Welcoming home first service

[eddypeck]

Ok, so I'm new here and posted a bit in the intro's. I've just bought a mk2 8v 1986 on 170k. I pick it up next week.

It'll have a full 12 month MOT on it so I'm happy the brake and fuel lines, shocks and springs, boots and bushes etc will all be OK. So lining p the first job - general service.

I gather when new it would have used mineral oil and run on 4* petrol, so I've worked out 10-40 semi is the Oil for me (unless anyone says otherwise)
but haven't chosen a brand yet - and following Castrol's recall due to water contaminants I think I'll steer clear of that

And likewise, for filters, plugs, belts and all the other service parts. There's bunch of brands out some I've heard of, some I haven't at a range of prices. Oil from £13 - £50, spark plugs from £1.50 - £5 each.

I'm on a budget, but also don't want to skimp so thinking rule of thumb would be stick with the middle ground but as a general buyers guide, any helpful recommendations of good brands, ones to avoid, places to buy, etc. would be very much welcomed.

Also any other tips, should I stick an injector cleaner through or any petrol additives, should I engine flush or just hot drain?

I had a mk2, almost identical some 15 or so years ago, and I'm quite handy with a bag of spanners I'm just a bit out of touch. We've got our modern family car and I'm an everyday biker so know all the bike brands, I'm sure I'll get into this just after some pointers for starters.

I'm in North Bristol by the way 

[RichardBaronGolf]

I'd say go on Opie oils for the oil and filter, Put your reg in and you can choose from standard packs and upgrade packs (better oil etc.) In my opinion buy one of the upgrade packs I think I paid 25ish pound for my last one for which I got some Fuchs fully synthetic 5w-40 and a decent oil filter, I have a mk3 ABF by the way.

As for the plugs and leads I believe its better to use a quality brand, I wouldn't worry much about using the ones like super 4's just a good make i.e. bosch or NGK I got all my leads, plugs, fuel filter from eurocarparts.com when I last did a major service.

That's what I'd recommend, As for the flush I don't know if its a myth or not but I heard that do more harm than good on an old engine, I'd just take it for a long run and then let the oil drain

[eddypeck]

thanks, all good advice. Car is now sat on my drive  tinkering is soon to begin.

[eddypeck]

Well that's the Oil and filter change done - Oil that came out was as thin as water not much good at all I imagine. Some nice fully synthetic and a Bosch Filter all sorted.

On to the next job :-)

[Sam]

On an MK2 ALWAYS use genuine leads, there have been sooo many problems with aftermarked HT leads and old watercooled VWs it's untrue. Also use a single spark plug, non of this '3 spark' bollocks, older cars like a single hot spark.