Caterham Servicing

[Smitters]

And I thought I'd asked the last of my dumb questions...

Now, before I get nailed to the wall, I know Sevens do lend themselves to home mechanics, but I'm very green in this area and sometimes, for the sake of time, I don't mind paying for it to be done.

So, my question is this:

Is £450 a fair price for an 6000 mile oil service, including renewing the foam sump baffle* on a K series?

Stick with me for a mo.

The reasons I ask are:

1) I have stated above, I'm a green mechanic. I can look up parts prices and as many online DIY guides as a I like, but I don't know about timings.

2) The garage in question is my local one and familiar with Sevens I'm sure. I'd like to continue to use them if this is judged as fair.

3) Though I am sure, with care, I could do the change myself, I wouldn't benefit from the rest of the inspections, only some of which I can reliably do myself.

4) This seriously eats into my Yoko tyre budget!

Thanks all. I realise I might get further on BC, but am not a member.

• I've read lots on the foam baffle pro's and con's, but for the sake of non-argument, lets assume I'll get it replaced.

[sjmmarsh]

Lots of questions in one,

1) the amount you have been quoted sounds reasonable for CC, particularly as they charge c£50/hr last time I checked and you are having the baffle replaced.
2) yes, you could do it for less yourself, particularly if it's just an oil change and a spanner check.
3) your local garage should be fine provided a) they do know what to look for on a 7 and b) you don't want to sellit back to CC (not critical, but is a factor, particularly if the car is relatively new).

I have CSR and do interim oil changes myself (at 3,000 miles), but put the car in once a year to CC for a full service

Steve

[mickrick]

I could never imagine parting with 450 quid for an oil change.
It doesn't get more basic. Buy yourself a Halfords toolkit, a torque wrench, filter wrench, a filter, some oil, and have a go.
You may enjoy it, end up with some shiny new tools, be hundreds better off, and more importantly, learnt something. You can do it, you just need the confidence.

[VHPD]

What mickrick said

[Farlig]

VHPD said:

What mickrick said

+2 - I've no ideas about pulling a k-sump off but it can't be difficult (plenty of other spannering done though on other cars) & as mickrck says you'll end up with a fleet of tools, the experience & a squad of beer tokens saved!

[johnvthe2nd]

It really is that simple .. a few allen bolts (don't forget the 2 big ones at the back that go through the bell housing into the back of the sump) .. there's nothing in the way, it just drops down .. buy a 3/8" socket set and some hex sockets (metric) as the start of your toolkit

[Smitters]

Thanks for the encouraging comments everyone. I'm going to have a bash myself, mostly as I have, or have access to, everything I need to do the job. I guess what I was struggling with was that the parts come to about £100, assuming a replaced sump gasket, so at £50/hour, the work, plus the inspections, amounts to seven hours work. Three and a half hours, which seemed more in line with my time expectations, gives a wallet shrivelling £100/hour. Given the expert spannering I've had in the past from PowerStation at a significantly more reasonable rate, I felt I had to query.

The downside of this will be a stream of simplistic questions regarding some of the less obvious checks (I can manage tyre pressures!), but hopefully you'll bear with me and limit the eye rolling and tutting!

[Smollet]

I use Redline in Caterham for my servicing. They are extremely good and always prepared to go the extra mile to help.
Check out their charges for servicing
http://www.redlinecomponents.co.uk/

[Smitters]

Cheers Smollet - that puts things in perspective as the 12k service includes an inspection of the foam, so must be a sump off job, AND a replacement of brake-lines and fluid and still comes in cheaper. I guess it's down to labour rates then. Must be a "Cotswolds Tax" of sorts... which will also mean Redline is a bit of a stretch distance wise for servicing, though I can certainly see the appeal of heading down for the big service.

[grenpayne]

Smitters, where in the south-west are you?

I'm also in a similar position as in I know a little (but certainly not a lot!) about the car and want to do more. I have the tools now but there is so much knowledge on the likes of BlatChat that it's easy to assume that you're the only one with limited knowledge. But the car is quite simple to work on so I now tend to search the archives of Techtalk on Blatchat and then just crack on and have a go. If it all goes pear-shaped I'm lucky that there are some members local to me who can save the day!

[Smitters]

Grenpayne - I'm in Stroud. I know there are a fair few Sevens in the area but to be honest, I've never been one much for the social side so far, hence a lurker rather than a member of LSC/Blatchat. The downside of course is not having a living breathing brain to pick on the odd technical issue!

DDg, I've just bought the relevant Haynes manual for my engine, with is a mid-90's 1.4 K series. Princely sum of £2.80 for a good condition used copy via Amazon (other river based book shops are probably available). Reckon that'll help a bit with engine stuff as I'm too far from garage to house for wifi to work!

[NuisanceFactor]

The Lotus Seven Club runs 'Get to know your Seven' events in the midlands and south east which aim to give you the basics of maintaining your Seven yourself. Some of this was reproduced in Low Flying and has been made into a series of PDFs that are available from the members area of their website.

[CraigyB]

I did mine this year for the first time. It certainly wasn't a difficult task.
I used the excellent guide found here:

http://www.alcester-racing-sevens.com/maintenance....

Good luck

[mickrick]

Smitters said:

Thanks for the encouraging comments everyone. I'm going to have a bash myself, mostly as I have, or have access to, everything I need to do the job. I guess what I was struggling with was that the parts come to about £100, assuming a replaced sump gasket, so at £50/hour, the work, plus the inspections, amounts to seven hours work. Three and a half hours, which seemed more in line with my time expectations, gives a wallet shrivelling £100/hour. Given the expert spannering I've had in the past from PowerStation at a significantly more reasonable rate, I felt I had to query.

The downside of this will be a stream of simplistic questions regarding some of the less obvious checks (I can manage tyre pressures!), but hopefully you'll bear with me and limit the eye rolling and tutting!

That's the Spirit!
But change the foam, even if you think the old one looks O.K. There have been problems with it.
Make sure you torque the sump bolts diagonally, and smear a little grease on the mating surfaces after you've cleaned away the old gasket material. (I carefully use a new Stanley knife blade, not in the knife, but between my finger and thumb.) It'll make removal easier next time. And as has been mentioned, don't forget the two that go through the bell housing. Do those last.
And if anyone rolls thier eyes at your seemingly simplistic questions, they're being a Cock! We all have to learn at some time. I'm still learning every day, and I swing spanners on boat engines every day for my crust.
Been working on these today....

[Smitters]

Cheers for the encouragement MickRick. And as has been pointed out, I get to get new shiny things... Plus I have a couple of mates who did Automotive Engineering, so for unlimited tea and biscuits they could sit on a stool and interject when I'm about to do something that will total the engine. You know, like leaving my keys in the sump pan or something...

As for the pic - that looks worryingly complex.

[ForzaGilles]

mickrick said:

Smitters said:

Thanks for the encouraging comments everyone. I'm going to have a bash myself, mostly as I have, or have access to, everything I need to do the job. I guess what I was struggling with was that the parts come to about £100, assuming a replaced sump gasket, so at £50/hour, the work, plus the inspections, amounts to seven hours work. Three and a half hours, which seemed more in line with my time expectations, gives a wallet shrivelling £100/hour. Given the expert spannering I've had in the past from PowerStation at a significantly more reasonable rate, I felt I had to query.

The downside of this will be a stream of simplistic questions regarding some of the less obvious checks (I can manage tyre pressures!), but hopefully you'll bear with me and limit the eye rolling and tutting!

That's the Spirit!
But change the foam, even if you think the old one looks O.K. There have been problems with it.
Make sure you torque the sump bolts diagonally, and smear a little grease on the mating surfaces after you've cleaned away the old gasket material. (I carefully use a new Stanley knife blade, not in the knife, but between my finger and thumb.) It'll make removal easier next time. And as has been mentioned, don't forget the two that go through the bell housing. Do those last.
And if anyone rolls thier eyes at your seemingly simplistic questions, they're being a Cock! We all have to learn at some time. I'm still learning every day, and I swing spanners on boat engines every day for my crust.
Been working on these today....

Now that's what I call a lump!

[mickrick]

Well that's the rub! More basic than your K series! A simple pushrod engine, no fancy belt driven cams.
The electronics are another thing though!