Full Serice..oil still black?

[mrpaul]

Hi All.
Usually post on the 307 group, but now sold my car and own a Citroen Picasso. Bought last weekend and spent this week taking to and fro to the garage. Mon/Tues I paid for a full service. They said they needed to drain brake fluid and replace with new. Other thing they done was change oil and filters. When I check the oil yesterday...I was surprised to see it thin and black. I'd expected thick(er) and more golden since fresh. Maybe you may tell me this is normal. I've no idea how to check. Where are the oil filters on these too please. Could look at the casing of this to see if it looks new. Made me think whether it was done because, he'd also said, we cleaned up the oil cap and resealed/reseated the cap seal. I was having a problem with an oil leak in that area. Previous owner over filled the engine with oil. Anyhow, when I checked oil cap, it was very grimy and still contained dirt etc,so may guess is this wasn't done at all. Made me think more about the oil colour being black. I would of though an engine flush would of been used too.....but maybe not and new oil mixed with old left in there. Any thoughts please?

I'm not where to post my Picasso questions now. I want to still with this forum. but there is no Citroen threads/groups that I can see. So apologies if I have posted this in wrong section.

I have join a Picasso forum on another website, but cannot start threads until after 5 posts.

Thanks, Paul

[CMax_307]

if its diesel then it turning black is normal if its petrol then take it back,

the oil filter is beside the air con pipes, tho if yours is the newer one its going to be a paper filter on the right hand side of the engine if you look at your gearbox side its black housing with a nut on top

i would always do your own oil if you can that way you know its done right and not taking the guys word as i know theres been guys out taking your money for a service and not doing it and just cleaning the oil filter housing to make it look clean

[mrpaul]

Thanks CMax_307 for your reply.
Yes it is a Diesel. Xsara Picasso 1.6 hdi 110hp Exclusive 2004 (04 reg). Wanted full service has not been recorded in service book since 73K miles. Now on 104k miles. He told me cam belt looked fine for another 40k miles too! I asked him to check cam belt condition as Drive/Alternator belt needed replacing due to cracking. So guess he could of made up cam belt was bad...instead it said it looked fine and due to around 140-150k miles.
I have other questions too. Is this the best place to ask? Is there a parts list too for Citroen? For the 307hdi I had, I was pointed in the direction of service box for Peugeot. Will this work with Citroen's too? I need to id a part and it's number.

Off to bed now, so will reply tomorrow. Thanks again for helping me. Paul

[bettyswollocks]

Check the address on the top bar -

[mrpaul]

Originally Posted by bettyswollocks

Check the address on the top bar -

Thank you..most helpful as always That's why I want to stay on this forum

[clanless]

I am by no means an expert on these sort of things - just a 'normal' joe who has barely enough knowledge to change his own engine oil. I have however changed many an engine oil in petrol, lpg and diesel cars.

I've had 2 diesel cars - the Mondeo (awful car) and this 307 (just as awful).

I change the oil every 5k - only reason being it ties with the mileage reading, if its 70k, 75k, or whatever it's time for a change - easy to remember.

Last diesel oil change the oil remained clean for well over 1000 miles - it was not black when new installed.

Black oil in a freshly serviced diesel suggests :

1 - they didn't do it;
2 - they did not allow enough time for the old oil to drain out.