Service May 2026

We had a trip to Scotland planned and the B was due a service, so I wanted to get it done before we left.

A few things I would leave until we got back, partly due to time, partly due to not realising I didn't have various service parts in stock and partly due to not wanting to mess about too much before a big trip as I knew the car was running pretty sweetly.

So the things I attended to:

Engine oil and filter change

I'd used Millers Pistoneeze last year and had some left over, but I wanted to try out Motul as they demonstrated a high level of zinc content (which was difficult to find metrics for with Millers). I had considered Valvoline VR1 which was recommended by Peter Burgess, but I like the idea of using a European company's product and I was happy to give Motul a go, especially as they had an offer on their engine oil.

Oil can ready for the oil change
Motul oil Oil can ready for the oil change

Gearbox oil and filter change

I normally use the gravity fill method for this - a pipe from the engine bay with a large funnel, but this does take time. So after reading about a few people using an oil syringe to fill the gearbox, I thought I'd try it. Now for a car jacked up high in the air this might be worthwhile, but I had the car pretty much on the ground and trying to operate the syringe at that angle was very difficult. So in the future I think I will continue with the gravity method.

I also changed the gearbox filter / gasket. Many of these gaskets have the filter all the way to the edge of the gasket sandwich. This allows oil to creep along the gauze and cause leaks. I'd been recommended using a filter from Overdrive Services in Sheffield. Their filter seems much better sealed along the edges and at first inspection the leak is reduced. Something to keep an eye on and see if it makes a difference.

Packet with the company logo on the tape
Overdrive Services Packet with the company logo on the tape

Brake fluid change

This hadn't been changed for a couple of years and as it absorbs water it becomes less effective I was probably overdue a change. For this I used another Motul product, RBF 600 brake fluid. This was also on offer and is marketed as a racing / fast road fluid. After the heavy brake use on the hills above Nidderdale, changing the fluid would make me feel happier on the hills in Scotland.

For bleeding the brakes I have used a Gunson Easibleed before, but this time I had picked up a non-return valve in Halfords which allowed me to just use the pedal to pull the fluid through. As I wasn't changing any of the lines there was no air to expel so this was relatively easy, certainly easier than hooking up the Easibleed.

Brake pad change

Despite a re-application of the anti-squeal paste, my front brakes had started to squeal on nearly every application of the pedal. The pads still had plently of material on them, so maybe they had glazed. I decided to try a different compound to see if that would help, so replaced the current Delphi with Borg & Beck. The advantage of these was that they had a metal anti-squeal backing and a central groove to help shed brake dust build-up, both to hopefully reduce the vibration which causes the squeal.

Brake pads. The new ones have a distinct cut in the pad from long edge to long edge, and a metal backing plate.
New and old pads - note the cut out on the new ones Brake pads. The new ones have a distinct cut in the pad from long edge to long edge, and a metal backing plate.

Carb oil top-up

After Peter Burgess noted the drop in oil in my carb dashpots last year, I intend keeping on top of this, so these both got a small top-up.

Rear brake adjustment

Always worth doing a quick adjustment check by jacking up the rear and working the adjuster until the wheel cannot be turned by hand, and then backing off a slot.

Alternator belt change

The current belt seemed ok but was a few years old, so this gets swapped out and the old one put in the boot as a spare.

The old Halfords belt and the new one
Old belt (top) and new The old Halfords belt and the new one

Fuel filter change

Again this was really overdue having last been changed in July 2024. On inspecting the old one it seemed to have some plastic fragments inside. I can only think this is part of the filter coming apart inside. But a timely change by the look of it and a reminder to keep on top of my servicing more.

Pieces of what looks like white plastic debris caught in the filter
Debris in the filter Pieces of what looks like white plastic debris caught in the filter
The new filter looking a lot smaller and cleaner compared to the old one
New and old fuel filter The new filter looking a lot smaller and cleaner compared to the old one

Spark plug change

A straighforward change and the old ones were dropped in the boot as spares. New ones were gapped to 35 thou and installed.

New NGK spark plugs in their yellow cardboard boxes
New park plugs New NGK spark plugs in their yellow cardboard boxes
One of the old plugs alongside a feeler gauge with two leaves of 25 and 10 thou
One of the old plugs gapped to 35 thou One of the old plugs alongside a feeler gauge with two leaves of 25 and 10 thou

Still to do

There are still a few jobs to sort out as part of the service list:

  • clutch fluid change
  • tappet adjustment
  • points gap check and adjustment
  • differential oil change
  • air filter change
  • coolant change