Good place to service Honda diesel?

The Machine

Hi all,

I'm living in Kilmainham and I've a 2009 Civic 2.2 diesel that is due it's service at 60km.

Can anyone recommend somewhere to get a good quality service that is cheaper than the main Honda dealers?

Dinging

I would recommend Conor Moran Motors, he is in Inchicore see http://www.yourlocal.ie/company/379256451653632 so not far from you. I have been getting cars serviced by Conor for over five years now and always found him very reliable and will not rip you off.

CiniO

It's not that much of a matter who is doing the service, but what parts are they using (oil, filters, etc)?

Will this be car's thrid or fourth service?
(mileage-wise should be third, while age-wise should be fourth).

Civic service at 60k km (or 3 years) is only a minor service (oil + filter).
Also at age of 3 years there should be brake fluid changed, so assuming it wasn't done last year, that's the time.

Now.
Was first two services done by honda dealer? Are you sure that everything that should be done at 40k kms was done (f.e. fuel filter, air filter, pollen filter)?
If not - it would definitely be worth doing now.

It's advisable to get original honda fuel filter for this car, as other makes seem not to work as good, and you most likely will be able to feel the difference.

I got a servicing set like this and got castrol 0w30 for it.
Done servicing myself, but surely most garages will be happy to service your car if you provide original honda parts and oil.

Obviously if your previous service was done according to the schedule, there is no need for air filter, pollen filter and fuel filter, but the fact is, that even many honda dealers tent not to bother changing fuel filter on those cars, as it's really awkward job.

NobodyImportant

There is a place called the Tuning Factory in JFK Industrial Estate (Behind BMW on Naas Road). They know Honda's inside and out (pretty much only work on Honda's) and dont charge Honda prices. One of their main focus' is on Honda race cars for the Irish Touring Car Championship. This to me is always a good sign, people who work on race cars are top notch and trusted by drivers who are putting their lives and metal in their hands.

They open strange hours, usually 11-6pm, but often work quite late working on the race cars, so its handy if you want to pick up a car late in the evening. Luas stop nearby too. Opening Saturdays 11-5 as well.

As above, make ABSOLUTELY sure whoever does it, to use 0W30 oil and see what has been changed before.

The Machine

Thanks guys, great advice. I didn't realise using 0w30 was so crucial, I'll be sure to double check.

Quite tempted to pick up all the parts myself as CiniO suggested and then get the garage to carry our the labour.....

NobodyImportant

Probably best, you cant be sure sometimes.

"Did you put in 0W30 Oil?" "Eh, yea, of course i did" [hides 10w50 bottle]

I dont think Tuning Factory would mind you showing up with parts, its what i did with them.

George Dalton

NobodyImportant wrote: »

I dont think Tuning Factory would mind you showing up with parts, its what i did with them.

No garage with half a brain will mind you bringing your own parts, they will just bump up the labour on the job to compensate for the loss of margin on parts.

CiniO

The Machine wrote: »

Thanks guys, great advice. I didn't realise using 0w30 was so crucial, I'll be sure to double check.

Quite tempted to pick up all the parts myself as CiniO suggested and then get the garage to carry our the labour.....

No No... Using 0w30 is not cruicial.
Honda allows also 5w30 for this engine (and 10w40 but I don't think it's recommended), provided it's version without DPF.
I just put 0w30 as price difference between this and 5w30 wasn't great so I though it was worth it.

Only thing which is important IMHO is to use genuine honda fuel filter.
After changing mine I really felt the difference in performance, and this wasn't placebo as I really wasn't expecting that.
Car had a full service history, and according to the schedule it should have fuel filter changed only 6k miles before, but surely it didn't. As I said it's quite awkward job, and many garages would just skip that, especially that you can't see if filter was changed without disassembling good bit of your car.

Zcott

If you're picking up parts, try Cox Motor Parts online, they're genuine Honda and good prices too. Keep an eye on http://www.civinfo.com/forum/cox-motor-parts/ and they'll occasionally post some good discounts on there.

randy hickey

OP, before you go down the road of ordering in your major service kit from Cox Honda in the UK, like I did, check with EP Mooney's parts department for their price on the Honda service kit.
I was up there picking up something else a few months ago, and out of curiosity asked what it would've cost me from them,and it worked out slightly cheaper AFAIR.
I used to use spurious service parts on other cars,but the Gen 7 iCDTI engine does not like non-oem fuel filters - not sure about the Gen 8 though,but I wouldn't chance it for the sake of saving a few bob.

CiniO

George Dalton wrote: »

No garage with half a brain will mind you bringing your own parts, they will just bump up the labour on the job to compensate for the loss of margin on parts.

Most independant garages won't be willing to get original honda parts, and even if they will, they'll charge big money on them.

While few years ago it seemed to be a problem, now I don't find it hard to find a garage which will be happy to fit parts provided by me, and don't rip me off.
Lots have changed in independent garage industry (for better) in the last few years, at least in my area.

00833827

cant recommend a mechanic in your area but i completely agree with the lads mentioning use of the correct oil and Honda service items for this engine - i had this engine in an accord for 4 years, if you use the right stuff, she will be great, skimp and she might complain. Had a manky fuel filter in mine one of the very cold winters that used to force the car into limp mode as it wasn't getting the fuel thru quick enough in minus temps, the gunk kind of congealed and slowed the flow

The Machine

Thanks again! Am I right in thinking it take 6 litres of oil? Might go for the Cox offer that includes the oil...

jayok

CiniO wrote: »

No No... Using 0w30 is not cruicial.
Honda allows also 5w30 for this engine (and 10w40 but I don't think it's recommended), provided it's version without DPF.

Careful now, Honda ONLY recommends 0w30 for the N22A diesel engine.

http://www.honda.ie/contentv3/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&pageID=22983&parentID=22908

5w30 and or 10w40 doesn't provide the proper protection. And this engine is sensitive to the correct grade of oil.

randy hickey

OP, the service kit from Cox will cost you €167.37 delivered.

The exact same kit will cost you approx €170 from EP Mooney's parts dept.

You could go one better and order the kit minus the oil from Mooney's for €105ish, and get your 0w30 oil from The Oil Store Like I did.This way your 6l of oil would work out at €36 instead of €65.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=84005009

CiniO

jayok wrote: »

Careful now, Honda ONLY recommends 0w30 for the N22A diesel engine.

http://www.honda.ie/contentv3/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&pageID=22983&parentID=22908

5w30 and or 10w40 doesn't provide the proper protection. And this engine is sensitive to the correct grade of oil.

They do recommend 0w30, but allow whole range of oil specs.

Capacity (2.2): 6.5 litres. Oil change 5.9 litres with oil filter, 5.5 litres with no oil filter change.
Allowed spec: 0W-30, 0w-40, 5w-30, 5W-40, 10w-40. Best spec: 0W-30 / 5w-30 Fully synthetic ACEA B5.
Honda strongly recommends that 0W-30 is the best oil to be used. Their testing shows a 2.5% improvement in fuel economy, it lowers emissions, lengthens the life of the catalytic converter, and reduces overall engine wear.
The i-CDTI non-DPF engine needs ACEA B3/B4 (HTHS>3.5) and ACEA B1/B5 (HTHS ≥ 2.9 and ≤ 3.5, preferred) specifications, and the DFP i-DTEC engine (new Accord) needs ACEA C3 (HTHS>3.5) and ACEA C2 (HTHS ≥ 2.9 and ≤ 3.5) specifications.

http://www.civinfo.com/wiki/index.php?title=Oil