oil change - top up and drain twice or drain and top up?

[1ntense]

OK so Im going to do my first oil change. I got my new oil filter from Citroen today and have some decent quality oil recommended by the oilman on here.

Ive been told by someone on here to drain my oil, fill up, run for 20 mins, drain again, change filter and top up again.

This sounds like a good idea to clean the engine out of any crap that may be in there but also sounds like it will use alot more oil than just draining and topping up.

Opinions please?

[fraggle_VTR]

if the sump plug is on the front of the sump then jack up the rear to give a level drain,
take the fuel cap off and filter then let it drain for aslong as possivble, preferabley over night.

[Jak_Vts]

I did my GTi recently and I just drained the old oil and just fitted the new filter and filled up with the new oil and topped it upn there is a guide on here if you search!

[fraggle_VTR]

also don't just start it straight up and rev the nuts of it...
flick the ignition a few times and just turn it over don't strart, this wil get the oil pressure up and circulates the oil first.

[1ntense]

Thanks for the tips fraggle, very useful.

Im pretty sure the sump plug is at the front, Ive never jacked a car up so it will be my first time lol, have got no idea where to place the jack or axle stands lol any ideas?

Im going to go for the drain, top up (with crap oil) run for 10-20 mins, drain again and top up again method. Should I still do the ignition trick?

It wont be possible to drain it overnight, I did look for a guide but couldnt find one btw. Im thinking the method above will get as much if not more crap out of the engine than draining overnight.

[fraggle_VTR]

Thanks for the tips fraggle, very useful.

Im pretty sure the sump plug is at the front, Ive never jacked a car up so it will be my first time lol, have got no idea where to place the jack or axle stands lol any ideas?

Im going to go for the drain, top up (with crap oil) run for 10-20 mins, drain again and top up again method. Should I still do the ignition trick?

It wont be possible to drain it overnight, I did look for a guide but couldnt find one btw. Im thinking the method above will get as much if not more crap out of the engine than draining overnight.

sounds like a plan, if you drain the oil, it all drops into the bottom of the engine and can leave top end parts pretty dry so flicking the ignition just gets the oil pump working and chucks the oil around.
i always use the rear axle as a jacking point but basically you want to be as close to the outside of the car as you can and on a strong flat area, such as the point where the trailing arm that the rear wheel is attached to meets the axle which is the thick pole type thing that runs across behind the spare wheel.

[1ntense]

Hmmm..behind the spare wheel as in the closest side to the front of the car?

I thought there were designated jacking points that had to be used?

Ive still to get a jack, thats my next step, also going to need a socket set, think Ive decided on one of them now. Any recommendations for a hydraulic trolley jack? I was going to get a cheap one from Lidl, they seem to have run out though :(

[fraggle_VTR]

Hmmm..behind the spare wheel as in the closest side to the front of the car?

I thought there were designated jacking points that had to be used?

Ive still to get a jack, thats my next step, also going to need a socket set, think Ive decided on one of them now. Any recommendations for a hydraulic trolley jack? I was going to get a cheap one from Lidl, they seem to have run out though :(

there are jacking points just infront of the rear wheel, but i never use them because i end up crushing my side skirts :homme:
when it comes to jacks just look at the lifting weight, and remember that you'll only be lifting one corner of the car at a time so no need for a massive one, would always recommend putting it on stands on even blocks of wood,
best thing to do is jack it up, drop it onto stands or blocks but leave the jack under there to jacked up to like a cm lower than the stands so if they give way you something there to catch the car :y:

[1ntense]

good advice mate, thanks

last thing I want is to get crushed.

do you think Ill notice anything after doing a service? As in change fuel/air/oil filter and an oil change?

[fraggle_VTR]

good advice mate, thanks

last thing I want is to get crushed.

do you think Ill notice anything after doing a service? As in change fuel/air/oil filter and an oil change?

not a problem!
i usually just raid my dads gear as he's in the trade :homme:
the engine will sound quieter, less ticky, runs smoother and gives better MPG, changing the plugs is also a good idea but you would need to get a sparkplug socket to remove them, so if money allows.
regular services really do pay off, a car that hasn't been serviced rarely lasts mileage wise and tends to wear quicker internally which leads to a loss of power.
doing it yourself is a great idea to as it cuts costs alot,
cust costs even more by shopping around and avoiding using halfords!
flick through the yellow pages for motor factors such as CES uk.
they supply mainly trade customers so give better prices and know what they are on about.

[fraggle_VTR]

just noticed it's a vtr that you're doing it on..if you look behind the front wheels and infront of the back wheels on the side skirt you'll see little arrows pointing down, that's where your jacking points are.

[1ntense]

nice one mate. Will check CES out.

As much as I dislike Halfrauds, I did find this socket set which seems like a good deal..

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_17 6237_langId_-1_categoryId_165572

Im looking forward to doing the service as it will be my first and will give me that bit more experience working with cars :)

I am planning on changing the plugs but I read that you need to take the coil pack off? Ive got no idea how to do this lol and cant seem to find a guide?

[fraggle_VTR]

i've got the 150 piece halfords set, think they are half price at £100 atm, and it's the nuts tbf,
has everything you would need to do most jobs including sprakplug sockets!
it's real good quality and has a lifetime warranty,
i've got that and a 2.25 tonne halfords trolley jack in the boot..just in case
i never trust a french car:p

[1ntense]

lol dont blame you mate.

wish I could stretch to that but Im saving for a new car atm so Ill have to settle for the 65 piece set, still looks pretty good for the price, think it might come with a spark plug socket as well :)

will just settle for a cheap trolley jack as well, either a cheap sealey, clarke or michelin one. Think Ill have nearly everything I need tool wise for a while that way, cant forget axle stands too.

wish owning a car wasnt so damn expensive, worth it though lol

is it hard to change the plugs then?

[fraggle_VTR]

what you saving up to buy?
it's always good have a few tools knocking about, will always come in handy.
changing plugs is easy enough, pull the plug leads off them or the ignition rail...can't remember what the saxos have, seen to many engines in the past few days hahh. there's only two different sizes of socket for them, so get the right one on and you want a decent length extension bar and then a ratchet and just carefully undo them, if you snap them or round them off, it becomes a real pain in the hole. then whack the new ones in.

[1ntense]

not sure yet tbh, Im thinking a golf mk4 gt tdi for sensibleness with touch of fun factor, an astra sri (heard the eco tec engines are crap though) maybe a focus zetec, alfa 156 or a mk6 fiesta zetec s or st if I can get a bit of finance towards one. Ive got a baby on the way though so got to try and be sensible lol

I thought that socket set was the professional lifetime guarantee one, knew it was too good to be true lol. I just really dont know how much use they'll get, I literally have no idea what a socket set is needed for lol I was just told that they would be a good thing to have? lol

Its more the coil pack that I dont know how to get off mate.

[Mr_P]

Blamo

http://www.saxperience.com/forum/showthread.php?t=231832

Still working on MK2. And you can see I didn't have a spark plug socket then :P

[barkingmad]

I think I have a hyd jack is you fancy popping by to use it. You can look at my car whilst your here. I'm in Broughton where are you?

[1ntense]

Thanks mate, I may well take you up on your offer :)

Im in Corby mate so not far at all.