changing oil for the 1st time....my 'guide' video.. :) Can fam. take a look?

[Washburn]

So, I am going to take on the task of changing my own oil in the BMW. (2005 330Ci). I am going to use a different pump, a MityVac 2761.

I have all the things I need, and I am going to use this Youtube video as a guide... I am pretty sure this is also an E46.

Watch it and tell me if this is an ok guide, or should I change anything from the way he does it?

2 things in advance:
1. He doesn't lube the O-ring for the filter housing, I will do that.
2. I don't have a torque wrench, so I am just going to make a mark on the oil filter housing before I take it off, and then when done, tighten it again until the mark aligns with the original spot...(should be ok I guess)

Here's the video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=v2v8yAjx5iw

[danewilson77]

If anything, just put a thin coat of oil on the oring. Make sure you put the oring in the groove it came out of. The oil filter cap just needs to be lightly snivied up (I know you know what that means). And if getting under car....be safe bro.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Washburn]

Thanks, sir! I will not be getting under the ZHP for sure...at least I hope so...
Yeah and thanks for the tip on the 'sniving up' :)

Oh - does the oil filter have an orientation? does it matter which end fits into the housing cap?

[ryankokesh]

Nope - either end can go up!


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[danewilson77]

Thanks, sir! I will not be getting under the ZHP for sure...at least I hope so...
Yeah and thanks for the tip on the 'sniving up' :)

Oh - does the oil filter have an orientation? does it matter which end fits into the housing cap?

Ryan is correct but I always put it label up.

Hang on to your crush washer...start a lil jar for them.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Washburn]

Thanks for the help so far, guys...
Keep the comments coming..I will probably tackle this job Wed or Thu this week....

[ryankokesh]

Here are my steps, in case you don't want to be watching a video while your out in the field:

1) oil cap off, dipstick out.
2) suck out oil through the hole the previously-mentioned dipstick was removed from.
3) remove oil filter while oil is being drained
4) remove old oil filter gasket ring thing while oil is still being drained. It takes a bit...
5) now that it's stopped draining, suck up any oil from filter housing
6) stick on the new filter to the cap, and prime it with some new oil. Get some new oil on a rag or something and get a thin layer on your new filter housing o-ring and slip it on.
7) tighten new filter
8) pour in your new oil to engine
9) check your oil level after running the car for a few mins
10) I think that's it...

Anything I missed, folks?

Just re-read what I wrote. Sorry it sucks. Hopefully you didn't need it in the first place :)



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[Washburn]

6) stick on the new filter to the cap, and prime it with some new oil.


How does one 'prime' the filter? Just douse it with oil or what?
Thanks a lot for your post - everything helps me when it's the 1st time :)

[ryankokesh]

Yeah, just pour some oil over it. It'll drink it up. I almost said "saturate", but I don't usually put a ton on it. Suppose you could though.

No problem! I'm sure it'll go great; nothing to be afraid of :)


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[JupiterBMW]

Just a quick question here, but I hear a lot of you guys using pumps to suck the oil out... Doesn't anyone just pull the drain plug and let it run into a pan the old fashioned way? Seems like it'd be a LOT easier this way... Am I missing something?


Sent from my hybrid iPhone 4/4S... :shifty

[danewilson77]

Just a quick question here, but I hear a lot of you guys using pumps to suck the oil out... Doesn't anyone just pull the drain plug and let it run into a pan the old fashioned way? Seems like it'd be a LOT easier this way... Am I missing something?


Sent from my hybrid iPhone 4/4S... :shifty

I don full drain every 3rd or 4th change. I never prime the filter.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[JupiterBMW]

I'm even more confused now... You don't do a full oil change every time? Can you tell me what you do then? Am I wrong in assuming that every 5K miles (my interval of choice, easy to remember when to change it), you drain all the oil, change the filter, put new oil in...?

I did that for 135,000 miles in my last car, never a problem... What is everyone here doing differently, and why so?

Sorry to jack the OP's thread, lets not make this a "what sort of time/mileage interval is best" thread... :thumbsup

[ryankokesh]

I hate getting under cars (there's a substantially reduced risk of them falling on me if I'm not under them) so with the pump I can do everything from the top side of the engine bay.

Also, I'm almost certain it's not a big deal if you don't prime the filter. I think it's just supposed to make it so that the first time you run the car the oil level isn't going to drop as much when you check the dipstick. I just read it somewhere a while ago and have done it ever since.


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[elric]

I still use the old school way to drain the oil, but I'm also fortunate enough to have access to lift on the weekends.

Washburn .... if you need any help .... just let me know.

[telijah]

I'm even more confused now... You don't do a full oil change every time? Can you tell me what you do then? Am I wrong in assuming that every 5K miles (my interval of choice, easy to remember when to change it), you drain all the oil, change the filter, put new oil in...?

I did that for 135,000 miles in my last car, never a problem... What is everyone here doing differently, and why so?

Sorry to jack the OP's thread, lets not make this a "what sort of time/mileage interval is best" thread... :thumbsup

To more directly answer your question, some of using something similar to this, which is what I have: http://motiveproducts.3dcartstores.com/Power-Extractor-1708_p_128.html

Can suck the oil out through the dipstick rather than climbing under the car, and since our filters are up top, makes getting under the car unnecessary.

I think what Dane is saying by "full" oil change, is he will normally do oil changes using an extractor, but every 3rd or 4th one, he will do it from the bottom, draining it from the drain plug. I will be doing this as well thinking this may help remove anything else that is getting left behind every change from up top.

[danewilson77]

To more directly answer your question, some of using something similar to this, which is what I have: http://motiveproducts.3dcartstores.com/Power-Extractor-1708_p_128.html

Can suck the oil out through the dipstick rather than climbing under the car, and since our filters are up top, makes getting under the car unnecessary.

I think what Dane is saying by "full" oil change, is he will normally do oil changes using an extractor, but every 3rd or 4th one, he will do it from the bottom, draining it from the drain plug. I will be doing this as well thinking this may help remove anything else that is getting left behind every change from up top.

Thx. I assumed Joopy was on our planet :)

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Vas]

Lol this thread complicated the process of doing an oil change.

[danewilson77]

As all simple DIY questions do. If we all wrote a DIY to remove a tire, and combined our unique comments, our collective procedure would be 20 pages long. Ha!

[JupiterBMW]

Thx. I assumed Joopy was on our planet :)

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

Let me refresh your memory...

http://ut-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/solarsystem.jpg

[danewilson77]

Ahhh...ok. Pretty close, all things considered.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[ryankokesh]

I think this is the most complicated and confusing oil change thread ever. :rofl


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[Johnmadd]

Let me refresh your memory...

http://ut-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/solarsystem.jpg


Omg ROFL!

[Hermes]

Just a quick question here, but I hear a lot of you guys using pumps to suck the oil out... Doesn't anyone just pull the drain plug and let it run into a pan the old fashioned way? Seems like it'd be a LOT easier this way... Am I missing something?


Sent from my hybrid iPhone 4/4S... :shifty

Just to answer your question...

I pull drain plug, let every last drop come out (about 45 min later), put plug on with new crush washer, fully prime the filter (douse before I put it in then add more once it is in the housing), fill engine, start car so oil filter is now completely full, turn off car and check level, top off if necessary

[JupiterBMW]

Just to answer your question...

I pull drain plug, let every last drop come out (about 45 min later), put plug on with new crush washer, fully prime the filter (douse before I put it in then add more once it is in the housing), fill engine, start car so oil filter is now completely full, turn off car and check level, top off if necessary

Ahhh, a concise answer... You do it the ol' fashioned way! Great, thanks JP. Considering I have ramps, jack, stands, wheel chock, I will be skipping the dipstick pump method.


Sorry to hijack OP... This thread may now resume its normal schedule...

[Vas]

Nice to know there is more then one way to do it.

[danewilson77]

I occasionally will flip the car over, and suck the oil out of the drain hole with my power Extractor. Only when I'm bored though.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Hermes]

:rofl

do you also do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around, that's what it's all about!

[Washburn]

GREAT ! what a doofus I am - ALL this time I thought I had ordered the oil filter socket from amazon and I go to go through all the boxes thinking it is probably in the same nox as the oil and filter and...It's NOT there - so I checked my amazon orders and it's on the WISH LIST ???? seems I looked at it but never added it to the cart :( !!! SO mad at myself...Advanced auto doesn't stock it - have to order the Assenmacher one online and costs 3x more than the Lisle one from amazon!

I guess I can at least assemble the MityVac and get it ready for Monday when I am off again...

Will update.

[BimmerWill]

GREAT ! what a doofus I am - ALL this time I thought I had ordered the oil filter socket from amazon and I go to go through all the boxes thinking it is probably in the same nox as the oil and filter and...It's NOT there - so I checked my amazon orders and it's on the WISH LIST ???? seems I looked at it but never added it to the cart :( !!! SO mad at myself...Advanced auto doesn't stock it - have to order the Assenmacher one online and costs 3x more than the Lisle one from amazon!

I guess I can at least assemble the MityVac and get it ready for Monday when I am off again...

Will update.

I've not had the chance to pick up a socket yet either. What I've been using is a large adjustable wrench. It works just fine you just have to be careful not to scuff up the plastic on the oil filter cap.

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[Washburn]

don't have one of those either :(

ALSO can someone take a look at the 36 mm socket I ordered here?: I am an idiot with tools -
I have a tool set with all sizes of sockets but looks like this thing has a "HOLE" on the top and not a protruding piece to grab onto with the wrench set I have...
do I need some sort of adapter (3/8" ??) to fit into that "hole"?

6359 http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41mDSOVAuzL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

and here's the ratchet and the extention bar and the "adapter" (to convert metric to standard?) I have - is any of these gonna fit onto that 'square hole' or do I need an additional piece ??? (god i sound so idiotic)

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/nishang/IMG_3553.jpg

Judging by this comment in an amazon review of this oil filter socket (same on I ordered) do u guys think I do need an adapter?
"....Fits perfectly. I have a 1/2" drive so attach a 3/8" adapter to it..."

Do I need this, for example ??
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_1-2-drive-female-3-8-drive-male-adapter-gear-wrench_25984033-p

[Hermes]

Are you sure that is a 1/2" drive ratchet? It looks like 3/8" already, it should fit perfect. Otherwise that small adapter in the top of the picture should work, but honestly I think that is already 3/8 and the adapter is probably a 3/8 to 1/4. The part on the bottom is just an extension f you need some clearance.

[Washburn]

No I am not sure that's a 1/2" - i just thought so because of all the comments I read...
I looked to see if anything's stamped on that part, but nope - nothing there...

I guess I can always wait till the filter socket gets here and them try the drive on it....

[Washburn]

Hermes - you're right ! It IS already a 3/8".

I just had an idea - the toolbox also has some wrenches, and i just took the one marked 3/8 (yeah THOSE do have size marked) and grabbed the drive with it: perfect fit - this should prove it's a 3/8", no?

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/nishang/38edit.jpg

[Hermes]

you're fine, just hold the button on the back of the ratchet when pressing the 36mm socket on so it locks in place

edit: you will need to use an extension as well so you can clear everything

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/jhermes/1395E856-B2EE-43C6-B936-C602BBCDD33A-2591-0000037A343C9752.jpg

[Washburn]

So I DID IT !!! wifey helped too... :)

The filter cap was a lot harder to get off than I thought....I think they overtightened it at the indie place last time.
The pump worked well - judging by the markings on it - which I think are probably NOT accurate, I got about 6.8 LITERS, which is 7.1 qts, so I think I am ok.

I primed the filter with new oil and also smeared some new oil on the new o-ring. installed the new MANN filter and o-ring onto housing cap, put the cap back on and tightened it.
Added new oil - Pennzoil Euro Ultra 6 qts and Castrol (GC) 0w-30 1 qt = 7 qts

started the car (oil lamp went off instantly, started fine), idled for 1-2 min,
I checked and looked around the filter housing cap while the engine was running - no leaks/seeping of oil around the top- everything was dry
then let it sit 10 min, checked level: Was right between the 2 "notches" - just like it was when I checked level before the oil change.

So seems like I got everything covered?

Only "?" I have is: when I installed the filter into the housing and re-tightened, and then to get an idea how tight it was, I opened and took the cap off again, but the filter did NOT come off attached to the cap - it just sat there in the middle of the filter housing. I installed it again onto the cap pretty well, until I heard it snap/lockout onto the cap, and put the cap back on, and re-tightened. Hope all is well there.
I checked and looked around the filter housing cap while the engine was running - no leaks/seeping of oil around the top- everything was dry
(when I took the cap off the 1st time, with the OLD filter, the filter came with the cap, and lifted off with it...)

Is that anything to be concerned about ??

[WOLFN8TR]

Nope mine does the same thing. Good job man, congrats!

[danewilson77]

Nope mine does the same thing. Good job man, congrats!

+1

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Washburn]

Thanks, guys! makes me feel better :)

Tomorrow I am gonna drive it to work and back and recheck the oil level again to make sure all is well, and take the used oil to AAP (don't wanna leave it in the mity vac) too long - the canister is plastic).

[johnrando]

Congrats!