Oil Service cost/time

[jacob_1987]

Another interesting thing is that Skoda Special Oil ... which as I recall is Mobil ( the fancy green one) if you search well you can pick it up for $50, but also oil spec is 10/30. I'm not sure for a diesel if a warm viscosity of 30 is going to do the trick, probably better to stick with a bit thicker oil, to keep the engine running a tad longer.

[brad]

Lets say that you are building the house and in the builders quote there is the cost of installing electrical wiring for lets say $2000.
You’re a qualified electrician, so you tell them that you will do it yourself (supplying your own wires power points and so on).
For sure that they will not take $2000 off from the original quote because the profit from the building of your house is the profit from the parts and labour.
If too many customers would supply their own than the cost of labour to build the house would go up. Just think about it. The business is about making money.

My advice is get everything in writing next time or buy the oil and the tools and do everything yourself and save even more.

I can do it all myself and unlike many on this forum, I can also sign-off the service manual & retain warranty. I'm a qualified mechanic.

The reason i choose not to is that I was hoping to establish a "relationship" with the dealer which may (or may not) smooth any future warranty claims (if they arise). I figure if the service cost is reasonable, then it's a good investment.

WRT your supply of parts / electricians analogy. We never did that at any of the workshops that I worked at / ran /managed. If the customer supplied parts then we lost the cream on the job but generally we charged the same labour rate for everyone and only added a 10%-15% markup on our parts. By offering reasonable prices on our parts, our customers didn't bother sourcing their own bits as they knew they weren't being ripped-off. IMO, any markup beyond 20% is gouging.

I currently manage a $5mill/pa civil/mech/elec contract & our contractors are bound to a 10% markup on supplied parts (and they are audited to keep things transparent).

[brad]

I've got my Skoda serviced at a bloke I've serviced my car's at... I actually purchased the oil Nulon (10W-40W), and filter (from skoda)

In total cost me

Oil - 45
Filter - 19.95
Labor- 50

It's a bit late but it's $114, and i could of got it cheap if i got a generic filter and maybe a generic brand name filter. The thing about oils these days is that there soo much the same, yet there's always that urge to get that more flashy oil. The most important aspect is the grade is correct, especially for these diesels. Also trying to ensure they match VW501, just incase of any warrantry issues.

but also oil spec is 10/30. I'm not sure for a diesel if a warm viscosity of 30 is going to do the trick, probably better to stick with a bit thicker oil, to keep the engine running a tad longer.

I wouldn't be overly concerned about viscosities. The main thing as you said, is to ensure you used the oil that is Approved to the correct VW spec. Nulon do a 5w-40 that is VW505.

As for generic oil filters - for the $5 you save, I wouldn't bother. In some of the other VWs, generic oil filters (Ryco comes to mind), cause big pressure drops in the system. You need to stick with an OEM spec filter (but not necessarily purchased from dealership).

[Transporter]

I can do it all myself and unlike many on this forum, I can also sign-off the service manual & retain warranty. I'm a qualified mechanic.

The reason i choose not to is that I was hoping to establish a "relationship" with the dealer which may (or may not) smooth any future warranty claims (if they arise). I figure if the service cost is reasonable, then it's a good investment.

WRT your supply of parts / electricians analogy. We never did that at any of the workshops that I worked at / ran /managed. If the customer supplied parts then we lost the cream on the job but generally we charged the same labour rate for everyone and only added a 10%-15% markup on our parts. By offering reasonable prices on our parts, our customers didn't bother sourcing their own bits as they knew they weren't being ripped-off. IMO, any markup beyond 20% is gouging.

I currently manage a $5mill/pa civil/mech/elec contract & our contractors are bound to a 10% markup on supplied parts (and they are audited to keep things transparent).

You charge 10%-15% mark up if you charge enough (overcharge) for labour - IMHO.

I'm sure that the dealer quoted you no more than the recommended retail price for that oil.
I know that recommended retail prices are high, but people are happy when they bargain the price down, so isn't it all of us fault that these RRP are high?

If I would let the dealer to do the job I pay the bill and I wouldn't make a noise over $50
let alone to go and buy my own oil and let them to put it in my engine - this is not a way to establish a "relationship" with the dealer which may (or may not) smooth any future warranty claims (if they arise).

But since you said they verbally confirmed $160 then that changes whole situation and it is the receptionist mistake not to note it on the Job sheet but again if you want to establish a "relationship" with the dealer you wouldn’t want to go about it and make everybody there to remember you for that.
There was a better way to save your $50

P.S.
I'd ask you and answer a question related to your last sentance but I would go off topic and the post could be deleted.
You cam PM me.

[jacob_1987]

The interesting this is that after 2 incidences I purchased oil filters from Skoda, both filters seam quite different. THe first I purchased seemed as though it the filter had more lines (the triangle filter lines if u know what I'm saying) whilst the second seamed like it had less. It was weird, but they were both the same part and packaging. Not too sure about how Skoda Australia is stocking their stuff, I'm personally thinking of going down to VW and ordering the Passat/Golf one to see if it's any different.

[gregozedobe]

It is worth noting that it seems the 1.8 TSI engine requires a different filter to the previous VAG 4 cylinder engines (there was a thread on Briskoda about an independent servicer who had problems with a 1.8TSI engine after he did an oil change).

[brad]

It is worth noting that it seems the 1.8 TSI engine requires a different filter to the previous VAG 4 cylinder engines (there was a thread on Briskoda about an independent servicer who had problems with a 1.8TSI engine after he did an oil change).

I think Jacob has a diesel with a cartridge filter rather than a spin-on (like a 1.8TSI)

I think with any of the parts, don't buy without an engine code or VIN match up. I've seen too many cock ups with Euro cars.

[woofy]

Just as I posted in another thread, I've asked Skoda about the interim service 7500km/6mths and been told $325.

My Mazda 6 minor services sit near that, but the interim are around $200. I've now asked what the 15,000km will be as I bet it's the same price.

This dealer is also an Audi dealer/service, funny enough another Mazda dealer I used was the same, and they always charged more due to Audi customers just blindly paying lots...for some reason it seems that selling a more expensive car there means it flows into the "budget" cars as well.

[brad]

Just as I posted in another thread, I've asked Skoda about the interim service 7500km/6mths and been told $325.

My Mazda 6 minor services sit near that, but the interim are around $200. I've now asked what the 15,000km will be as I bet it's the same price.

Maverick reckons he gets his GTI Golf 7500km oil & filter change for ~$200 inc LL 504.00 compliant oil, loan car & BJ from the receptionist. Perhaps you have to be quite specific about wanting just the oil & filter rather than "a minor service".

I used to do the whole interim/short oil changes thing but I think oil technology has progressed enough that the only person to benefit from my extra expenditure will be the next owner. YMMV but I think I'd rather save the servicing money & put it towards better tyres when that is due.

[woofy]

Yeah I did say I just wanted the oil changed. I have a flow on car system, where i keep my new car for 3-4yrs then it goes to my wife and I get something new. So we will have it for at least 6-7 yrs so well worth looking after it. Our current 6 I changed over early but have put fully synthetic in as soon as I could for that reason.

[brad]

Yeah I did say I just wanted the oil changed. I have a flow on car system, where i keep my new car for 3-4yrs then it goes to my wife and I get something new. So we will have it for at least 6-7 yrs so well worth looking after it. Our current 6 I changed over early but have put fully synthetic in as soon as I could for that reason.

How many kms do you do in 8 years? 200,000? If you can't get 200,000 trouble-free kilometres with enough buffer to onsell with a clear conscience then

Thinking back over all my cars in the past 20 years ( a few before that would have benefitted though), none of the problems would have been avoided or reduced by more frequent oil changes.

Don't forget, the OEM oil in our Skodas is good for up to 30,000km if the vehicle is on variable service regime.

[woofy]

I think the 6 will be still under 100,000km when we go to sell, so maybe I might give this a miss. I still want the squeaking door rubber or whatever it is looked at so maybe just get that dealt with.

I have heard that VW engines had problems with oil sludge though, and my cousin who is an Audi/VW mechanic says they recommend the interim services for everything except rental and govt fleet cars which is what prompted me.

But he also said he never sees any metal or anything in cars that go through to the 15,000kms either.

BTW has anyone else noticed the bright orange dipstick leaves orange on their hands and/or fades?

[brad]

I have heard that VW engines had problems with oil sludge though, and my cousin who is an Audi/VW mechanic says they recommend the interim services for everything except rental and govt fleet cars which is what prompted me.

I think that was the old 1.8T engines. Also a lot to do with running & environmental conditions such as low temperatures, stop/start traffic, short runs etc. I also think a lot of users took their cars to "quick-change" oil places that haven't a clue & use one type of oil for all vehicles.

The first commercial garage i worked in specialised in cheap oil changes - 1982 & $10 for oil & filter change. The oil we used was bought in 1000L lots and was recycled. They paid us 10c a litre to buy our old oil and we paid them 29c a litre to buy it back. We used to run it in our own cars & changed it every 1000km (unless it all burnt off in the interim). In 4 years I think we only had one problem and that was because the owner didn't check the oil level & let it run dry. So I figure if crap oil like that is "OK", then good oil is like a miracle product.

I think a lot of the oil change thing depends on usage - if my wife was using the car for her normal collection of short trips throughout the day & the engine never getting properly hot then I'd probably go to short changes but for me, I drive 3-5 km in a 70 zone then 40km in a 100-110 zone, repeat in the evening so everything gets nice & hot.

BTW has anyone else noticed the bright orange dipstick leaves orange on their hands and/or fades?

Nope

[woofy]

I work in an office, but also do lots of trips around town. The trips are fine, but the run into the office is sluggish, the car does get warmed up though on the way. Petrol usage on that run is horrible in the Skoda, I see it drop in normal driving around home.

Other times I do freeway travel..and around home its all clear 70-80-100 roads, and easy sailing. My fuel usage drops over weekends due to the nicer/faster roads.

Got a good price from Volkspower..so might use them if I decide to get it done. Still want Skoda to check over a few little issues.

[indulis]

Sale of Castrol Edge 5W-30 oil at Repco

Had it for 5l for around $30. This is VW 50400 50700 compliant.