I decided that the the price for a oil change was a bit much.
So next time I felt sick I took the day off & changed the oil in my car.
Got a filter & oil pack.
I didn't have a oil tray, so I used a old oil container with its side cut out. Pity it was thicker than the clearance under the engine.
After a few false starts I got the plug out & most of the oil into the container, which was over flowing because the engine has more than 4 litres of oil in it.
Then I spilt more distorting the container getting it out from under the engine. So theres oil flowing down my arms to my elbows & the gravel as well.
I couldn't get the filter off, so I did something I'd heard, stab a screwdrive thru the filter & unwind it.
Then I found I had the wrong filter. Since the cars got no oil in it. It took a 15 min walk to get the right filter.
Back & after putting the filter on, I full it up with oil.
The oil doesn't register on the dipstick, so another 15 min walk to get another oil pack.
Pour another litre & a bit in there & I see it on the dipstick. Sweet.
Now I have a oil change, a overflowing dirty oil container (that stayed knocking around the boot for months till I found a recycler....)
A dirrty cut open container & a leaking oil filter as well as a newish container containing 2 1/2 litres oil. I have also lost a days wages.
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Fast forward 1 year. I see a 'Oil & filter change $30' sign at a oil changers & relise thats what I paid for one oil pack & the filter.........
So I take it in. Drive it onto the hoist & watch as the guy undoes the plug with the catcher under it.
He wanders over & picks out a filter, screws that on, wanders over to another thing with a hose on it & unscrews the rocker cover cap & sits the hose connection into it.
He then screws the oil plug back in & switches the oil valve so it fills it up.
Job done.
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So, to do it myself I need >
A whole day without pay (or income tax too) 3 hours on my back on gravel & dog sh!t under a car with oil running down my arms. Several skinned knuckles & elbows.
2 oil packs & two different oil filters & 1 1/2 hours walking up & downhill.
A messy oil container full of oil in my boot untill I find a recyclers & a 2nd oil container 1/2 full of oil. A really messy oil filter as well.
Some other guy who didn't get paid for 15 mins for what I took all day to do.
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The morel of my story?
DIP**** (Do It Properly, Saves Hassle & Time.)
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Update (sic) I find out that if you stab a screwdriver thru a oil filter, it drops most of the filtered out contaminates back into the engine.
That the dipstick was not the correct one & was 1 inch too short....
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