<< Not sure if you've noticed a year of hyper inflation? >>

Hyperinflation ? LOL. I don't suppose any of us has experienced inflation of >100% - THAT is hyperinflation.

Overall, no, but some items - paritcularly some foods, have doubled in price. Saying that, even with real world high inflation (I think the 10-12% currently given is about 1/2 - 1/3 of what it really is), a near doubling of an oil change is ridiculous. My car's recent service wasn't hugely more expensive than the cost 6 years ago (last time it was done in the cycle).

An excellent suggestion Stevieb, can see Andrew's problem there, i don't get this european makers stupid idea of a one piece full engine undertray which has to be removed completely for a routine oil change, penny pinching which must or should have annoyed the maker's engineers enough to get it modified, inevitably clips etc break because the tray is off so regularly it usually ends up a bodged cable tied mess after a few years.

Thankfully on my Japanese cars (can't speak for all) they were designed with access to the sump and if accessed underneath also the filter, the Landcruiser came with OE sump steel sump guard designed to allow access, that rotted badly (not a patch on the solid things on my older Toyotas) and has been replaced with a larger steel sump guard that has a simple two bolt small section that one swings out of the way...the Forester has a full size OE plastic undertray but again Subaru designed in a small section that easily unclips (plastic into plastic so no corrosion issues) for access to sump and oil filter.

My sis called round Boxing day in her Golf, stupid stupid design of undertray dragging on the floor as you see happen with so many VW's on the open road, poor design with steel screws that screw directly into the frame in places...of course the maker didn't use stainless screws and no one had the nous to put some grease on these screws since so they rusted away as did the holes in the frame and over time its been bodged with more cable ties than you could shake a stick at, call me unimpressed with the supposed build quality or rather lack of it.

I made a more secure job than previous bodgers, but inevitably when she gets the car serviced unless they suck the oil out it will have to come off and i dare say chucked in the bin, where arguably it should have gone when new instead of being ''fitted'' so poorly at the factory, haven't a clue where the oil filter is on the 1.9 Diesel lump, not a car i'd want to work on seeing how almost every bolt you want to access on the heap is corroded badly.

Edited by gordonbennet on 02/02/2023 at 12:08

Lidl have a battery powered oil suction extractor Andrew so you will be able to continue servicing the Peugeot.

Thanks for the suggestion Stevie, but I think I shall continue giving this car the treatment it has had for about 14 years. I might be able to suck out the oil, but I would still have to get at the filter, which I think is a replaceable-element type, not a cartridge. I don't mind paying a fair sum for rather messy work with the proper equipment.