Vauxhall Service History. . . or not!

[Ghosts in my machine]

Must admit, oil hasn't been changed since last service, but when I did the breathers yesterday I did notice some mayo in one of the pipes. I have been doing mostly very short journeys lately though.

Do they just stamp the book for the basic service, even if it's not the one specified in the schedule? If so this may be the way forward and do the rest myself.

May have to reluctantly sell Omega next year due to company car, so want to keep options open. Always done my own servicing before, never had a stamp in the book, but I've always been what a friend of mine describes as an "end user" for cars, ie. the one who gets to take it to the scrappy after using it. After being stung by Vx once, was keen to find out just how much it matters.

[TheBoy]

Must admit, oil hasn't been changed since last service, but when I did the breathers yesterday I did notice some mayo in one of the pipes. I have been doing mostly very short journeys lately though.

Do they just stamp the book for the basic service, even if it's not the one specified in the schedule? If so this may be the way forward and do the rest myself.

May have to reluctantly sell Omega next year due to company car, so want to keep options open. Always done my own servicing before, never had a stamp in the book, but I've always been what a friend of mine describes as an "end user" for cars, ie. the one who gets to take it to the scrappy after using it. After being stung by Vx once, was keen to find out just how much it matters.

The gunk in the breathers is more likely a result of not changing oil regular enough, rather than just short journeys....

[Admin]

I would say it is a mix of both...

Certainly the car needs a clean out (I find A38 northbound to junction 28 M1 and back is a good run).

After that you should look at an oil and filter change and cleaning the breathers and throttle bodies. If need any assistance, drop me a pm.

[mar892ree]

Personally, i'm really NOT interested in main dealer stamps in the service book !
These stamps can be obtained from Ebay at times, and also if you have a good mate working in the trade !

A stamped service book holds about as much water as a bucket with a hole in it for me !
Would much rather see a bunch of receipts for parts brought etc and even the average person can see if a cars been looked after or not !

I'm NO mechanic, but its not hard to see honest car when viewing to buy !

[TheBoy]

Personally, i'm really NOT interested in main dealer stamps in the service book !
These stamps can be obtained from Ebay at times, and also if you have a good mate working in the trade !

A stamped service book holds about as much water as a bucket with a hole in it for me !
Would much rather see a bunch of receipts for parts brought etc and even the average person can see if a cars been looked after or not !

I'm NO mechanic, but its not hard to see honest car when viewing to buy !

Advantage of dealer stamps if you're buying a car, is you can ring dealer and ask what they've done (they'll keep it all on record).

[Markie]

every 6000miles for oil being the most important.

or even more regular, max mileage for diesel is 5k, so do every 2.5k.

Agree with Jamie - my tuppence worth was of course based on petrol cars  :-/

[TheBoy]

every 6000miles for oil being the most important.

or even more regular, max mileage for diesel is 5k, so do every 2.5k.

Agree with Jamie - my tuppence worth was of course based on petrol cars  :-/

I still think 6k is too long for even petrol cars. Nobody makes a readily available automotive oil that doesn't start to break down within 7k....

[mar892ree]

LOOLLLLL shouldnt that be not what they have done on a car, BUT what they havent done  

Anyhow, they might even charge for this service of providing information on  cars service history !

I also thought the gereral concensus was NOT to TRUST VX dealers !!!

[TheBoy]

LOOLLLLL shouldnt that be not what they have done on a car, BUT what they havent done  

Anyhow, they might even charge for this service of providing information on  cars service history !

I also thought the gereral concensus was NOT to TRUST VX dealers !!!

Of course, its usually what they charged for, not necessarily what they did.

The service is normally free from most dealers.

I am unable to trust my local dealer in Milton Keynes, but the one in Banbury is better (though still poor). Hence why I get them to do cheapest Masterfit service, just to get book stamped by Vauxhall dealer.  As said, it was very handy to have a fully dealer stamped book after the car was repatriated from France, and breakdown cover people were looking for a reason not to pay

[TheBoy]

I also thought the gereral concensus was NOT to TRUST VX dealers !!!

Actually, you have one of the better dealers in Northampton - the one near the BMW place....

[mar892ree]

Grose's Cliftonville !
There a Masterfit type outlet and the main dealer ( Grose's ) is a few miles away, in Kingsthorpe !

I have had some good dealings with Grose's Cliftonville, but with previous Vauxhalls i have owned !

Its just the dammed price of the labour that makes my wallet scream with agony !

[EddieX]

My last car had FDSH for 6 years/ 99000 miles when I bought it. Brake fluid had been changed once. Not impressed.
I did all my own servicing and repairs, kept a diary and all bills. When I P/X'd it the salesman looked at the paperwork and said " Thats better than a stamped service book".
Guess what I'm doing with this car  

[TheBoy]

My last car had FDSH for 6 years/ 99000 miles when I bought it. Brake fluid had been changed once. Not impressed.
I did all my own servicing and repairs, kept a diary and all bills. When I P/X'd it the salesman looked at the paperwork and said " Thats better than a stamped service book".
Guess what I'm doing with this car  

I agree, but for sake of £50 a year, a fully stamped book in addition to all other receipts is even better...

[Admin]

I still think 6k is too long for even petrol cars. Nobody makes a readily available automotive oil that doesn't start to break down within 7k....

Can't completely agree with the above.

Yes oil should be change every 5k max, but it is because of contamination, the crap it picks up, rather than degredation caused by shear. The basestock used in both Vx semi and fully synth is very good.

The Omega engine is not the most stressful of environments. The engine does not rev particularly high and the operating temp is normal.

[STMO123]

The Omega engine is not the most stressful of environments. The engine does not rev particularly high

Speak for yourself LB