does an oil change ever have an adverse effect?

[LaLaLand]

Lola is on the mend, maybe. After I turned up at the workshop to see what was going on and get a few answers, they finally decided to begin working on her. It only took 6 weeks!
However, they have a new oil filter for her but have told me they don't want to fit it as they'll then need to do an oil change and this could 'mess around with bearings' - does this sound right? I'd never have thought an oil change would be a riskier option than not doing an oil change.

I'm asking as I just don't have a whole lot of faith in these guys - they must be good at what they do, they just don't see too many Commers. They told me just this afternoon that all the work had been completed but having taken Lola for a run, they couldn't get her up to 30 mph. I told them that's what happened when she broke down in the first place, going back to my thought that it had to be a fault with the alternator. They phoned me back to confirm that yes, there's something wrong with the alternator - which is the whole reason she's there! I think they've either found the fault or decided to stick in a new alternator to see if that fixes the problem.

Anyway - can an oil change ever cause problems with the engine?

All advice and info is gratefully received and much appreciated.

La-La La-La Lola . . .

 

[commerchris]

good luck It doesn't sound right to me!
I wouldn't want to put new filter on before the oil change though as you would have any sediments & dirt clogging it up!which would be pointless,...you may just be worrying over nothing,do they suspect bearings are going? some one more experience will be along later I am sure.


Commer Dandy by Dandy Caravans now Riva Dandy
The Colonel Mustard six speed

Member of the 6 speed club.

 

[Lulu]

Sounds like they don't know much about servicing any vehicle if they think an oil change is going to have an adverse effect. I would suggest that perhaps they can't get the sump plug out or they've made a mess of it. Just consider that the oil is circulating around the engine picking up all sorts of nasties on it's travels, plus it loses some of it's lubrication properties over time so it definitely needs changing. Think about a deep fat fryer, after so long of the fat heating up and cooling down it starts to burn the chips and starts to smell. Well that's my speech for today.[:0]
quote:
Originally posted by LaLaLand

Lola is on the mend, maybe. After I turned up at the workshop to see what was going on and get a few answers, they finally decided to begin working on her. It only took 6 weeks!

However, they have a new oil filter for her but have told me they don't want to fit it as they'll then need to do an oil change and this could 'mess around with bearings' - does this sound right? I'd never have thought an oil change would be a riskier option than not doing an oil change.

I'm asking as I just don't have a whole lot of faith in these guys - they must be good at what they do, they just don't see too many Commers. They told me just this afternoon that all the work had been completed but having taken Lola for a run, they couldn't get her up to 30 mph. I told them that's what happened when she broke down in the first place, going back to my thought that it had to be a fault with the alternator. They phoned me back to confirm that yes, there's something wrong with the alternator - which is the whole reason she's there! I think they've either found the fault or decided to stick in a new alternator to see if that fixes the problem.

Anyway - can an oil change ever cause problems with the engine?

All advice and info is gratefully received and much appreciated.

La-La La-La Lola . . .

 

[Lulu]

Just remember of course that I'm not a mechanic but we have plenty on here who I suspect will give you the same advice.

 

[bazzateer]

Oil and filter change go hand-in-hand in my experience. I don't think I'd ever do one without the other. Fresh new oil will do no harm to your engine - if they're saying it might then I'd I'd take the Commer away from them as soon as you can and take it to someone who knows what they're doing.

A faulty alternator won't restrict the speed of a car. Look at timing and carb set-up.

I am not a person, I am a number, 395 actually......Be seeing you!
If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me?

 

[bazzateer]

Like LuLu I'm not a mechanic........

Unlike Lulu I wear clothes whilst gardening.

I am not a person, I am a number, 395 actually......Be seeing you!
If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me?

 

[LaLaLand]

thank you all! Yeah, you've confirmed my thoughts that an oil change can only be a good thing.I've been trying to get my van back - they had done nothing at all at the beginning of the week so I had a recovery truck and new mechanic all lined-up, then suddenly they were telling me my van was the next job on the list.
i don't like slagging them off but I really am at my wits end with these guys - and they're not a small outfit, they are 'vintage specialists' allegedly.

If they do get Lola through the MOT I will take my new oil filter and my lovely little commer off to another guy (I finally got a decent recommendation) who should hopefully be able to change the oil and replace the filter. I just hope wee lola can hang in there 'til she's road legal!

La-La La-La Lola . . .

 

[LaLaLand]

Baz - I don't have a clue, but could the timing or carb setting affect the van so suddenly?
It was all ready for MOT and i drove it for about 80 miles on a wee adventure. That evening the electric light was on and the engine sounded noisier than usual when I took her out. The next day, within a mile, she could barely climb a hill and the engine just died. Engine wouldn't start again after that, electric light was still on
That was in October, and only now have I managed to find a 'mechanic' to look at her and try and figure out the problem. She does start now though, when she didn't back then.

The fault seemed very sudden - I used Lola all last summer without even a hint of a problem.

La-La La-La Lola . . .

 

[Lulu]

If she starts and runs for a short distance and then cuts out, starts again after a short time and runs for a short time and keeps doing this then the problem is most likely the condensor in the dizzy.:I
quote:
Originally posted by LaLaLand

Baz - I don't have a clue, but could the timing or carb setting affect the van so suddenly?

It was all ready for MOT and i drove it for about 80 miles on a wee adventure. That evening the electric light was on and the engine sounded noisier than usual when I took her out. The next day, within a mile, she could barely climb a hill and the engine just died. Engine wouldn't start again after that, electric light was still on
That was in October, and only now have I managed to find a 'mechanic' to look at her and try and figure out the problem. She does start now though, when she didn't back then.

The fault seemed very sudden - I used Lola all last summer without even a hint of a problem.

La-La La-La Lola . . .

 

[bazzateer]

Or possibly the coil overheating and failing.

I am not a person, I am a number, 395 actually......Be seeing you!
If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me?

 

[Hubbell]

Get your van out of there! How can they possibly advise against an oil change? As Lulu mentioned oil loses its lubrication properties after a while of getting continuously pumped round the engine, and last time I changed the oil in my van all manner of bits and pieces came with it - twigs, bits of leaves..... Made me wonder if there was a tree growing in my sump... On a serious note they sound like complete amateurs. A lot of garages in my experience can't be trusted.

 

[Panky]

That has got to be the stupidest reason not to do a job I've ever heard, unfortunately they are cowboys trying to take advantage of a girl they think can be conned[V] Also I doubt whether a faulty alternator is the cause of your initial problem:I

Founder of the Non-Facebook Club

 

[Hubbell]

Really similar sounding to what happened to my van on the way to Pandy, I experienced the same set of problems with first the little red light coming on, also the battery showing a lower than normal voltage, then after about 150 miles, there was a loud squeal and then the van wouldn't start until it had cooled down. Then when it did start it was the same loss of power with added engine noise... very strange.

 

[LaLaLand]

Hubbell - did you figure out cause of the problem? My van squealed too!! It's sounds like the same thing.Panky - I am well and truly being conned, I wouldn't mind except that I'm so acutely aware of it! I've suggested several times now that I can take lola elsewhere. Thankfully, it now seems as if they've given up completely. I just received a phone call from them saying a whole lot more work needs done and they've found another fella who will do the work so they want to pass it on to him - so evidently these guys really are, unashamedly, masquerading as mechanics.
I've told them not to bother, I will happily collect my van and bring it elsewhere myself. Oh and this whole saga has cost around £500, my little commer still barely functions and still needs an MOT certificate - but I've lots of shiny new parts to show for it! I guess that's how cowboys stay in business.

La-La La-La Lola . . .

 

[steve williams]

log everything that has happened,what they've charged you and what they've said.ask for your money back in writing and report them to trading standards.
people like this could actually be dangerous,imagine the consequences if they have made mistakes on steering or brakes[:0][:0]

 

[LaLaLand]

quote:
Originally posted by steve williams

log everything that has happened,what they've charged you and what they've said.ask for your money back in writing and report them to trading standards.
people like this could actually be dangerous,imagine the consequences if they have made mistakes on steering or brakes[:0][:0]


I'm keeping track of everything! Not least by documenting it on here :I
I'll hopefully get a second opinion on all the work and suspect faults when I bring it to my new guy, who's a trusted old-school mechanic of a guy at work and has been for the last 20 years. I doubt there's little I can do if they've genuinely charged for parts and labour, which I do believe they have - but I haven't set eyes on my van for 2 months.
I suppose there's no crime in being a pack of idiots - pity![V]

La-La La-La Lola . . .

 

[Panky]

Just reading back on your problem. When the van stopped and wouldn't start again do you mean the engine wouldn't turn over or it did turn over but wouldn't actually run?

Founder of the Non-Facebook Club

 

[Lulu]

I suppose in a way you're lucky, I haven't seen Lulu for 3 years
quote:
Originally posted by LaLaLand

quote:
Originally posted by steve williams

log everything that has happened,what they've charged you and what they've said.ask for your money back in writing and report them to trading standards.
people like this could actually be dangerous,imagine the consequences if they have made mistakes on steering or brakes[:0][:0]


I'm keeping track of everything! Not least by documenting it on here :I
I'll hopefully get a second opinion on all the work and suspect faults when I bring it to my new guy, who's a trusted old-school mechanic of a guy at work and has been for the last 20 years. I doubt there's little I can do if they've genuinely charged for parts and labour, which I do believe they have - but I haven't set eyes on my van for 2 months.
I suppose there's no crime in being a pack of idiots - pity![V]

La-La La-La Lola . . .

 

[LaLaLand]

quote:
Originally posted by Panky

Just reading back on your problem. When the van stopped and wouldn't start again do you mean the engine wouldn't turn over or it did turn over but wouldn't actually run?

Founder of the Non-Facebook Club



Hi ya Panky, the engine was turning over but sounded like a dead battery - this was after having already driven it a mile, and 70 miles the previous day. The engine died going up hill and just wouldn't ignite again. I think I managed to let it sit for a while, and got it going and went back down hill but the engine cut out again. There was plenty of petrol in the tank but it was as if it ran out of fuel. Also, when I tried to get the engine going again there was a terrible screeching noise.

La-La La-La Lola . . .

 

[LaLaLand]

quote:
Originally posted by Lulu

I suppose in a way you're lucky, I haven't seen Lulu for 3 years


You've probably been through all of this back and forth nonsense, but 3 years since you've seen your van - that's just beyond ridiculous. I hope it all gets resolved.

La-La La-La Lola . . .