Oil Service - What bits (& Genuine or not!)

I've had my FL since 20k miles (2004 td4). I'm now mid-service intervals (30k) and I'm keen to do regular oil changes. Having previously owned only small petrol engined cars before, I've a couple of questions that I thought you good people could help with (some are obvious I know, but I reckon it's better to ask a silly question...!):

- Oil & oil filter need changing, but what else would you recommend.
- Should I flush the engine at every oil service (I suppose it can't do any harm!)
- I've always used Slick 50 in my previous cars, any reason why I shouldn't use it in my TD4?

The other question is 'genuine or not' - I don't know how much the bits are from LR, but LR parts always seem to be over priced. Any thoughts on using 3rd party bits??

With regard to genuine parts or not, I think its down to the owner, personally I prefer to use them as the always come with a warrenty and normally good quality, how ever I dont normally get them fitted at a LR garage due to cost

So long as you carry out a regular service protocol you shouldnt have any probs.

You dont have to use LR parts which are Rover parts really.

Oil filter - Champion, Unipart and even Halfrauds are every bit as good as, if not better than LR parts. You could of course go to a BMW (Td4 - german) dealer but you just pay for the name

Oil - Any modern semi/fully synthetic oil for modern turbo diesels will be grand. You dont have to stick to shell helix

Never used slick 50 on any engine, save your money for extra service goodies

Hi james. . .the best thing for any doosles is oil/filter change, halfords half syn/doosle oil , and there filter, make sure you fit a new oilseal /washer to the sump plug, get this from lr, as i have been caught out wiv cheap crap or wrong size, drain after warm, not hot, dont bother with any addictives, need correct socket for filter, i use a large adjustable with a bar through eye end,put smear of clean oil on gasket of new filter , do it up and give it a nip [ techi term fer not to tight]plenty of rags to hand ter mop up spillage. . . .

The best option is to get it into Kwik Fit who will use Mobil Semi Synthetic oil together with an oil filter that they supply for £29 all in

My Wifes car (TD4) gets the oil changed every 4 months by them.

Its a no brainer, how much does 6 litres of decent semi synthetic cost + a filter then the grief of doing it and the disposing of the old oil.

Zippy said:

The best option is to get it into Kwik Fit who will use Mobil Semi Synthetic oil together with an oil filter that they supply for £29 all in

My Wifes car (TD4) gets the oil changed every 4 months by them.

Its a no brainer, how much does 6 litres of decent semi synthetic cost + a filter then the grief of doing it and the disposing of the old oil.

Click to expand...

You mean ........ Kick Fit Fitters

If you trust your local outlet by all means go for it, £29 you cant go wrong

Personally I have heard too many horror stories.

Besides, Unipart/Part co usually supply Kick Fit. Best go to the Unipart distributor and buy from them direct

Well it might be a no brainer, un its horses fer courses, but i would rather do it myself as i would know it was drained properly the correct parts fitted and things not done up so tight, and the correct oil put in, and its not difficult,you have good fitters,and yer have to pay em, then you have quick dont give er ****e handy men, er no thanks. . . .

I always stand and watch the Kwik Fit guy do the job, i normally take the socket for the filter as they never have one to hand this gives me the excuse i need to stand and watch to make sure they do it correctly.

So far so good, the guy knows me by name now at the branch i use.

They always use Mobil semi synthetic and he always gives me an extra 2 litres as top up oil.

So they don't use a hoover to suck the oil out the dipstick hole?? I've seen it done at garage in Southampton.... never went there again!

thats how most garages do it nowadays.

James_A said:

don't use a hoover to suck the oil out the dipstick hole?? !

Click to expand...

we talkin bout a slitty man here ?

Have never seen the suck method used, by a mechanic anyway .

The guy always moans that the belly plate makes the job a 1/2 hour affair where it should be 10 minutes if there was a sump plug access plate.

I know you can do a mod to the belly pan to make it easier but as i never do the oil change i dont care.