Oil And Filter Change On Blue Hdi

[Malcspring]

We have just done 1100 miles in our new C3 Picass diesel and I was contemplating giving it an oil and filter change (not a manufacturers requirement), but a good friend of mine who has a C3 Picass diesel as well as previously owning many diesel cars said it would be a good idea. Obviously being a new engine it is getting close to being run in and all the swarf and rough edges from the internal components will be swimming around. That was until I contacted a Citroen main dealer for a price for an oil and filter change. They quoted me £160. I thought, blimey all I want to do is have fresh oil and a new filter. I wasn't looking for a blooming service. Suffice to say I am re considering now. I don't want to do it myself (although I am more than capable) as it will invalidate the warranty. We are only planning on doing maybe 6/7000 miles this year, so it isn't what you would call high mileage.

I has really surprised me how the main dealers can get away with charging such high prices. If I remember correctly the government outlawed the practice of main dealers ripping customers off with servicing charges a few years ago. Now you can have your car serviced anywhere as long as they follow the correct procedures as laid out by the manufacturer and use official parts. I may end up going down that route.

Watch this space.

[Johndouglas]

You're right! There was a time when manufacturers specified an oil & filter change after 1000 miles but I can't help but wonder if it wasn't dropped to reduce maintenance costs for business users. However if you were to do an oil change yourself and use a good quality fully synthetic, low SAPS oil and a Purflex filter, a Citroen dealer wouldn't be aware of an interim oil change having taken place.

[paul.h]

I have locked your similar topic (Hello hello hello) so that any replies are only in one place and it is easier for the moderators to manage. The other option would have been for you to just continue the previous topic.

 

If you are only doing 6 to 7k miles a year you are not going to wear the engine out and if you change the oil/filter now it will probably be the only Citroen one that is done this year at 1100 miles. A petrol engine is supposed to wear in quicker than a diesel and years ago probably around 1500 miles for petrol and 10k miles for diesel may have been quoted to wear them in. I think different oils may have been used also to help the wearing in then.

 

If you do intend to do an oil change, I would get the oil, drain plug washer and filter from a Citroen dealer so they are the correct parts and you have a Citroen receipt for them to help your case if you do need a warranty claim on the engine or turbo (can not remember if you have a 1.6 hdi) and make sure you do it correctly, the oil filter cap torque setting may be on the cap (someone on here drained an auto gearbox by mistake instead of the engine). As a guide, 5 litres of Total INEO ECS 5w30 oil (your handbook may recommend 0w30 so check) may be about £25 through ebay or about £35 from a dealer and the oil filter about £10 and the drain plug washer less than £1. If you add time/cost to get them and dispose of the oil at your local recycling centre, DIY will cost about £40 but a bit more if you need the tools (torque wrench, possibly an allen key bit for the drain plug, large socket for the filter cap).

[Malcspring]

Thanks alot for your help Paul. Gives me some pointers for when I do it.