Fuel services, any experiences?

[green van man]

But in extremis with a trade card bulbs are cheap. Without a trade card they are extortionate.

Paul.

[Delta66]

Originally Posted by tt82

Sounds like Halfords are doing their own Terraclean.

That is what it appears to be. The terraclean is £130 or so and I understand it does mean running the engine with their formula, rather than this service which appears to be an additive to the fuel.

A few tanks of super unleaded (or diesel) and checking the tyre pressures appears to be pretty much the equal of the Halfords fuel service.

I was just wondering if anyone knows anythign more about fuel services and what is available.

I regret using Halfords as an example, since obviously many here do not rate them and take any opportunity to slag them off.

[canis]

Originally Posted by Delta66

I regret using Halfords as an example, since obviously many here do not rate them and take any opportunity to slag them off.

Ah, understandable. I think it pays to keep Halfords in perspective. They are a high-street retailer trying to work their way into a garage service. As a supplier of automotive products, they're fine. I buy stuff from them because it's off-the-shelf, I can browse for inspiration and buy what I need, if I decide. Or I can walk away. Compare to a parts department at a garage, where I can see nothing and am forced to ask questions even if I don't know what I mean, with risk of ridicule from some guy who'll make me feel foolish for trying to understand something as a consumer whilst maintaining a sense of professionalism by obfuscation of knowledge.

So, you get Halfords, and what they offer is a fixed price for a guaranteed service.

I shall give an example: I needed tracking checked and adjusted. "How much?" I demanded, recoiling from the price. You see, the price they give is not a quote, it's a fixed fee which must cover every eventuality no matter what might go wrong, broken track rod ends, sized bolts, etc. This strategy fails because the customer is being charged for stuff which might not be necessary. So on average, the price is fair. Sometimes they take a loss, sometimes they make a huge profit. Either way, the customer gets to pay only what they agreed to.

Compare the honest garage pricing, where the customer is quoted for tracking, but it turns out he needs new rod ends, new ball joints, new hydraulic fluid and the job will take a day longer than was expected and cost £100 more. Although it's entirely honest, the customer feels like he's being cheated.

[Grimble]

I get my MOT done by Halfords when they have a half price offer on. First appointment of the day, short walk to Wetherspoons for a traditional breakfast, back home by 10.00.
This time they did say I needed new tyre soon and offered to fit one at £130. I can get two for that so politely declined.
And they even send me a text reminding me when the next test is due.
Would I get them to do any work on the car, unlikely. Thats what the Volvo specialist is good at.

Horses for courses.

[phil1968]

I don't understand what part of the fuel system needs cleaning, save for the previously mentioned injectors?

[Delta66]

Originally Posted by phil1968

I don't understand what part of the fuel system needs cleaning, save for the previously mentioned injectors?

I would have thought or at least hoped any additive would clear out any water in the fuel and the gunk that supposedly lies at the bottom of the fuel tank. But surely that would get sloshed about and go through the system anyway?

[green van man]

Originally Posted by Delta66

I would have thought or at least hoped any additive would clear out any water in the fuel and the gunk that supposedly lies at the bottom of the fuel tank. But surely that would get sloshed about and go through the system anyway?

Water is heavier than fuel so either petrol or diesel will sit on top of the water. This is why certainly diesel fuel systems have a water trap and drain, usually at the bottom of the fuel filter. If you suspect water in the fuel place a container under the tap, open tap and watch the fluid that comes out. Any water will be obvious when the fuel sits on top of it.

As for crud in the fuel tank.
I had need to take the fuel tank out of my landrover in order to weld behind it. Removed the level float to gain access to the fuel and syphoned it off into containers. When tank empty I thought now would be a good time to wipe the tank out and remove any crud that's in there. Nothing, absolutely nowt except diesel. Plastic tank 23 years old and 200,000 miles on the car, no crud.

I have heard of biological growth in fuel tanks but that's what the filter is for. While you can get additives to stop the slime forming, once it's there I know of no additive that will remove it, that's down to emptying the tank and washing it out. Seems a number of marine tanks suffer when fuel left for extended periods in the tanks of boats, normally vehicles get enough use to keep the fuel fresh.

Apart from the gumming of injectors I can see no useful reason to clean fuel systems that receive maintenance as prescribed by the manufacturer.

Paul.

[Delta66]

The one I saw done on Wheeler Dealers was this;

https://www.terraclean.co.uk/how-terraclean-works

which dealt with "carbon deposits which form in the combustion chambers, exhaust ports, cats and lambda sensors".

Clearly the Halfords service will do nothing for that. I will stick to a few tanks of super unleaded over the winter.

[canis]

Biggest automotive myth in the history of motoring:

At low fuel levels, it's possible to pull up dirt from the bottom of the tank, so never let it go below a quarter full.

No, it isn't. The fuel pick-up draws from the bottom no matter how much fuel you have in there. It makes no difference.

[Delta66]

Originally Posted by canis

Biggest automotive myth in the history of motoring:


No, it isn't. The fuel pick-up draws from the bottom no matter how much fuel you have in there. It makes no difference.

Indeed, but try explaining that fuel has to be taken from the bottom of the tank, not the top, to some people.....

Any gunk is being mixed about as the vehicle moves. Unless you added that gunk by pouring it in whilst fuelling, it is not there. Some people think somehow there must be chunks of metal, or rocks lying at the bottom of the tank.

The most likely contaminant is water. So maybe there could be little bits of rust, but even then, can a tank rust from the inside due to any water in the fuel?