing also automatic updates if via the internet, do screw up occasionally. People already get pee’d off with blu-ray players and the odd occasion when they do need to update it to play a new disc and the potential to brick the kit while updating it. you could end up with a situation like xbox live where you can’t get on xbox-live without updates. I can’t see this situation being acceptable if these things that require updates to even use the basic functions of your car.
Usually there is a fail safe to try again with failed updates and this might open up an quick money easy fix for some in the motor industry too if it gets that far.
seriously though in an ideal world most of the telematics stuff like a car radio needs to stay as a accessory that you can choose for your single/double din bay ( or an extension box for more computing power than can be linked to it somwhere else in the car) which you can pick and chose going as simple or comprehensive as you want while having no affect on the drivability and basic operation of the car. I mean Hell you can already buy some really cool double din units that Literally can do everything from sat nav to bluetooth, phone, internet, video player linked to many screens that kicks the manufacturers systems butts anyway. with options for big brother to watch you like a halk if you agree to them. The only thing that most don’t have at the moment is a link like an obd line so these devices have the potential to monitor you car things like speed, sensor data, health status’s and the ability to lock unlock or start without an additional interface which cost a heck of alot.
How many people really want a system like onstar built into there car that’s like big brother designed to track everything they do in the car everywhere they go, how fast, how they drive, even the built in mobile phone can be activated remotly and abused to listen into conversations. There is no easy way to limit what the system transmits back to base, without disabling it or if it’s even possible figuring out which wire(s) to cut so the GPS sat nav works but it cannot get mobile phone network access to call home.
Like Facebook I really don’t like these people having more info than is nessasary about me, because alot of these companies are awful loose with it. If it’s like facebook it’s really not hard for those with ill intentions to find info and use it for fraud. It could, completely innosent, like trying to sell you a service when due (still can be annoying being called up cold), or selling it to insurance companies so that can monitor your driving habits without your consent, to a worst case senario allowing criminals access with fully blown hack give theifs access and steal your car and stop you from and the law from tracking it.
You might want a system to track or shut down your car if stolen, most intelligent people who know the possible implications that such technology brings will want to be able to dictate there own terms and conditions or pick and choose from other providers. and also the ability to switch some hardware out if it becomes obsolete or change provider software or hardware if you learn your system has become exploitable!! Last thing most of us would want here is to have to buy a whole new car for an issue like this( a manufacturers potential wet dream or nightmare ).
Even manufacturers get it very wrong for example http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2169857/Alarming-moment-thieves-silently-steal-BMW-programming-blank-key-cost-just-70.html because There is no internal sensor near the window or obd port on the drivers side. The after market solutions for this issue are quite frankly brilliant and bring all the addition options like a remote start as well as fixing the blind spot.
With probably a new standard like an extended iso interface ( another add-on connector to the current power and speaker standard plugs that does not need to be plugged in for older kit ) which would enable communications with the car to get info like you can through the OBD port, and other sensors that may or may not be equipped to the car, Like antennas for GPS, L band satellite, FM,am, mobile phone/internet, wifi, cameras, parking sensors. Some of these are standard already but alot are not.
Another thing is the LAW.
I know in the UK Video players installed into the car have to have a wire attached to the handbrake if installed in the front of the vehicle to prevent playback when the handbrake is released!!
wow. This is looking more and more like the consumer electronics industry with this side of things.
It doesn’t bother me too much because of my IT/ Electronics grounding.
I don’t think the changes will be too far beyond what we are already used to.
What does bother me is the lack of repair info that likely to be forthcoming ( and is far more likely to come from users and groups on the internet as it does for many things) because dealer will probably just swap faulty units out and they’ll be sent somewhere else for repair or recycling or just be discarded. It may well end up cheaper to just replace them anyway. Just Like other car parts. Most people I know don’t bother repairing TV’s or dvd’s or VCR’s anymore, usually because the repair will cost as much as a new one unless you know exactly what to look for and how to DIY or figure out how to DIY fix it.
The Diagnostic situation has been around for nearly as long as the OBD-II standard anyway most manufacturers have the own extended protocol that runs on the OBD port anyway what gives them access to many, many, more subsystems ( not vital to engine/HAVC/ABS operation) already that wouldn’t come up on a bog standard obd-II scan tool also these can give you far more useful info than the standard obd-ii scan tool as I found out on my 1998 VW golf. That should give diagnostic info like signal level from various antennas, indicating possible faults with those antennas, and other sensors, and even the devices themselves.
The possibly of incomplete and buggy software installed on these devices that could affect the operation of the basics of the car if these devices become too heavily integrated becomes normal. and The potential for privacy invasion, and new opportunities for theifs. In the consumer Electronics sector there are many companies who just struggle to even get the basic functionality right.
I can see firmware/software updates becoming a normal thing also automatic updates if via the internet, do screw up occasionally. People already get pee’d off with blu-ray players and the odd occasion when they do need to update it to play a new disc and the potential to brick the kit while updating it. you could end up with a situation like xbox live where you can’t get on xbox-live without updates. I can’t see this situation being acceptable if these things that require updates to even use the basic functions of your car.
Usually there is a fail safe to try again with failed updates and this might open up an quick money easy fix for some in the motor industry too if it gets that far.
seriously though in an ideal world most of the telematics stuff like a car radio needs to stay as a accessory that you can choose for your single/double din bay ( or an extension box for more computing power than can be linked to it somwhere else in the car) which you can pick and chose going as simple or comprehensive as you want while having no affect on the drivability and basic operation of the car. I mean Hell you can already buy some really cool double din units that Literally can do everything from sat nav to bluetooth, phone, internet, video player linked to many screens that kicks the manufacturers systems butts anyway. with options for big brother to watch you like a halk if you agree to them. The only thing that most don’t have at the moment is a link like an obd line so these devices have the potential to monitor you car things like speed, sensor data, health status’s and the ability to lock unlock or start without an additional interface which cost a heck of alot.
How many people really want a system like onstar built into there car that’s like big brother designed to track everything they do in the car everywhere they go, how fast, how they drive, even the built in mobile phone can be activated remotly and abused to listen into conversations. There is no easy way to limit what the system transmits back to base, without disabling it or if it’s even possible figuring out which wire(s) to cut so the GPS sat nav works but it cannot get mobile phone network access to call home.
Like Facebook I really don’t like these people having more info than is nessasary about me, because alot of these companies are awful loose with it. If it’s like facebook it’s really not hard for those with ill intentions to find info and use it for fraud. It could, completely innosent, like trying to sell you a service when due (still can be annoying being called up cold), or selling it to insurance companies so that can monitor your driving habits without your consent, to a worst case senario allowing criminals access with fully blown hack give theifs access and steal your car and stop you from and the law from tracking it.
You might want a system to track or shut down your car if stolen, most intelligent people who know the possible implications that such technology brings will want to be able to dictate there own terms and conditions or pick and choose from other providers. and also the ability to switch some hardware out if it becomes obsolete or change provider software or hardware if you learn your system has become exploitable!! Last thing most of us would want here is to have to buy a whole new car for an issue like this( a manufacturers potential wet dream or nightmare ).
Even manufacturers get it very wrong for example http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2169857/Alarming-moment-thieves-silently-steal-BMW-programming-blank-key-cost-just-70.html because There is no internal sensor near the window or obd port on the drivers side. The after market solutions for this issue are quite frankly brilliant and bring all the addition options like a remote start as well as fixing the blind spot.
With probably a new standard like an extended iso interface ( another add-on connector to the current power and speaker standard plugs that does not need to be plugged in for older kit ) which would enable communications with the car to get info like you can through the OBD port, and other sensors that may or may not be equipped to the car, Like antennas for GPS, L band satellite, FM,am, mobile phone/internet, wifi, cameras, parking sensors. Some of these are standard already but alot are not.
Another thing is the LAW.
I know in the UK Video players installed into the car have to have a wire attached to the handbrake if installed in the front of the vehicle to prevent playback when the handbrake is released!!
just this week ironically I fixed a driveability issue on my VW golf.
It’s been hesitating especially when it gets cold, and often idling rough, sometimes stalling when coming to a stop.
No check engine light but there was an intermittent code 00537 lamda sensor lower limit exceed intermittent . It was pretty clear it was running Lean.
I cleared the code and just left it to Idle, it was back in a minute. Fortunately I know for a fact there are 2 other sensors that have a huge tenancy to go faulty. The coolant temperature sensor, which I replaced 11 months ago. Which leaves the MAF which is rewound for going faulty. So I unplugged the MAF and it idled nice and smooth. 😀
I gave it a clean with contact cleaner, put it back and it ran alot better. at least during the day time. Fortunately during the day when I have it a nice drive I went to the scrap yard and picked up a MAF for next to nothing. and the problem reared it’s head in the cold evening again not as bad but still there.
Put the other maf sensor in, the code didn’t come back but the problem seemed to still be there. Went for a drive the next morning it was still freeing and the car ran perfectly.
The worst one I know of is my mates AUDI A4 which he brought second hand from a dealer, It was intermittently cutting out, just after we put some BG44k in there to give the fuel system a clean out and a fresh start.
They took the car away and to diagnose it, They couldn’t find the problem took it to Audi They put a new fuel pump in and said it was fine, got it back and it was still acting up and getting worse. They had another look changed the ignition leads plugs, the problem was still present. In about the 3rd week and middle of the second month of the issue they finally had a look in the fuel filter and it was clogged up with sludge. They opened up the fuel tank and it was lined with sludge from a possible fuel contamination.
Stuck in another fuel system cleaner after steaming it out and it’s been fine since. the bill was about £1600 which the dealer agreed to split with him.
He said thank **** you put the BG44k in there else we may never have found this, and I would have footed the whole bill down the line when this reared it’s ugly head later.
just this week ironically I fixed a driveability issue on my VW golf.
It’s been hesitating especially when it gets cold, and often idling rough, sometimes stalling when coming to a stop.
No check engine light but there was an intermittent code 00537 lamda sensor lower limit exceed intermittent . It was pretty clear it was running Lean.
I cleared the code and just left it to Idle, it was back in a minute. Fortunately I know for a fact there are 2 other sensors that have a huge tenancy to go faulty. The coolant temperature sensor, which I replaced 11 months ago. Which leaves the MAF which is rewound for going faulty. So I unplugged the MAF and it idled nice and smooth. 😀
I gave it a clean with contact cleaner, put it back and it ran alot better. at least during the day time. Fortunately during the day when I have it a nice drive I went to the scrap yard and picked up a MAF for next to nothing. and the problem reared it’s head in the cold evening again not as bad but still there.
Put the other maf sensor in, the code didn’t come back but the problem seemed to still be there. Went for a drive the next morning it was still freeing and the car ran perfectly.
The worst one I know of is my mates AUDI A4 which he brought second hand from a dealer, It was intermittently cutting out, just after we put some BG44k in there to give the fuel system a clean out and a fresh start.
They took the car away and to diagnose it, They couldn’t find the problem took it to Audi They put a new fuel pump in and said it was fine, got it back and it was still acting up and getting worse. They had another look changed the ignition leads plugs, the problem was still present. In about the 3rd week and middle of the second month of the issue they finally had a look in the fuel filter and it was clogged up with sludge. They opened up the fuel tank and it was lined with sludge from a possible fuel contamination.
Stuck in another fuel system cleaner after steaming it out and it’s been fine since. the bill was about £1600 which the dealer agreed to split with him.
He said thank **** you put the BG44k in there else we may never have found this, and I would have footed the whole bill down the line when this reared it’s ugly head later.
Quick googling found this
[quote=”http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/reset-40.shtml”%5DRESETTING SERVICE LAMP ON 1999 S40/V40
1, Hold down the odometer button
2, Turn the ignition so all the lights come on
3, Keep holding the odometer down for 30 secs or until the service light starts flashing
4, Release the odometer button
[/quote]
Quick googling found this
[quote=”http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/reset-40.shtml”%5DRESETTING SERVICE LAMP ON 1999 S40/V40
1, Hold down the odometer button
2, Turn the ignition so all the lights come on
3, Keep holding the odometer down for 30 secs or until the service light starts flashing
4, Release the odometer button
[/quote]
Well, my relationship with my local garage over the years has gone from, oh crap my cars broken to, I go there to get same day parts or I pretty much tell them exactly what’s wrong and what I want investigated / fixing.
They call me big head now.
I always buy second hand cars, they always work better after I’ve had them a while. Now I know my cars better now. I’m finding I spend more money at the garage even though I do alot of the servicing and work myself. Especially when I know exactly what needs doing but I know, I lack certain expensive tools or or really don’t fancy the job ( or under my nasty breakable air intake manifold) . The only downside with them is they charge time for labour, but I really don’t begrudge that because they have never given me any bullcrap about what needs doing to my cars. nor do they overcharge and they warn me if something is likely to go wrong like ceased up bolt’s nuts and the like.
The only time I’ve gone anywhere else is when I had a CV boot leak and my local tyre places was dumb enough to give me a fixed price quote for the job( and I knew my axel bolts where likely ceased up good and proper )2 expected hours labour became 4, I really didn’t fancy this job myself and unfortunately a leaking CV boot is an MOT Test failure here else I might have gone with Eric’s plan of waiting until I need a new Axel.
I haven’t had an Issue on the yearly MOT test in years I haven’t been aware off. I haven’t had a break down yet since I’ve been driving.
The Video is great, I totally agree as a customer I respond much better to be given a choice or recommendations, people usually respond much better to that in my experience as an IT tech. In IT and electronics repair people still sometimes surprise me. Sometimes when I lay out the situation a few ways to sort it in English as much as possible and my recommendation, sometimes I give the customer enough info to make a totally different decision that’s clearly better for them.