Ask Honest John

Most recently answered oil changes questions
I booked my Honda Civic in for its first service since I bought it, mileage 13,000. I was asked if I wanted an engine flush for an extra £33. I asked what this was and was told they flush out all the oil...
I have a BMW X1 XDrive 20D SE bought new in August 2010 with BMW service inclusive. After a year I have only done 7000 miles, mostly on long trips but with periods of short local ones. The Service Department...
I drive a Honda 1.6 Civic CVT automatic. This car is 13 years old, goes very well and has some 67,000 miles on the clock. The Honda has been serviced from new by Inchcape Honda and has only required a...
I have a 2006 Audi A4 2.0 TDI that has now reached 82,000 miles. In general it has been a very good car. It runs well, is economical, comfortable and well built. The only real issue has been in the last...
We bought a Nissan X-Trail Columbia on a 2007 plate last year and we have found that on start-up the engine sounds like a bag of spanners. This lasted for at least four or five miles but now seems to last...
I just got a SEAT Ibiza 1.2 05 reg with the AZQ engine. It has full service history with 50,000 miles on it. Do I need to fit the new cam chain and tensioner? I read that from 2004 onwards it was OK.
You repeatedly recommend to change the engine oil more frequently, ie every six months. On your website under 'Running in a diesel' you say "Leave factory fill of oil for the first year or 10,000 miles."...
My Vauxhall Astra Life 1.8 16v 91H 2007 has a warning light showing a car and spanner. I have just had an oil change, so it can't be that. Any ideas?
I note you recommend an oil change every 6000 miles for four-pot Saab 9-5 petrol engines. Does this apply to engines after Saab introduced a 'fix' circa 2004 for the sludge problem? As a Saab fan I half...
Please can you tell me how often should I get the oil and oil filter changed on my 2003 Peugeot 206 SW? Should I get the air filter done at the same time?