Technical New oil and Filters

[Adam1984]

It's clearly had a new filter, but it doesn't look like they drained it via the sump plug. (But they may well have done it by sucking it out as I mentioned before... in fact probably had to to take the filter off otherwise you get a big puddle on the floor

If you want peace of mind, its an easy job to do yourself... described here: https://www.fiatworkshop.co.uk/fiat_Panda_Oil_filter_replacement.shtml

But if you don't fancy trying it, I suggest you find a better garage than where you've been already Most tyres places will do an oil change for you if you don't fancy finding a mechanic. For example https://www.kwik-fit.com/servicing/packages/interim-service. You'll probably be able to watch them do it too.

This was my oil taken the other day the next day after they did the service. What do you think?

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

KwikFit also offer an oil change only option: https://www.kwik-fit.com/servicing/packages/engine-oil-and-filter-change

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

This was my oil taken the other day the next day after they did the service. What do you think?

Two comments: not clean, and not full
Time to find a new mechanic...

 

[Adam1984]

Two comments: not clean, and not full
Time to find a new mechani

Two comments: not clean, and not full
Time to find a new mechanic...

Honestly.
You think it's not been done? I wonder why they would put a new filter on, but not do the oil. They even stamped my service book as a full service.

I did try to contact the mechanic who did the service but has never replied to me.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Just spotted you said a 'full service'... so, what's the air filter look like? That gets changed at a full service too, every two years (as opposed to the interim one in the years in between). A new filter will be spotless! A two year old one pretty grotty.

 

[Adam1984]

Just spotted you said a 'full service'... so, what's the air filter look like? That gets changed at a full service too, every two years (as opposed to the interim one in the years in between). A new filter will be spotless! A two year old one pretty grotty.

I haven't checked the air filter.

Can I send you another picture of the oil if I take one shortly?

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Honestly.
You think it's not been done? I wonder why they would put a new filter on, but not do the oil. They even stamped my service book as a full service.

I did try to contact the mechanic who did the service but has never replied to me.

Yes, it has been done (otherwise would be black). But not fully drained via that drain plug... If the plug had been unscrewed there would be a very clean area around it.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

All you are doing here is confirm why (when I can) i do these things (and several other jobs on the house etc) myself

 

[Adam1984]

Yes, it has been done (otherwise would be black). But not fully drained via that drain plug... If the plug had been unscrewed there would be a very clean area around it.

So think it will be ok for another year? As I only do about 5000 miles a year

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

So think it will be ok for another year? As I only do about 5000 miles a year

With that low mileage, probably it will be fine.
However, note that with low mileages, it's more important to change the oil every 12 months, so it will need doing in a year's time. Low use is actually more damaging to cars than high mileage (generally), especially if only used for short trips.

 

[Adam1984]

With that low mileage, probably it will be fine.
However, note that with low mileages, it's more important to change the oil every 12 months, so it will need doing in a year's time. Low use is actually more damaging to cars than high mileage (generally), especially if only used for short trips.

Thank you.

Well my friend mechanic, just did my brake fluid flush and change and said my brake oil was so dirty it needed doing.

My transmission oil was done too.

And my coolant he laughed at. Said it was about 3.5L left in the tank and drained it looked like just water. So that is now changed too. All that's done at least for 2 years.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Thank you.

Well my friend mechanic, just did my brake fluid flush and change and said my brake oil was so dirty it needed doing.

My transmission oil was done too.

And my coolant he laughed at. Said it was about 3.5L left in the tank and drained it looked like just water. So that is now changed too. All that's done at least for 2 years.

Coolant should be good for ten years, and the gearbox has no change interval specified in the first 120,000miles (although I'd change mine sooner than that). If your mechanic has done those jobs, then he will certainly have changed the oil too. Nothing wrong with using an oil extractor (it's quicker and less messy!), but it can leave a little behind. I think you can rest easy now.

 

[Adam1984]

Coolant should be good for ten years, and the gearbox has no change interval specified in the first 120,000miles (although I'd change mine sooner than that). If your mechanic has done those jobs, then he will certainly have changed the oil too. Nothing wrong with using an oil extractor (it's quicker and less messy!), but it can leave a little behind. I think you can rest easy now.

My friend mechanic who did the coolant, brake and transmission, didn't do the service on my car. It was someone else.

 

[Mike1alike]

Yes, to me it looks like it's what @Herts Hillhopper said, filter is new and oil new, too but most likely the old oil not drained completely, just aspirated.
@Adam1984, it's safe to use the engine as it is, as said, for 1 year.
I tell you what, there is a very good oil additive you can use, Liqui Moly MoS2. You even have space to put it in . This is a very very good additive, I'm using it continuously since I discovered it, some years back. It offers very good engine protection and if you're gonna use it, first thing you'll notice the engine will sound better immediately after you put it in, sound goes smoother, less noisy.
This is what I'm using, It goes 50 ml. to 1 L of oil, I put in ~150 ml every new oil change.

 

[Adam1984]

Yes, to me it looks like it's what @Herts Hillhopper said, filter is new and oil new, too but most likely the old oil not drained completely, just aspirated.
@Adam1984, it's safe to use the engine as it is, as said, for 1 year.
I tell you what, there is a very good oil additive you can use, Liqui Moly MoS2. You even have space to put it in . This is a very very good additive, I'm using it continuously since I discovered it, some years back. It offers very good engine protection and if you're gonna use it, first thing you'll notice the engine will sound better immediately after you put it in, sound goes smoother, less noisy.
This is what I'm using, It goes 50 ml. to 1 L of oil, I put in ~150 ml every new oil change.

So I can put this in now, even if the oil is a week old?

 

[Mike1alike]

Yes, very much so!

 

[Adam1984]

Yes, very much so!

Thank you.

Will look at it on amazon. How do you put in engine. Just where you top up the oil?

 

[Mike1alike]

Yes, just like that. And in regard to oil being 1 week old (practically new) you can add the additive any time, no matter how old the oil is. Is just that if you soon after that do the oil change, you'll technically throw the additive away, but it does good as linfmg as you use it.
And here's the legend of this additive:

The origin of this product was in WW2, when Rommel's tanks in Africa had difficults to get oil supply and the germans sent molibden in powder and put it with WATER in the engines, and worked.
Later, Fangio tested a car that was filled with regular oil + liqui moly MoS2, then drained all the oil and without any lubricant except the protective molibden film left , drove the car 160 km at high speed in the Buenos Aires Autodromo. After inspection, the engine had no damage at all.
The principle is that the molibden particles adeheres ONLY in the parts where more friction are, forming a physical shield in the (rare) event that oil fail to lubricate. Specially on engine cold starts. So, is an extra protection with no cons and cheap.

 

[Panda IIs]

It's clearly had a new filter, but it doesn't look like they drained it via the sump plug. (But they may well have done it by sucking it out as I mentioned before... in fact probably had to to take the filter off otherwise you get a big puddle on the floor

If you want peace of mind, its an easy job to do yourself... described here: https://www.fiatworkshop.co.uk/fiat_Panda_Oil_filter_replacement.shtml

But if you don't fancy trying it, I suggest you find a better garage than where you've been already Most tyres places will do an oil change for you if you don't fancy finding a mechanic. For example https://www.kwik-fit.com/servicing/packages/interim-service. You'll probably be able to watch them do it too.

Just remember oil and filter costs remain much cheaper than a new engine...

 

[KPat]

Two comments: not clean, and not full
Time to find a new mechanic...

It's not clean new oil but it's not old dirty stuff either. I would just make sure it's topped up to correct level and get it changed again soon. Another thing, I would clean all the loose rust off that sump with a wire brush, paint it with rust converter, then spray it with Waxoyl or similar. That will prevent it corroding away resulting in you needing a new sump.