Can someone tell me where the oil filter is on the engine?

Also, when the car has the oil changed at the Dealers do they take off the valance to drain the oil or do they now suck it out?

Reason been, I've just had mine serviced and what I think is the oil filter hasn't been touched! I know cause I marked its position!

Just want some info before going further!

Appreciate the pic is of a Mk7 Golf but it was a decent photo! So Is it the plastic hex nut to the bottom right of the dipstick?

That's the filter housing from the looks of it

The filter would be internal to that housing. The housing obviously doesn't get changed.

The filter is a cartridge type similar to a cylindrical air filter so from the outside you won't be able to tell if it's been change or not.

The filter is a cartridge type similar to a cylindrical air filter so from the outside you won't be able to tell if it's been change or not.

OK, thanks for the info. I have put a mark on the top of the plastic housing lining up with another part of the engine using a razor blade! They still line up and as you can imagine its a very thin line, so to have taken it off and put it back on in the sane position would be very unlikely. Even knowing where the line is I can only just see it.

You might think this excessive but having been "done" once with a Mercedes dealer and a once by a Skoda dealer, I've marked things ever since. The Skoda one was over the brake fluid, charged for but not done!

Just wondering whether because the car is on the free servicing deal and has to be done at 10000 as opposed to variable, which in my case would have been about 18500, the dealer was thinking they could save themselves an oil filter change? I also appreciate that seen as its "free servicing" I'm not being ripped off, but the engine isn't getting its service as it should!

A good idea marking the housing. You could always spin it off and see if the filter is new ie light brown paper element instead of dark although it could make a bit of a mess and I've no idea how dirty an old filter would be on a car this new.

Another thing would be check the but that's formed into the cap for tool marks. I'd imagine the socket or tool used to remove it would leave some kind of mark?

Did the dealer say the oil filter has been changed?

Did the dealer say the oil filter has been changed?

No, but have you ever changed oil and not a filter?

Haven't spoken to dealer yet, just wanting to "get my ducks in line" before I go in to discuss!

Edited 1 September, 201411 yr by banksie

I have never changed the oil in a car, I have people to do that for me

 

I would ask them, if they say No ask why?, if they say yes them point out the mark.

 

Whats the worst that can happen?

Edited 1 September, 201411 yr by Crogers

Hmm, seems odd.

I'd imagine the factory fit the cap to torque spec stamped on it but have never seen a mechanic use a torque wrench when re-tightening them (neither have I myself).

You could always unscrew it and let the oil drain away, pull it off with a rubber glove and look at the date stamp on it.

If your mark still lines up then they have not service it

The only way to see is pull out dip stick & see if the oil is clean on it

You should still get an invoice if it is on the free servicing? I did, and it itemised what they had done and what parts were used. It showed a cash balance of zero at the bottom.

If I understand correctly how you've marked the housing then I don't think you can positively say they haven't unscrewed it.

I would say it is very likely that when tightened up it would stop in the same place as far as you can judge by eye.

If your mark still lines up then they have not service it

The only way to see is pull out dip stick & see if the oil is clean on it

  

Oil is new oil. Nice and clean when I checked it after service. Car was picked up from Garage just before they shut so it was checked at my parents house, and I noticed the oil filter marks. I then had to drive home 140 miles. Couldn't stay to speak to garage the following day.

If I understand correctly how you've marked the housing then I don't think you can positively say they haven't unscrewed it.

I would say it is very likely that when tightened up it would stop in the same place as far as you can judge by eye.

The lines are the width of a razor blade, even with a torque wrench it would be virtually impossible to get them exact! There are no marks on the plastic nut and there is no evidence of there being any oil spilt at all. The bits of dust are still around the housing.

Anyway, I'll have a word with the garge and see what they say.

OK, thanks for the info. I have put a mark on the top of the plastic housing lining up with another part of the engine using a razor blade! They still line up and as you can imagine its a very thin line, so to have taken it off and put it back on in the sane position would be very unlikely. Even knowing where the line is I can only just see it.

You might think this excessive but having been "done" once with a Mercedes dealer and a once by a Skoda dealer, I've marked things ever since. The Skoda one was over the brake fluid, charged for but not done!

Just wondering whether because the car is on the free servicing deal and has to be done at 10000 as opposed to variable, which in my case would have been about 18500, the dealer was thinking they could save themselves an oil filter change? I also appreciate that seen as its "free servicing" I'm not being ripped off, but the engine isn't getting its service as it should!

If they take it off and put it back on it will arrive in the same spot.  It's a single start thread so you will always finish in the same position.

 

I've had so many arguments with numpty customers over the years that have marked the housing of their cartridge type filter system or the drain plug and expect it to tighten-up to a different spot.

 

I will also admit that back in the old days when i was a bit cheeky, if I noticed the customer had made a mark on a  spin on filter, I would try and replicate the mark on the new filter, just to wind them up a bit.  Lets face it, basically they are assuming you are dishonest & a cheat.  Nobody likes being called a cheat.

 

The oil won't spill on the TSI, theyve built a drain-back into the system.  You unscrew the filter about 1-2 turns & wait 2 minutes for it to drain, lift the filter straight up & hold a rag under it.  The block will be clean.  Retighten to 22Nm.

Edited 2 September, 201411 yr by brad1.8T

If they take it off and put it back on it will arrive in the same spot.  It's a single start thread so you will always finish in the same position.

 

I've had so many arguments with numpty customers over the years that have marked the housing of their cartridge type filter system or the drain plug and expect it to tighten-up to a different spot.

 

I will also admit that back in the old days when i was a bit cheeky, if I noticed the customer had made a mark on a  spin on filter, I would try and replicate the mark on the new filter, just to wind them up a bit.  Lets face it, basically they are assuming you are dishonest & a cheat.  Nobody likes being called a cheat.

 

The oil won't spill on the TSI, theyve built a drain-back into the system.  You unscrew the filter about 1-2 turns & wait 2 minutes for it to drain, lift the filter straight up & hold a rag under it.  The block will be clean.  Retighten to 22Nm.

OK thanks for the info on how its done thats what I need to know!

As regards marking things, the Merc dealer was found out using an ultra violet pen! Not something I knew mechanics had!

I'm not trying to make out mechanics are dishonest by any means but when you get a feeling...... You only have to read the Black Pack thread about the dealers performance to see what can happen. But that's just human nature....a whole different thread creep!

Not sure what to say on this subject, but in this case we are talking about a new cars under warranty, not some aftermarket out of warranty fixes. I doubt dealers would fail to replace the neccesarry parts on their side.

Not sure what to say on this subject, but in this case we are talking about a new cars under warranty, not some aftermarket out of warranty fixes. I doubt dealers would fail to replace the neccesarry parts on their side.

Mmmmmm........

Seeing as some dealers don't know the difference between psi and bar when doing a pdi, and leave transport blocks in ............

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

OK thanks for the info on how its done thats what I need to know!

As regards marking things, the Merc dealer was found out using an ultra violet pen! Not something I knew mechanics had!

I'm not trying to make out mechanics are dishonest by any means but when you get a feeling...... You only have to read the Black Pack thread about the dealers performance to see what can happen. But that's just human nature....a whole different thread creep!

I can see your point of view. Once bitten, etc. See my comment below

 

 

Not sure what to say on this subject, but in this case we are talking about a new cars under warranty, not some aftermarket out of warranty fixes. I doubt dealers would fail to replace the neccesarry parts on their side.

When I worked at Toyota, one of the guys was given his marching orders (5 consecutive days late & smoking dope in the dunnies IIRC). He was supervised packing up his tools so that he wouldn't steal any of the special service tools that had been issued to him. We discovered ~50 bottles of coolant & ~30 oil filters and numerous other parts in his under-bench locker. It turns out he couldn't meet the fairly generous shop times allocated for servicing so would simply skip that part of the job. Most of the other guys (8 mechs & 3 apprentices) were pretty good but you get the occasional oxygen thief.

Guys, if you can find an honest & competent (they don't even have to be great) mechanic, treat them like gold. I'm no longer on the tools & found myself a good Skoda/VW independant mechanic & everytime I call in I take them a cheap cake from the supermarket or a carton of soft drinks & you'd think I was giving them the keys to the city.   

I can see your point of view. Once bitten, etc. See my comment below.Guys, if you can find an honest & competent (they don't even have to be great) mechanic, treat them like gold. I'm no longer on the tools & found myself a good Skoda/VW independant mechanic & everytime I call in I take them a cheap cake from the supermarket or a carton of soft drinks & you'd think I was giving them the keys to the city.

Well said!