Oil and filter change

Frequent oil and filter changes are the most important preventative maintenance procedures which can be undertaken by the owner. As engine oil ages, it becomes diluted and contaminated, which leads to premature engine wear.

Procedure

1. Warm engine up
2. Raise rear of car.¹
3. Remove middle undertray.
4. Remove the oil filler cap from the cylinder head cover.
5. Remove sump plug and drain oil into something that will hold 5 litres of fluid.
6. Replace sump plug washer and screw in sump plug. Tighten to 25 Nm.
7. Remove oil filter.
8. Smear some oil on the seal of new filter and screw on.
9. Pour 4 litres of whatever oil in the engine.
10. Start engine, don't rev and observe oil light going out. Have a nose underneath for a possible leak at the filter. Tighten if necessary.
11. Turn engine off.
12. Replace undertray
13. Lower car, leave for a short while and check dipstsick.

Notes

¹Access to the underside of the vehicle will be greatly improved if it can be raised on a lift, driven onto ramps, or jacked up and supported on axle stands. I reverse mine onto ramps, but if you've got some blocks of wood that are approx 3 inches + tall then you can squeeze underneath without too much bother.