[Oil shelf life?]

Two years ago I had the gearbox oil replaced with Redline MT90 and today noticed that there is still about 4 inches left in the one gallon container. Next spring I will replace it again but will this oil still be OK. If it is OK I only need to but one or two litres. Does anyone know exactly how much a change will take.

Also, apart from engine and gear box are there any other oils that need to be changed regularly? On my RAV it needs diff oil changes. Is the Celica the same?

Love driving but know nowt about cars unfortunately!

Thanks,

Craig.

[Whats your plans for your motor over the winter ?]

Putting her to bed at end of October and use the RAV4 because when I had a Celica 12 years ago in winter it was awful on any snow and ice. Will wake her up again on 1st of March. I will miss driving it though every time I go into the garage and get the RAV out.

[Leather VS Alcantara]

My shirt sticks to my back with my leather seats.I am not interested in modding but I do fancy some seats I don't stick to and then have a wet back when I get out. I would love to have them re-covered in a deep red alcantara with black leather bolsters. Does anyone know what sort of price range would it be for both front seats only and possibly all seats doing? I would then spray the radio and controls surround the same deep red to match and a new leather steering wheel cover with deep red stitching.

[How much does Toyota actually know about their cars?]

My Mr T at Bradford is very good. I have just signed my 05 T Sport (and RAV4) up for a service plan which gives me the next three services, half the MOT ( I pay £25 on day) and they pick the car up at my home. This costs £9.18 per month - £20 for both. The documentation Toyota sent stated it was for people like me who use the car as a second, low mileage car. The three services for each car are all Intermediate services which normally cost £129 with MOT (£50) extra. I think it is a good deal as it will cost me £133 all in for each service. I will keep an eye on the service book and get those extra things done when needed. I can't do my own servicing and feel quite happy to pay that to a main dealer once a year and if it needs a bit of "standard" work doing on it I know a very good local mechanic who can do that. I also got the same deal on my RAV4. Last service plan on each I was paying £20 per month for each car. Toyota must be seeing people leaving them for cheaper servicing to make them come up with this. I told them I was getting fed up of seeing things on the service sheet that i was paying for such as windscreen wash re-fill, oiling hinges and so on. All I want is to pay a mechanic to service the main things and let me check all of those other simple things. Maybe this is what Toyota have now realised.

I have always used main dealers and have been pleased with them. I do tell them bluntly that I will continue to use them while they give good service but will walk away when they let me down.

P.S. My Celica is only one of two Celica's that they service in Bradford and I am constantly told that the mechanics all have a good look at it when it is in and say how good it looks - even up against the GT86 which makes me feel good about owning a Celica.

[CTeck charger]

Thanks for that. I will leave it on and not worry about it now. Already missing using the car though as the RAV feels like a bus up to the TS.

[CTeck charger]

I have purchased a Ctek MXS 5.0 charger as I have now taken the TS off the road till spring. I have plugged it in and set it on the car option. It has lit up the lights to say it is now fully charged. Is it really safe to leave it on right over winter or do i take it off and do it again every month? I am used to older chargers and it doesn't feel right to leave it on for 5 months. It doesn't say in the manuel.

Thanks.

[colour patches from toyota]

Had some of these when I bought the car. I tried them on the bonnet but I thought they looked terrible. They stood out and I couldn't look at the car without noticing them. In the end I took them off and am getting the bonnet re-sprayed next week. I suppose they would work in a less obvious place where your eye doesn't automatically go to. The problem with this type of thing is that if like me you are OTT about fixing scratches and chips and getting it just right then these patches will never be right for you. If you don't care about your car then splapping a patch on will be fine.

[Anyone help me with a bodyshop near peterborough/stamford]

I have just paid £125 for the front bumper in Bradford and quoted £150 for the bonnet and top inch of wings to blend in. Mr T in Bradford quoted £300 for bumper and £500 for bonnet + VAT on top. So your price sound OK to me.