Servicing Myself

[WAZ91]

Hi all,

Just looking for some quick advice, I am going to service my Focus myself for the first time as the service plan i had just wasnt looking to be the value for money they make it seem.

I serviced my old astra and corsa before that so have a good idea what im doing haha :P

Just wanted to know about engine flush as i read somewhere this is a good thing to do with diesels. How does this work/how do i do it?

I'm going to be getting the following oil http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Ford_Focus_1.8_2008/p/car-parts/car-lubricants-and-car-fluids/lubricant-and-fluids/engineoil/?521771431&1&d505d3e4e2b35f46ecd60e9c8d013fb471b30e30&000398

Is that suitable?

Also i hear the oil filter is in a rather silly place, i havent looked myself but is this true?

Thanks

[WAZ91]

Unitentionaly Inneundo in the title there WOOPS

[stef123]

I've not even read your post yet and I'm creasing myself laughing

[karlos1987]

I've not even read your post yet and I'm creasing myself laughing

Lol. I didn't notice at first tbh. It has been a long day. Lol

[WAZ91]

Haha I didn't even notice until after I posted it haha. I'll proberly leave that til after i have serviced the car :-P

[IINexusII]

oil is correct. ford recommend not to do a flush (in the owners manual). youll probably need another 1ltr bottle as it will take abit over 5l to refill

[stef123]

Haha I didn't even notice until after I posted it haha. I'll proberly leave that til after i have serviced the car :-P

by that you mean a beer of course? haha

[Ianb]

HAHAHA!

I use the same oil as that, for my diesel. I get mine off amazon actually, but I've just looked at my order history and it's the same supplier 'euro car parts'... Cheapest I've ever found it is online (amazon etc) otherwise it breaks the bank just a bit more than need be.

oil filter is fiddly, normally have to take the air box out and pipes connecting to the turbo etc.

Um...cabin filter? That might be something you want to change.. that's a fun job, it requires lying head first in the footwell normally

[WAZ91]

Is the cabin filter the pollen filter? i heard that was worse then the oil filter lol

When you drain the oil engine must be off right? I was reading another forum that mentioned leaving the engine on whilst it was draining?

[IINexusII]

Is the cabin filter the pollen filter? i heard that was worse then the oil filter lol

When you drain the oil engine must be off right? I was reading another forum that mentioned leaving the engine on whilst it was draining?

if you want the car to explode then leave it on! :D

yes it must be off, otherwise youll dry the engine causing metal to metal = death

i've heard the engine should also be slightly warm before draining the oil, this helps the oil drain out

[WAZ91]

I thought so, I was reading it like 'what the hell is this guy doing?' im not a member of the forum it was on, which is no doubt for the best with advice like thiers lol.

Its always best to have it warm slips out nicer that way.

[Ianb]

Yes cabin filter is the same as pollen filter. Make sure engine is off but as others say, slightly warm engine makes the oil more 'runny' so comes out easier - not hot mind or you could get burnt. :D

Sent via carrier pigeon

[stef123]

I thought so, I was reading it like 'what the hell is this guy doing?' im not a member of the forum it was on, which is no doubt for the best with advice like thiers lol.

Its always best to have it warm slips out nicer that way.

Haha, there you go again! change one word of that sentence and it's a completely different ball game..

Tremendous, you have made my day

[troy45]

Don't forget you can view Ford's service schedules by putting your vehicle details into ETIS

http://www.etis.ford.com/fordservice/serviceScheduleForm.do

:)

[sonic113]

Don't forget you can view Ford's service schedules by putting your vehicle details into ETIS

http://www.etis.ford.com/fordservice/serviceScheduleForm.do

:)

yes good point and advice. I use this myself and try to keep my services as close to the ford schedule as I can. it pays to look after the engine lol!

[Dee_82]

Isn't the flushing / wynns cleaning a bit of minefield, I heard if its been run for years or not looked after properly then it can make things worse, something to do with debris coming loose and floating about, unless you carry out an expensive clean, flush, refill several times. Not an expert but worth keeping in mind

[WAZ91]

I don't think I'll be flushing by the sounds of things. Just read elsewhere it may be worth doing but I'm in no hurry to ruin the engine

[stef123]

Personally I won't flush an engine without very good reason.

Modern, good quality oils contain detergents and stuff that clean the engine - so if changed correctly and on time or earlier then why would we need to?

That's how I look at it and I'm sticking to it.

[karlos1987]

Totally agree with stef.

My mate used a flush on his passat and was trying to get me to do one on my focus. I declined and done my normal service, car was and still is fine.

Mates passat is running terrible now. Could just be a coincidence but could be because of the flush.

Either way I'll just stay away from them.

[mixmasterlooney]

I agree with the above avoid flushing without a good reason. The old oil can help to seal up gaps created from wear and tear, you certainly don't want them to open up.

I think the comment about engine running is one of those he said she said, somewhere along the line someone left out the important part of turning off the engine once the oil has warmed up lol

[sonic113]

I agree. On modern engines if a good oil has been used and regular services maintained then I think all should be OK. I used to use flushes on the old Hcs escort engines but then again they were bomb proof at times lol! But I don't fancy using them on the modern engines though.

[Ianb]

Sorry whilst on the topics of flushes, what about terraclean? is that in the same category?

Never tried it, I know it's expensive, heard good reviews, just not sure if it's good as others have said, cleaning out the engine can actually remove the dirt which is 'plugging gaps'...

[Dee_82]

isn't terraclean fuel lines, injectors, not specifically oil?

[stef123]

Sorry whilst on the topics of flushes, what about terraclean? is that in the same category?

Never tried it, I know it's expensive, heard good reviews, just not sure if it's good as others have said, cleaning out the engine can actually remove the dirt which is 'plugging gaps'...

As already stated, terraclean is more a fuel system/combustion chamber cleaner.

There are a few guys on here done it with some good result but IMO it's expensive and how long can the inside of an engine possibly stay clean? The results are not going to last forever, meaning your going to need it done again, so your going to need to be saving an incredible amount of fuel to warrant doing it.

[Ianb]

Ah ok. Thanks guys. Doubt I was ever going to do it but just thought I'd ask anyway.