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• 306 d turbo lacks power. 30 May 2005 (Forum)
  and regained some power, but still not as much as the other 306. The maintenace was poor, the oil was practically non-exsistant and what was there resembled tar! and the air filter was just as black so I have changed the oil and air filters, oil and put cleaners through the air and fuel systems, but this is my first diesel and I'm struggling.
• HJ the Mondewoe has gone, run'g in car? 17 Apr 2004 (Forum)
  The new car is a Nissan Primera 2.2 DCi S, not as basic as it first seems. I thought that as its FIRST service is at 12000 miles I would ask HJs advice on running in and oil changes. My own thoughts were change oil and filter at 2000 miles for a good mineral oil to the Nissan spec and then at 6000 change again to full synthetic for diesel engines with changes at 6000 after that.
• Garage negligence 22 Mar 2022 (Forum)
    The oil filter was changed as I asked; the other filters were not due for a change.  I was also given 0/30 oil, not the grade I asked.  There seems little point in my providing a written job list if it is lost or ignored.
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  How much should it cost to change a cambelt? 18 Nov 2024 (Ask HJ)
  I own a Peugeot 2008 petrol car. At its recent five year service I was advised that the cambelt would need doing next time. I enquired about a rough estimate...
• Is Lukoil from National Autocentre any good? 27 Jul 2018 (Forum)
  I usually get a 6 month oil change at National Auto due to doing fairly high mileage but not enough to warrant an interim service at my local garage.  They used to use Fuchs Titan oil but have switched over to Lukoil, I can't see much reference to it anywhere.
• Volkswagen Passat (1997 - 2000) - Can a 97 TDI run on bio-fuel or veg oil? 22 Aug 2008 (Forum)
  I've informed a friend about the change in fuel tax laws, where alternative fuels attract no Excise Duty so long as you use less than 2,500 litres a year - enough for about 17,600 miles. He's just bought a nice 1997 Passat 1.9TDI (90bhp) version and would like to know whether it can be run on veg oil, or veg-oil/diesel mix?
• Peugeot 207 (2006 - ) - 08 1.4 HDi oil draining 18 Jul 2008 (Forum)
  Hi, My wife has a 1.4 HDi Peugeot 207. I'd like to do an oil change as we bought the car new and plan to keep it a while. Problem is that I had a quick look underneath and can't locate the oil drain plug in the sump. I didn't have time to do a thorough check but I'm beginning to wonder if there's one at all.
• BMW 320 TD Compact (150bhp) ..2003 / 53 30 Apr 2007 (Forum)
  I appologise if this has been asked previous / i know it has on (VW's), I have just bought the above car and want a oil / filter change for peace of mind.........i have nearly 10k miles to go B4 nxt service.I rang main agents this morning who said the oil service is roughly £130 and the oil used is Castrol Long life.
• Renault K7M engine question n.o 1 3 Dec 2006 (Forum)
  Clio 1.6 8v K7M engine. Changed the coolant on the wife's Clio, all sorted, however I removed what I thought was the cyl block drain plug to find it did not have coolant behind it, this was a short bolt about 20mm long with an 11mm head situated on the front of the block near the gearbox end below the oil pressure switch, when removed the flat end of the bolt had engine oil on it though no oil leaked from the hole, it had Loctite on it so I re-Locite'd it and replaced it, wouldn't mind knowing what it is there for, Haynes does not help, any ideas?
• VAG oil (again) 8 Sep 2004 (Forum)
  Given that i do a 10 mile commute twice a day at an average of 10-12 mph with loads of stop/starts, i usually change the oil myself after 6/7000 miles last time I did this, the only oils available for a 90hp TDI on variable servicing were whatever the dealer sells and castrol longlife slx II - does anyone know of any other brands, and more importantly, does anyone know of the cheapest source for a brand that meets the spec ?
• New Gizmo - more snake oil? 2 Apr 2004 (Forum)
  There's an advert in this month's Caravan Club magazine (I know, I know) for a magnet device that fits around your oil filter and claims to hold particles down to as small as 2 microns in the filter, particles which would normally get re-circulated. When you change the oil/filter you slip it off and put it on the new one.
• Update on 306 woes 2 Dec 2001 (Forum)
  and the guy there said he reckoned the noise is coming from the top end, so this weekend i'm going to open up the rocker cover and check for play in the camshaft. Also, he too like diesel reckoned that there might be an oil pressure problem. One point, the oil filter is a Bosch are these any good, also, the garage put Duckhams QRX in apparently, I don't think that stuff is any good, is it worth doing another oil change with a Purflux oil filter and Magnatec/Mobil 1?
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  Can I recommend Dr Tranny Lubeguard Instant Shudder for autobox oil changes in the Land Rover Discovery 3? 2 Mar 2013 (Ask HJ)
  I noticed in your column at the weekend some advice to someone about a judder and an autobox oil change. This is becoming a more frequent problem in the...
• 
  Does the Dacia Sandero Stepway use a cam belt or timing chain? 23 Nov 2022 (Ask HJ)
  Can you tell me if the 2015 Dacia Sandero Stepway 0.9TCE has a timing chain or belt? And at what mileage would you suggest a belt or chain replacement?...
• VW Golf 2003 reg - automatic 1.6ltr - Automatic has trouble shifting gears, over revs 24 Jun 2022 (Forum)
  I think my car has an issue with the gearbox. It struggles to change gear which results in the revs going up to over 5000rpm before it can change. I consulted a local garage who suggested they change the oil and oil filter to see if that helps but unfortunately it has not.
• Toyota Corolla (1992 - 1997) - 94 1.6 Gearbox Sometimes Difficult Getting In/Out 25 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  The gearbox is occaisonaly becoming difficult to getinto 1st gear, and occasionally going from 2nd to 3rd it feels a bit crunchy. Sometimes it is hard to pull itout of 5th or 4th to change down. These problems are only intermittent, it will often drive OK for several days. When I next have the car serviced, is it possible to change the gearbox oil to improve things/extend the life of the gearbox and what type of fluid/oil should be used ?
• Skoda Elegance 1.9TDI 5/2003 11 Dec 2006 (Forum)
  Not the PDI engine, so I have been told good quality semi-synthetic only is required, and it will be on 6 month oil changes (6-7K miles) rather than variable servicing. About to ask local Skoda garage if they can consult their computer to check if brake fluid etc has been done. Was considering oil & filter change, brake fluid swop (DOT4?)
• Mini Cooper S 2007 - Mini Cooper - Huge Oil Consumption 31 Jan 2017 (Forum)
  Approximately 9 months ago the engine of my 2007 Mini Cooper S started making a rattling noise on start up. I took the car to a Mini service garage who informed me that there was no oil in the car, however the oil warning light had not come on. I have regularly checked the oil since then and the car has now used approximately 8 litres of oil, inlcuding an oil change at it's last service with Mini since last summer.
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  Does the Fiat 500 Twin Air use a belt or chain? 10 Jun 2022 (Ask HJ)
  I have a 2015 Fiat 500 Twin Air which has done 33,000 miles. Should I be considering having the cam belt changed?
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  Ford Focus EcoBoost - when should I change the cam belt? 9 May 2022 (Ask HJ)
  When would you advise changing the cam belt on my 2016 Ford Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost?