Where do people who care about their Clios go?

[Lucas]

Had a very disappointing experience with a Renault Dealership today (see Dealerships section if interested), but I kind of knew from past experiences that people don't really care, won't look after your car, and just try and fob you off.

I also noticed today at this Dealership that they say all their cars are filled with Castrol Magnatec at services. Castrol don't even make the right grade of oil for 172/182s (5W40), so surely this can't be any good for your car?

If you get your car serviced independently, does this invalidate the warrenty? Do all dealerships put the wrong oil in 172/182s come service time?

Where do people go who care about their cars getting the best, or does everyone just lump it with Renault for the first few years?

 

[badinvincible]

If you go to an independant garage, as long as they use genuine Renault parts, this does not invalidate the warrenty.

Where are you based?

 

[Lucas]

Near Reading, Berks. I really want to avoid Renault in future because I know that they just try and bang through the jobs as quickly as possible with no real care or pride. Just feel like I have to.

 

[Rich]

The silly thing is the can't put the right oil in, but then advertise it in the Free Renualt magazine they send out to us.

 

[edgerfs]

U can buy the oil seperatley and provide it, it will then be a cheaper service to boot. However the worry with this is they dont use it anyway - it wouldn't suprise me.

 

[msa197]

I'd never go to my Renault dealer in Reading as they are too over priced and you need to book car in about three week ahead.

Instead book it in back in Wales ( enoough said ) IMO

 

[edde]

I use the cheapest local dealership and there not that bad but then again i do a lot of extra maintaince on the car. I've got a fully Renault warently so if the engine does blow up as they stuck the wrong oil in then they can pay for a new one.

 

[Day]

The oil they use will not harm your car at all!

Ok so it's not the optimum but the car won't stop functioning correctly.

 

[Lucas]

They should put the oil in that they recommend in both the Renault handbook and Renault magazine IMO, or at least give you the option to put this oil in if you don't mind paying a bit extra.

Day - you're right and wrong. The engine won't stop running, and it won't blow up (at least in the short term), but it won't offer the same level of protection so certain bits will wear quicker which is obviously not good in the long term. You could also see worse fuel economy with different oil, and it probably isn't that safe to leave it for the full 12,000mile service interval.

 

[Day]

All Renault franchises will use 10w40 trust me on this - they dont tend to keep stock of the 0w40 as servicing an RS model is not routine.

I seriously doubt that after 12,000 miles you would see any change - the car is barely run in too.

 

[edde]

Most dealers don't even stock the proper dci oil. My cars been running on the wrong oil (petrol stuff) all its life and I've not killed it.

 

[Mondial172]

My car had the wrong oil in it from new. My uncle changed it after a year and is pretty sure it was the wrong grade. Said it was more like coffee than oil. Knows a thing or 2 about cars after being a mechanic for over 35 years.

Car went a hell of a lot better and smoother once he'd put some good stuff in.