Oil Change

[Josh_]

It's time I changed the oil for the first time since I bought my Carina E. In fact, it's the first time I'm doing my own oil change at all, come to think of it.

Anyway, it's generally simple enough, but I have a question. The directions in the Haynes manual say to undo the oil filler cap first, and then remove the sump plug to drain the oil, whilst being careful not to let it spray down your sleeve. Wouldn't it be much easier to remove the sump plug first, so that the oil would only dribble out until you opened the filler cap? Is there a reason not to do that?

[Red Yaris 54]

Removing the filler cap allows the oil to drain out quicker, carrying any contaminants with it.

Just be careful when removing the sump plug and make sure that you have a large enough receptacle to catch the oil in.

Try not to drop the sump plug in the receptacle of oil or you will have the unpleasant job of fishing it out.

NOTE: It is wise to wear a pair of LATEX gloves when doing this job as waste engine oil is carcenogenic and may be harmful to your health........................It also keeps your hands cleaner

Good luck and take your time.........................Dont forget to replace the sump plug before putting in the new oil......................IT HAS BEEN DONE

[Josh_]

While we're on the subject, does anyone here bother with using an oil flush when changing the oil?

[trev3635]

While we're on the subject, does anyone here bother with using an oil flush when changing the oil?

I always change the oil filter at the same time. It's really easy to get at and an oil strap is cheap enough. An oil filter will only cost about £3-£4 and well worth doing and helps to keeps the engine nice and sweet. As for the engine flush i use Forte it's about a tenner and helps keep the emmissions down come M.O.T. time. Your local garage should be able to advise on engine flush. :D

[Josh_]

Well, finally got around to doing the oil. Didn't even need to jack the car up, and fortunately I could get the old filter off by hand, because I forgot all about a filter-wrench.

Also, found there was no sump-plug washer fitted. I wonder if the oil consumption will drop now there is...

[Danny K]

...Also, found there was no sump-plug washer fitted. I wonder if the oil consumption will drop now there is...

Doubt it very, very much, over time you would have found oodles, and oodles of oil stains where your car parked-up each night - my guess is that oily surface tension is keeping the old washer stuck to the collar of the sump drain hole.

I can't think of any other way to ask this, so if you'll pardon my French for a mo':

Ahem - did you feel aound the hole with your (latexed) finger first, in an effort to dislodge the washer?

P.S. I'm placing a bet here and now, that when the time comes to change this oil you've just put in - you'll discover TWO washers.

. . . The directions in the Haynes manual say to undo the oil filler cap first, and then remove the sump plug to drain the oil, whilst being careful not to let it spray down your sleeve. Wouldn't it be much easier to remove the sump plug first, so that the oil would only dribble out until you opened the filler cap? Is there a reason not to do that?

You'd think so. And I start off that way every time to give myself a chance, but it appears to make little difference to the dreaded oil along the arm up to the elbow syndrome - the oil seems to have its own weighty flow of velocity, almost as if it couldn't care less about the oil filler cap being removed or not.

[Danny K]

...Try not to drop the sump plug in the receptacle of oil or you will have the unpleasant job of fishing it out...

It's a long-standing home-servicing tradition. I've yet to succeed in not dropping it in :o

...NOTE: It is wise to wear a pair of LATEX gloves when doing this job as waste engine oil is carcenogenic and may be harmful to your health........................It also keeps your hands cleaner ...

-Being too tightfisted to spend £2 on a box 100 latex gloves, I always grab handfuls of the free plastic gloves they provide at the petrol stations. They are safe to use instead of latex, aren't they?

[Josh_]

...Also, found there was no sump-plug washer fitted. I wonder if the oil consumption will drop now there is...

Doubt it very, very much, over time you would have found oodles, and oodles of oil stains where your car parked-up each night - my guess is that oily surface tension is keeping the old washer stuck to the collar of the sump drain hole.

I can't think of any other way to ask this, so if you'll pardon my French for a mo':

Ahem - did you feel aound the hole with your (latexed) finger first, in an effort to dislodge the washer?

P.S. I'm placing a bet here and now, that when the time comes to change this oil you've just put in - you'll discover TWO washers.

. . . The directions in the Haynes manual say to undo the oil filler cap first, and then remove the sump plug to drain the oil, whilst being careful not to let it spray down your sleeve. Wouldn't it be much easier to remove the sump plug first, so that the oil would only dribble out until you opened the filler cap? Is there a reason not to do that?

You'd think so. And I start off that way every time to give myself a chance, but it appears to make little difference to the dreaded oil along the arm up to the elbow syndrome - the oil seems to have its own weighty flow of velocity, almost as if it couldn't care less about the oil filler cap being removed or not.

I'm pretty certain there was no sump-plug washer, either stuck to the sump or on the plug. It's (just) possible that I dropped the washer but not the sump plug into the old oil, but in that case it managed to get through the neck of a soft-drink bottle which I was pouring the old oil into without me noticing it. It's plausible that I wouldn't notice oil stains, because I never park in the same place twice, but I don't think it was leaking.

BTW, I actually managed not to get oil down my arm when taking out the plug. Just kept it pushed in like the book says. Got a bit of oil on my hand, but I think that's unavoidable. And I dropped the plug, but managed to knock it away so it missed the oil container. That'll do me :)

[Danny K]

It's easy to convince yourself there was no washer there, if this is the first oil change you've carried out on this paticular car.

On the last oil change I did, I swilled and swilled about in the old oil tray, determined to discover where the washer went. There was no sign of it. I knew it had to be somewhere because I fitted it myself last time. Couldn't understand it. There was only one place left so I reached back up into the sump plug hole and felt around the collar seat, but couldn't feel any washer. As I'd now drained the old oil away, I knew it had to be up there. And it was only after some vigorous 'scratching' around the sump plug hole that the washer finally dislodged and fell down. At no time could I see or feel it. If I hadn't fitted it myself I would have shrugged my shoulders with a, 'well, it must have hit the side of the oil tray and rolled away'.

- Saying that, you did say you managed to unscrew the oil filter by hand, I've never been able to unscrew any oil filter by force of hand alone - ever ...but don't know if a lack of washer would make that more likely or less.

[dazfoxy530]

It's easy to convince yourself there was no washer there, if this is the first oil change you've carried out on this paticular car.

On the last oil change I did, I swilled and swilled about in the old oil tray, determined to discover where the washer went. There was no sign of it. I knew it had to be somewhere because I fitted it myself last time. Couldn't understand it. There was only one place left so I reached back up into the sump plug hole and felt around the collar seat, but couldn't feel any washer. As I'd now drained the old oil away, I knew it had to be up there. And it was only after some vigorous 'scratching' around the sump plug hole that the washer finally dislodged and fell down. At no time could I see or feel it. If I hadn't fitted it myself I would have shrugged my shoulders with a, 'well, it must have hit the side of the oil tray and rolled away'.

- Saying that, you did say you managed to unscrew the oil filter by hand, I've never been able to unscrew any oil filter by force of hand alone - ever ...but don't know if a lack of washer would make that more likely or less.

Hi, im just thinking of doing the oil change on my Carina 1994 1.6 4A FE, anyone know how much oil is required to re fill?? Cant seem to find it in the haynes.

[bigmafa]

It's easy to convince yourself there was no washer there, if this is the first oil change you've carried out on this paticular car.

On the last oil change I did, I swilled and swilled about in the old oil tray, determined to discover where the washer went. There was no sign of it. I knew it had to be somewhere because I fitted it myself last time. Couldn't understand it. There was only one place left so I reached back up into the sump plug hole and felt around the collar seat, but couldn't feel any washer. As I'd now drained the old oil away, I knew it had to be up there. And it was only after some vigorous 'scratching' around the sump plug hole that the washer finally dislodged and fell down. At no time could I see or feel it. If I hadn't fitted it myself I would have shrugged my shoulders with a, 'well, it must have hit the side of the oil tray and rolled away'.

- Saying that, you did say you managed to unscrew the oil filter by hand, I've never been able to unscrew any oil filter by force of hand alone - ever ...but don't know if a lack of washer would make that more likely or less.

Hi, im just thinking of doing the oil change on my Carina 1994 1.6 4A FE, anyone know how much oil is required to re fill?? Cant seem to find it in the haynes.

It is in Haynes - 3l exactly.