first oil change

[jonny595]

going to get my hands dirty on my new (well 93 )3.0td surf and change the oil, filter, air filter and probably flush the cooling system....

haven't worked on one of these before, anything to look out for ?

thanks in advance

also can't believe how much i have learnt from surfing thru this site, much appreciated ......cheers..jonny

[wibblywobbly]

Oil and Filter Change

Hi and welcome

The oil change can be a pain, or a breeze depending on how you go about it.

Take the Surf for a drive to warm the oil up, that way it will drain far easier.

Remove the oil filler thingy from the rocker cover, this lets the oil drain out easier as it prevents a vacuum in the crankcase.

Remove the sump bolt and drain the oil.

Replace the sump bolt.

There is a removable panel under the right hand wheel arch behind the tyre. It is held on by four bolts. Spray them with WD40 and remove the bolts, then swivel the cover out of the way.
Then get some old foam backed carpet and cut it into two strips.
Place one over the tyre.
Place the other under the filter.
Now remove the filter. Depending on what you have available the options are:
Big pair of plumbers pliers, you can loosen the filter with these if you go in over the top.
or
A suitably sized oil filter wrench (the cup type that you turn with a half inch drive)
or
Stick a screwdriver through it and turn
or
Wrap sandpaper around it and try turning it by hand
or
Throw things at it and hope that one of them loosens it!

Then just spin it off. The carpet will soak up the drips, and stop your tyre getting covered while you withdraw it.

Now smear a thin film of oil around the rubber gasket on the new filter.
Screw it on and tighten it as hard as you can by hand. It should not be clamped up using tools, as it just makes it harder to get off again!

Refill with oil (use diesel engine oil) up to the dipstick mark.
Start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes to let the oil circulate.
Take it for a short drive. This will prime the oil filter.
Stop and let the engine cool down for 15 minutes.
Top the oil back up to the dipstick mark.

Another job well done!

I haven't done the coolant, but read as much as you can on here about that, it could be a potential minefield!

Cheers

Rob G

[Scubasurf]

going to get my hands dirty on my new (well 93 )3.0td surf and change the oil, filter, air filter and probably flush the cooling system....

haven't worked on one of these before, anything to look out for ?

thanks in advance

also can't believe how much i have learnt from surfing thru this site, much appreciated ......cheers..jonny

Sorry Rob, I hate to do this
the 3.0 oil filter is mounted at the top of the engine and is much easier to change. you only need an oil filter clamp or a boa. the rest is correct

[wibblywobbly]

Bu**er

I saw the bit that said 3ltr just as I hit 'Submit Reply'!!

Never mind, it might help some other lost soul!!

Cheers

Rob G

[rich]

Be careful which sump plug you undo!!!!!!

The one for the autobox is more obvious than the engine, dont get the wrong one it can be a costly mistake. Its just behind the bash plate.

Rich.

[jonny595]

thanks chaps, I'll be at that first thing in the morning....

[da SLUG man]

might be an idea to go buy the oil and a tin of engine flush/flushing oil.
stick that in at the shop and when you get home it will have done it's job and you can just drain it out (don't go thrashing it with the flush in though)

also, get a new sump bung and washer, incase they've never been changed. and it save you sticking your hand in a bucket of oil to retrieve the old one! (only about £1.50)

on the 3.0ltr oil filter, there is a small tray below it which catches any spilled oil, there is a pipe attatched which comes out the bottom of the bay just behind the sumpguard (next to the sump bung) make sure this is pointing in your bucket so you don't spill oil every where.

[jonny595]

well as luck would have it I bought a bottle of flush when I bought the oil (not having read yr post ) bunged it in at home and ran it on advanced tickover for 15 mins before draining, all went well thanks to all the tips but hell doesn't come out at some pace...

pretty sure I have a small coolant leak somewhere as there is that familiar smell every now and again, level doesn't seem to be going down though...

now for you experts anyone know how to get them decals off the side without having to scrape them off and get the thing resprayed ?

cheers Jonny

[TOYMOTA]

yeah use hot air gun or even a hair dryer to soften them up and use your nails to scrape off(nails on your hand that is.

[da SLUG man]

yeah use hot air gun or even a hair dryer to soften them up and use your nails to scrape off(nails on your hand that is.

or wait for gemini to post his picture of a special "sticker remover" he's got!

[jonny595]

well having read some of the posts on that one I reckon i may be interested....I tried a small bit today on one of the damaged decals and while the sticker came off under the heat from the hair dryer it left all the adhesive and that even resisted the nail varnish remover which normally deals with stuff like that......i was far too much of a woos to have go with the hot air gun !

[TOYMOTA]

try atiny bit of thinners on a rag,when i took my badges off iused some to get rid of that crapy double sided s..t thats left behind.

[laser_jock99]

well having read some of the posts on that one I reckon i may be interested....I tried a small bit today on one of the damaged decals and while the sticker came off under the heat from the hair dryer it left all the adhesive and that even resisted the nail varnish remover which normally deals with stuff like that......i was far too much of a woos to have go with the hot air gun !

Ordinary white sprit is best for sticker residue removal since (unlike nail varnish remover (acetone)) it won't attack the paint.

[marky]

give the area a good polish afterwards

[Pete The Tart]

going to get my hands dirty on my new (well 93 )3.0td surf and change the oil, filter, air filter and probably flush the cooling system....

haven't worked on one of these before, anything to look out for ?

thanks in advance

also can't believe how much i have learnt from surfing thru this site, much appreciated ......cheers..jonny

One thing that hasn't been mentioned and it's probably too late now but...........

When you drop the sump plug be ready for the oil to come out in a big hurry. I did mine the other week and not being used to working on a car that sits so tall the speed of the oil exiting the sump caught me out big time even tho I had the drain pan in the right place it came out so quickly it bounced right back out, all over me, the floor, one of the wheels, in my eyes ****** everywhere but where it was supposed to be.......I was just waiting for greenpeace to turn up and declare it an environmental disaster area!!!

And then my missus asked me why I was wearing eyeliner!!! Even more worryingly she said it suited me!!!!!