Eternal vigilance

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Sat 16 Aug 2003 17:41
Eternal vigilance - Roger Jones
As I've sung the praises of a certain High Street tyre fitter for changing oil, I'd better report what happened today. Prompted by HJ in today's Telegraph reminding us to change synth 1000 miles after changing from non-synth, I went into the cheapest source of Mobil 1. With manager's permission, I went along to the fitting bay to have a look, and am glad that I did. Young and inexperienced fitter was draining the autobox, not the sump. "No, that IS the sump", he said. "Well", said I, "when did you last see engine oil that colour?" Problem: sump hidden by protective panel and the sump plug is well concealed at the front of the engine.

All ended amicably and anyway I didn't lose my rag. They had to go out to the local accessories shop and buy 4.5 litres of auto transmission fluid and also 4.5 litres of Mobil 1 (because the pump on their large tank of Mobil 1 packed up). They readily admitted the mistake and I said that we all make mistakes, the key thing being to learn from them. I ended up paying £20 for 7.5 litres of Mobil 1. As usual, their attitude was good, so I will use them again. But you gotta watch 'em like a hawk.
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Sat 16 Aug 2003 20:07
Eternal vigilance - Aprilia
That's a pretty amazing story. I hope they filled it with the correct ATF and checked the level properly (remember - most auto's checked with engine running and in 'P'). What car was it?
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Sun 17 Aug 2003 06:24
Eternal vigilance - Roger Jones
MB E320 Coupé. Yes they did check it properly with the engine running and have offered to do so again. The car is fated: at its 36k mega-service a few months ago the MB main dealers put too little fluid in the autobox, which of course made it malfunction.
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Sun 17 Aug 2003 06:25
Eternal vigilance - Roger Jones
. . . and they did ring MB to check on quantity and type of ATF.
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Sun 17 Aug 2003 06:27
Eternal vigilance - Roger Jones
. . . the tyre fitters rang MB, not the main dealers. I've woken up now.
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