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[Varche]

My Dads low usage ( in terms of mileage) Fiesta is a year old today and is going in for its service. He uses it every day.

In the Ford dealer blurb there are  three TLC treatments recommended which he is declining . I am interested in what folk think about them and the prices. They are:

Bacterial cleanse £25, recommended every year.
Is this a diy item ? If so presumably you can buy whatever they “spray” in. Anyone do this on their car.

Brake Fluid change £50 recommended every two years
Is that a reasonable time frame. Does it just degrade with time as it absorbs water or does heat and heavy braking also come into play?

Engine flush and fuel treatment  £24. Recommended every two years.

Two things here. First is added to engine to clear oilways and sump of sludge at oil change.
Is this spmething that needs to have been done regularly to avoid suddenly releasing a load of gunge on a several years old vehicle?
Second is a fuel additive. To clean the whole fuel system , lowers CO2 emissions, removes harmful contamination . Contains an octane booster to improve performance and in most cases to improve mpg. Noticeably. Seems a big claim. Presumably this is “STP” type treatment bottle just tipped in fuel tank.?

Which of those, if any,  do those forum members with newer cars do? Are they automatically included in service specs?

[STEMO]

Unless these things are part of the manufacturers servicing schedule, I politely decline them. Renault recommended an air conditioning clean when the wife had her captur. When I said I hadn't noticed that one in the book, the nice young lady just changed the subject.

[BazaJT]

Bacterial cleanse is often referred to as an "air con bomb",basically it's a can of spray and you set the car running with air con on and trigger this can,put it in footwell of car shut the door and walk away for a while letting the can empty itself and the "smoke" in the car disappears.Yes you can buy it over the counter and do this yourself[read the instructions though as they may vary product to product] It has long been recommended to change brake fluid every two years[unless you've got silicone fluid in there-but I don't know that manufacturers use silicone from the factory]how many owners ever bother with this is debatable though.Engine flush and fuel treatment is imo something of a con job and easy earner for the dealers.

[Nick W]

They're £5 cans of snakeoil that are recommended purely to increase the dealer's profit margin. The only one that you'll know if they actually used is the 'bacterial cleanse' as you'll smell it.


Oil flushes and fuel treatments are for the gullible, don't let that be you.

[Kevin Wood]

I would say all of the above are snake oil except the brake fluid change. That probably is genuinely in the service schedule for every 2 years and is worthwhile IMHO. Regardless of how it is used, it absorbs water and, if the fluid gets too bad, you'll suffer more expensive issues eventually.

[Shackeng]

You can buy a brake fluid tester quite cheap which shows if the fluid has deteriorated. I have one, but also rely on common sense. I didn't have my Mondeo changed at 2 years and 11k for £53. I'll do it myself next year in the unlikely event I still have the car, and I'm sure it will be fine.

[Doctor Gollum]

2-4 years is the usual interval for brake fluid, REGARDLESS of mileage...

Manufacturers either include it every other service or as an ad-hoc item based on time.

It's fair to say that in a healthy system, with normal use, the fluid will probably still be safe past four years... But the more you use the brakes, either by way of abuse or plain mileage, the sooner it should be changed.

Track cars possibly every weekend.
Plod, etc every six months.
Taxis annually.
Typical usage driving hard, 2 years.
Typical usage driving gently, 4 years.

But certainly wouldn't go much past that. Size of car and gearbox type will also have a bearing...

[TheBoy]

Pretty much all cars are some variant of DOT4 brake fluid, so that'll be every 2 years as part of the schedule.

The antibaterial A/C 'dangle berries' is up to you, but a tin is around £7, and easy to do.

Engine flush, if its been serviced, not needed. So is the dealer admitting they aren't servicing it properly?

[Varche]

I am presuming the engine flush is done same day as oil change. Let old oil out( or suck it out through dipstick?) then add four litres (approx) of light oil laced with fairy liquid. Run engine for five minutes, empty and refill with real oil....... Probably would be the kiss of death for every old engine but done from new maybe beneficial.

Funnily enough they collected it this morning. Last night they rang to check "it is the service and engine flush and oil treatment?" My Dad quick as a flash said No, just the service.

[Nick W]

I am presuming the engine flush is done same day as oil change. Let old oil out( or suck it out through dipstick?) then add four litres (approx) of light oil laced with fairy liquid. Run engine for five minutes, empty and refill with real oil....... Probably would be the kiss of death for every old engine but done from new maybe beneficial.

It's even more of a con than that: pour a half litre can of Super-gullibility-miracle-jism  into the engine whilst it's still hot from screaming into the workshop at max rpm minus one. Then drain and refill the engine as normal. This stuff is mainly about increasing your profitability targets and you can further improve them by charging for the stuff and not actually using it, as the customer will never know the difference.

[deviator]

Probably would be the kiss of death for every old engine but done from new maybe beneficial.

This. The engine flush does breakdown crap stuck to the inside of the engine. However I bet a significant proportion doesn't come out with the oil. Meaning that dirt that was doing nothing but being stuck there is now having the same effect on your oilways as a 100 day smoker and their veins.

[Varche]

Just arrived back

10,000 mile inspection to Ford spec

Plug - oil drain 10.79
Oil filter assembly 9.20
Filter odour and 16.85
5W20 oil(1/10ths)   five at 11.60 equals £58.00
Cleaner glass  1.70


Parts 96.54
labour 60.96
VAT 31.50        total £189

Presumably the oil doesn't come out of 5 litre cans but lots of one litre bottles

He nearly fell over. It has just costs him £330 this morning as the house kerosene boiler had a serious leak that had ruined two major components. He had a cataract removed yesterday to add to his misery and I won't let him drive, gallavant around etc 

[annihilator]

2 things stick out £58 for oil and a sump plug probably buggered by the mechanic and not chargeable to him 

[Doctor Gollum]

£10.79 for a sump plug is taking the piss however you type/read it

A new plug for the A Class was a third of that...

[Nick W]

2 things stick out £58 for oil and a sump plug probably buggered by the mechanic and not chargeable to him 

Cost of the oil is what you pay at a dealer. Any dealer.


Sump plugs are now consumable items; the retained seals see to that. I wouldn'tdon't reuse one more than a couple times. £10 is taking the piss though.

[annihilator]

It's only 12 months old and they are about £3 online.

[Nick W]

It's only 12 months old and they are about £3 online.

When you buy parts from a business who is doing the work, you are going to pay the retail price. It's one of the ways they make a profit, just like any other service industry. And a main dealer's retail price will always be more than an online supplier.

[BazaJT]

Oil will be bought in bulk and delivered by tanker or[given it's 5w20 they've used bought in 250L drums[local Ford dealer uses Fuchs oil] I know it's only £1.70 on the bill but I don't understand where glass cleaner comes into the equation.

[Varche]

It had a free external wash as part of their customer care. That seems reasonable enough. I guessed the glass cleaner was for cleaning the windows afterwards. Just had a look and they vacuumed and cleaned the inside. Nice touch

Nick is right . Dealers have bigger overheads and charging list price ifor oil and filters is the norm. £189 for a service to me for a first 10 kmiles service is reasonable. If you put aside the depreciation then he has nothing else to pay the dealer for the next 10k miles.

[New POD]

This stuff is mainly about increasing your profitability targets and you can further improve them by charging for the stuff and not actually using it, as the customer will never know the difference.

That would be Fraud. As in Theft. As in a CRIMINAL act.

A mate of mine services Motorbikes for a living. He is an ex world super bike mechanic, but only works on big expensive bikes that are out of warranty, and he encourages the owners to come and help and see how it's done. 

He regularly finds bikes where the owner has paid for spark plug replacement, still wearing the original plugs, and occasionally mismatched plugs, where they've replaced the 2 easy to reach one's but ignored the other 2.

 

[Nick W]

This stuff is mainly about increasing your profitability targets and you can further improve them by charging for the stuff and not actually using it, as the customer will never know the difference.

That would be Fraud. As in Theft. As in a CRIMINAL act.

Yes, it is. And your point?

[Marks DTM Calib]

That's quite steep, even on the Jag (without discount) a basic service is only £200 and they polish it to (plus you get a nice courtesy car and fancy coffee)

[TheBoy]

This stuff is mainly about increasing your profitability targets and you can further improve them by charging for the stuff and not actually using it, as the customer will never know the difference.

That would be Fraud. As in Theft. As in a CRIMINAL act.

It happens. And probably more often than you may think, and both at dealers and back street garages.

[Mister Rog]

Bacterial cleanse is often referred to as an "air con bomb",basically it's a can of spray and you set the car running with air con on and trigger this can,put it in footwell of car shut the door and walk away for a while letting the can empty itself and the "smoke" in the car disappears.Yes you can buy it over the counter and do this yourself[read the instructions though as they may vary product to product]

I didn't know about these. I may try one, I've inherited a Toyota IQ that just stinks due to moulting dog, fags, gof knows what etc. So, anything that helps even just a bit

[TheBoy]

Bacterial cleanse is often referred to as an "air con bomb",basically it's a can of spray and you set the car running with air con on and trigger this can,put it in footwell of car shut the door and walk away for a while letting the can empty itself and the "smoke" in the car disappears.Yes you can buy it over the counter and do this yourself[read the instructions though as they may vary product to product]

I didn't know about these. I may try one, I've inherited a Toyota IQ that just stinks due to moulting dog, fags, gof knows what etc. So, anything that helps even just a bit

It wont help that.  You may get a short term masking, but you need to (properly) deep clean the entire interior.  That's why dealers often walk away from smokers cars, or offer £6-8k below book, as the interior removal and cleaning is very expensive

[Mister Rog]

Bacterial cleanse is often referred to as an "air con bomb",basically it's a can of spray and you set the car running with air con on and trigger this can,put it in footwell of car shut the door and walk away for a while letting the can empty itself and the "smoke" in the car disappears.Yes you can buy it over the counter and do this yourself[read the instructions though as they may vary product to product]

I didn't know about these. I may try one, I've inherited a Toyota IQ that just stinks due to moulting dog, fags, gof knows what etc. So, anything that helps even just a bit

It wont help that.  You may get a short term masking, but you need to (properly) deep clean the entire interior.  That's why dealers often walk away from smokers cars, or offer £6-8k below book, as the interior removal and cleaning is very expensive

Thanks for those words of encouragement 

[Nick W]

Bacterial cleanse is often referred to as an "air con bomb",basically it's a can of spray and you set the car running with air con on and trigger this can,put it in footwell of car shut the door and walk away for a while letting the can empty itself and the "smoke" in the car disappears.Yes you can buy it over the counter and do this yourself[read the instructions though as they may vary product to product]

I didn't know about these. I may try one, I've inherited a Toyota IQ that just stinks due to moulting dog, fags, gof knows what etc. So, anything that helps even just a bit

using the most powerful machine you can get your hands on, hoover the entire interior(seats, carpet, boot, headlining etc) several times. After that, use upholstery cleaner on everything. Then buy a couple of Neutradol gel sachets and leave them in the car. This is how small hotels used to create no-smoking rooms

[Mister Rog]

Bacterial cleanse is often referred to as an "air con bomb",basically it's a can of spray and you set the car running with air con on and trigger this can,put it in footwell of car shut the door and walk away for a while letting the can empty itself and the "smoke" in the car disappears.Yes you can buy it over the counter and do this yourself[read the instructions though as they may vary product to product]

I didn't know about these. I may try one, I've inherited a Toyota IQ that just stinks due to moulting dog, fags, gof knows what etc. So, anything that helps even just a bit

using the most powerful machine you can get your hands on, hoover the entire interior(seats, carpet, boot, headlining etc) several times. After that, use upholstery cleaner on everything. Then buy a couple of Neutradol gel sachets and leave them in the car. This is how small hotels used to create no-smoking rooms

 

I am getting there, clean, clean and clean again, will get some Neutradol.

At least I can sit in it without retching now   

Beginning to think about other things as well, like updating SatNav. At least the maps are on an SD card 

[Doctor Gollum]

Removing the seats and cleaning the carpet under them plus under the edges of the boot carpet will also help...

[Andy B]

....

I didn't know about these. I may try one, I've inherited a Toyota IQ that just stinks due to moulting dog ...... So, anything that helps even just a bit

I once bought a cheap none runner Astra estate that'd been used as a GSD kennel ..... it stunk inside. I remove various interior panels & carpet,  doused them with various detergents and jet washed them. It always seemed better until you next got in when the weather was warm/hot and you realised it still had an odour of wet dog. 
I was quite glad when it got written off.