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Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - 00 1.8 Noisy Engine 27 Dec 2008 (Forum)
On cold start which improves as heats up. Also noisy, similar noise over 2500 revs. Fuel economy and performance seem ok, recently had oil change with right oil but has not improved. Car has done 97,000 with little service history after 60,000. Also does not start easily from cold, sometimes needs a 2nd turn of the key. Any ideas? -
shogun autobox fluid 7 Jul 2005 (Forum)
I think this one is for apprila! Want to change auto trans fluid but cant find a spec for the oil dealer wont sell it to me as they only buy it in bulk? I think it is synthetic? My local auto place John Makie (glasgow) tells me the the transmision is asian warner but others say it is mitsubishi's own! -
VW PASSAT TDI - Service Intervals 13 Oct 2001 (Forum)
Typically I do 30,000 miles per year. The manual recommends a 10,000 service interval, but I have read that I ought to change the oil & filter more often. When should I have the first done ? and what you recommend in terms of regular servicing ? What brand or type of oil would you recommend ? -
Renault megane 1.5 dci - EGR valve / fuel filter 21 Mar 2017 (Forum)
Renault megane 1.5 dci 05 loss of power not all of the time just when I put my foot down with a little acceleration, over taking! Or up hill. Have seen a lot about changing or cleaning the EGR and I'm also planning on changing the fuel air and oil filter. Do you think this will help at all? And also doing it myself would this be easy to change the EGR ? Thank you -
Rover 25 - Gearbox problems 27 May 2013 (Forum)
Could I just be low on gearbox oil? -
Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - 99 1.8 slight squeak from when changing gears? 16 Mar 2009 (Forum)
or a more serious problem? or is it i need to put some gearbox oil in? -
Fuel filter change - 1.8D Fiesta 1996 2 Feb 2007 (Forum)
How difficult is it to change the fuel filter on a 96 Endura engined 1.8 diesel Fiesta? I have done oil & filters on the car several times, next one due in a couple of weeks, and thought I'd stick a new fuel filter on at the same time. -
Astra H 2009 1.6 petrol - Oil non return valve issues on Astra H Z16XER 24 Jul 2025 (Forum)
New camshaft dephasers, solenoid valves , aux belt, timing belt, and many other things. I’m told that there is an oil non return valve that allows a bit of oil to stay near the top of the engine to send it directly into the VVT system on start up. But if this valve stops working, the oil drains right back down to the sump and the noise happens because of the time it takes for the oil to shoot back up to the VVT system. -
Vauxhall Corsa Breeze 1.2 Twinport 2005 - oil warning light on, loud engine & lack of power 10 Apr 2015 (Forum)
I took the car to a mechanic who has changed the oil pressure switch but this made no difference. He then advised me that I would be best getting a whole new engine put in as it could be a number of things. Having taken my car for a second opinion they said it could be the timing chain slipping a tooth that is causing my problems. -
Oil (again) 12 Sep 2003 (Forum)
Next question: what is the point of semi-synthetic oil? It appears to be something and nothing. My Harley Service Manual demands semi-synth in its transmission yet I have run it on Pennzoil 80w/90 fossil prior to changing to HD's own semi-synth a few months back and noticed no difference whatsoever (i.e. engaging first from neutral still frightens small dogs and old ladies hehe). -
? change diesel injectors (Fiat) 4 Oct 2005 (Forum)
When repeated shortly after no smoke can be seen. The engine uses very little oil so I doubt if the injector is smothered in oil. Is it time for the injectors to be changed? I do know in some VW diesels that bore wear can result due to poor spray pattern. Is this known in Fiat engines? -
anybody used a vacuum oil extractor? 2 Jul 2018 (Forum)
These vacuum oil extractors are quite popular in the USA enabling quick and easy oil changes but I've never heard of anyone (DIYers I mean) using one. I'm thinking of buying one as my car has large sump shield that is very difficult to get off when the car is just raised on front ramps (attempted once!). -
MINI Countryman - 15k over oil service - engine problems? 18 Mar 2018 (Forum)
It was booked in for a three year service under the service plan, but it turns out this wasn’t done (we didn’t spot this as the service light had been turned off, and there was a bunch of other work undertaken which we were more focussed on, but that’s a different cash horror story). It’s only just come to our attention that it’s now 13k miles over its oil change date, prompted by a need to top up the oil last week, an engine fault warning this week, and a need to check things ready for its MOT. The garage are denying that going over the oil service could’ve caused the engine fault, but that’s not obvious to me. -
Audi TT - AUDI QUATTRO haldex oil/rear differential damage 20 Nov 2016 (Forum)
I would like any thoughts to help understand what can cause such damage and how if the haldex oil change was maybe performed incorrectly this could in fact damage the differential to this extent. Anythng to help me have a knowledable discussion with the garage is greatly appreciated. -
Renault - Master - 96 2.5 too much oil- no engine start 23 Sep 2009 (Forum)
Looks like oil got sucked up into the fuel system. The RAC repair man drained the oil out and the van went through the MOT ok. Now, the van is very difficult to start in the mornings. It takes about 2 minutes of turning over the engine and then it starts with a puff of black smoke. -
1991 Nissan Patrol 4.2 Turbo Diesel 27 May 2005 (Forum)
Can anyone also advise me what keep an eye on with this car and what to look out for meachanically. Can I expect hassle-free running with this tank? Finally there is a little oil leakage from the small pipe that goes into the top of the Garrett turbo. Is this the oil feed pipe? If so is this oil just normal engine oil shared with the rest of the engine? What I'm getting at is: should I be particularly careful to change the oil regularly in order to prevent turbo wear etc.? -
MK 4 Golf: Fault codes & Auto-box oil 19 Aug 2003 (Forum)
The car is a 1.6 auto 8 valve and has done 40,000 miles. Also, does the auto-box require an oil change? I can’t find a dipstick or filler plug. I did ask this question of my local VW main dealer but was told they weren’t sure! Perhaps it is a “sealed for life” gearbox? -
Mk1 Golf - not looking good 18 Aug 2003 (Forum)
If I 'feather' the throttle, gently opening and closing it, I can get the oil pressure gauge to move up and down without any significant change in the engine speed. It's a mechanical gauge: I reckon that under power the crankshaft is being forced downwards by the action of the conrods, away from the oil feed holes in the journals (hence the drop in pressure). -
Oil Filters - Start-up rattle 16 Apr 2003 (Forum)
Reading the chat about filters rang some bells - my Cavalier 16V (2l ecotec)had started to tap (not every time) for several 'long' seconds after cold start-up since the last oil change (same 15/50 oil which I always use). The filter was made by FRAM which I've always thought to be a well-known make. Anyway, I've just swapped the filter to a genuine GM and, guess what, the start-up rattle has gone! -
Was my six-year Hyundai service carried out correctly? 30 Mar 2023 (Ask HJ)
I have a 2017 Hyundai i10 that was due for its 6 years/ 60,000 miles service. After booking the car in, the dealer has completed an eSentials Full Service....

