A few things I have learnt recently.

[Konrad C]

I would like to share a few car related things I have experienced recently. All have been dealt with in the forum and recent posts.

The spare wheel saga. I hate the space saver, but it is better than the repair gunk which has even more issues like write-off a repairable tyre and if tyre is too damaged to seal! 

I can use a full size 17" 215/55 spare wheel without the polystyrene tool holder. Tools now in a bag. The tool tray for the full size is priced too high!

Buying the right car at the correct price for the condition. I have help my brother buy cars for the family, and do a research on the models. When I looking at the car, I make sure everything like the keys and manuals are with the car, as well as the overall condition and service history, plus any damage. I will try and get the price down or walk away!

On the subject of buying cars if the any of the keys are missing, I ask why? This will affect the price and whether to buy or not. Best to have the car secure and all working keys. Fiats have a key issue that if the red or blue key is missing. I am not sure which. (I could check). Just make sure you have all master keys!

I had a go at paint-less dent removal on the ding in the door. The kit cost £7.49 from eBay. It was partially successful and here some photos.

Not too bad. Unfortunately the paint had a chip and the glue lifted a bit of it. There is a much small dent, and it is hardly noticeable. Overall a reasonable result.

 

Now the final item, oil grade and the Toyota parts man. 

I have the 1.8 valvematic 2ZR-FAE engine, and the handbook recommends that the preferred oil grade for this engine is 0w-20. Optifit. The handbook states that other grades e.g. 5w-30 may be used, but replaced with 0w-20 at next oil change. I challenged the parts man at Toyota, and said that 0w-20 is for hybrids! I said actually it is the preferred oil for my engine as stated in the handbook and in the Toyota forum. I quoted "Optifit"! I was told by a mechanic that if a garage fits the wrong parts that may cause an issue, that garage may be liable. He also says that advice should be given carefully, and treated as a suggestion.  

I know that garages can use any oil on any car, but i rather have the best for my car. If I do use 5w-30 grade, it will have to be fully synthetic. Right now I am using 0w-20 from my last oil change. 

That is a lot to get through.

 

 

[FROSTYBALLS]

The oil question has been around for a number of years. Under Block Exemption Toyota cannot dictate to dealers which grade of oil to use, which is why we have Toyota's published preference for a particular oil.

With each of my two Auris (2009 and 2012), I had the same response from the supplying dealer, and last month had exactly the same with my new Aygo. As part of the service plans I've had, I've had the use of 0W-20 for services built into the plans.

[mickburkesnr]

I'm not sure I know what you're on about regarding the tyre gunk? I acquired the official Toyota stuff from my sister's Yaris (she bought a space saver) with the intention of getting rid of the space saver that came with the car. Not that it matters, for all the driving I do I've had two punctures in my driving life, one of which I picked up in Budapest. I was heading to Germany so drove 400 miles (like an idiot) on the spare tyre to then be alieved of €50 to fix the puncture, but only on the proviso that I provided the VIN number, log book, birth certificate, passport to the guy fixing it.

For the spare key thing, can't agree with this more. My Dad bought a Honda CR-V with just one key and paid £4,500 for it, just because it was high up, had leather seats and was an automatic (which, in fairness, is quite rare). The guy selling it said he'd send it on aparently, but it never turned up. Dad never chased it, so when he died I was stuck with a CR-V that lost about £1,000 at least because of the lack of spare key and the lovely 5ft scratch the old fella had put on the side of it. I've never bought a car without a spare key, I don't understand how people could.

The oil grade. Had a similar argument myself with the guy at Toyota when I bought a servicing kit. He was giving me 5w-30 when my Corolla needs 10w-40. Toyota's recommended oil has changed since my Corolla rolled off the production line, but it seemed dangerous to put in a thinner oil in to an older engine that's been using the thicker oil for all of it's life. He wouldn't replace the oil in the package either, oh well!

[Heidfirst]

30 minutes ago, mickburkesnr said:

I'm not sure I know what you're on about regarding the tyre gunk? I acquired the official Toyota stuff from my sister's Yaris (she bought a space saver) with the intention of getting rid of the space saver that came with the car. Not that it matters, for all the driving I do I've had two punctures in my driving life, one of which I picked up in Budapest. I was heading to Germany so drove 400 miles (like an idiot) on the spare tyre to then be alieved of €50 to fix the puncture, but only on the proviso that I provided the VIN number, log book, birth certificate, passport to the guy fixing it.

can't repair all punctures with it.

some can not be removed after use & requires tyre replacement

it goes out of date after a few years & the official Toyota replacement is not cheap (other brands are available)

[TomdeGuerre]

They've got the motorist over a barrel with this tyre repair business. Take Kwik Fit for example, they quote the usual BS AU 159(f) standard and say they will only perform repairs inside the minor area and tighten it further saying only inside the central three quarters of the tread. So you could go in with a punctured tyre which can be safely repaired within the British Standard but they tell you it's not repairable. Trouble is the motorist thinks his tyre is scrap -  which suits KF because they want to sell tyres. They never tell the motorist that his tyre may be repairable elsewhere. Same with runflats, they refuse to repair them but they can be repaired elsewhere   .