Some thoughts and impressions after first DIY oil change | FerrariChat
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Some thoughts and impressions after first DIY oil change

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Kevin Rev'n, May 16, 2016.

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  1. Kevin Rev'n

    Kevin Rev'n Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #1 Kevin Rev'n, May 16, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I have had my car about three years now and finally performed my first oil change after having the dealer do it the other 3 times. I have reached a level of comfort putting a wrench to her and with a failing oil temp sensor the time was right. I noticed few things during the drill that are worthy of F-Chat discussion.

    One is that the myth about the new age oils derived from natural gas foaming, making it tough to read the dipstick.....FALSE

    No foam in the 5 valve V-8 when new anyway. I was apprehensive to use the the Pennzoil Ultra Euro stuff after reading someplace that it foams. I ordered a oil change kit from Ricambi and this was in the kit.

    Another thing is that the way I decided to support my car's rear up in the air during the process allowed more oil to drain out and the 10 quarts in the Ricambi kit left me one quart short. It takes 11 to fill it if you do it like I am showing with front wheels on ground.

    I am reminded how nice it is to own a previous owners garage queen and work on the car. Clean surfaces and engines/drivetrains are a joy to wrench on when nice. It was an easy detail to freshen everything I could touch with the undertray off.

    Fresh clean undertray anyone? :)

    Oh the other thing is that I got a little excited when I went to refill the car. I poured in 9 quarts as I was planning on pouring in the last one with engine warm and running per the manual. It took a long time for the oil to drain down into the system so dipstick showed WAY past the high line with 9 quarts in I went to bed to sleep on it. Not high enough to reach the re-circ to intake circuit but I was scratching my head. I knew not to start the car with the oil showing so high and was relieved to find the next morning that the oil had made it's way to the sump and the stick was dry! Such is the first oil change experience. Then the baby steps of filling and checking, filling and checking with car on. I was lucky I had some extra quarts on hand.
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  2. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 mwr4440, May 16, 2016
    It's a car. It has special quirks like any other.

    Ask questions. Even 'stupid' ones. I do.

    Define your limits and wrench the hell outta the rest of it.

    Don't let the Horsey be a 'Scare Badge.'
     
  3. Jacob Potts

    Jacob Potts Formula Junior

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    #3 Jacob Potts, May 16, 2016
    Nice car!

    "Excuse me, waiter: this plate is too dirty. I shall take my dinner on that chap's oil sump!"

    :)
     
  4. smg2

    smg2 F1 World Champ
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    #4 smg2, May 16, 2016
    Looks nice and clean! most are quite grungy down under there.

    did you check/clean the filter in the sump?

    Now the next one is to change the gearbox oil....
     
  5. Kevin Rev'n

    Kevin Rev'n Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 Kevin Rev'n, May 16, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Oh yes, got the mesh filter cleaned too. Some non-metallic "stuff" was captured!

    I just had my gearbox done last year so even though I will do this I may put it off a while. I want to do the brake fluid next. I am OK tackling everything except the engine coolant. I need to read up on that one before I attempt.
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  6. Keith360

    Keith360 Formula Junior

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    #6 Keith360, May 16, 2016
    I too am about to change my oil for the first time. Just over a year and have procured the Pennzoil Ulta Euro. I plan to change coolant and gearbox lube and maybe F1 and power steering fluids.
     
  7. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    #7 yelcab, May 17, 2016
    That car looks too clean to have all of that crud inside the mesh filter....
     
  8. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 mwr4440, May 17, 2016
    Sorta thinking the same thing.
     
  9. Kevin Rev'n

    Kevin Rev'n Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #9 Kevin Rev'n, May 17, 2016
    HA! It's hard to say when it was done last but now I know for sure.
     
  10. Robz328

    Robz328 F1 Veteran
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    #10 Robz328, May 17, 2016
    good work.
     
  11. cgfen

    cgfen Formula Junior

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    #11 cgfen, May 17, 2016
    Bravo!

    My recent DIY oil change, which included filter change and screen cleaning, required a bit over 10.5L to refill.

    No exaggeration, it took me 2 - 3 minutes to figure out where the oil filter is........................

    Craig
     
  12. Keith360

    Keith360 Formula Junior

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    #12 Keith360, Jun 7, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I drained my gearbox and removed the pump pickup screen after drilling a 2-1/8" access hole in the rear defuser. Rather than a plastic plug I made an aluminum backing plate and hole plug. What do you think?
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  13. Keith360

    Keith360 Formula Junior

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    #13 Keith360, Jun 7, 2016
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  14. Keith360

    Keith360 Formula Junior

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    #14 Keith360, Jun 7, 2016
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  15. Keith360

    Keith360 Formula Junior

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    #15 Keith360, Jun 7, 2016
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  16. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

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    #16 ///Mike, Jun 8, 2016
    That looks like how the factory should have done it in the first place.

    What kind of lift are you using in that pic?
     
  17. jcurry

    jcurry Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #17 jcurry, Jun 8, 2016
    Sounds like a plan. So ....

    According to the WSM two plugs are removed. The kit contains two crush washers and one plug. Why the one plug?

    Did you change the o-rings on the screen housing, or just clean and lube, or????
     
  18. Keith360

    Keith360 Formula Junior

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    #18 Keith360, Jun 9, 2016
    Thanks Mike, yes that is what they should have done since they thought the transmission was worthy to have a removable screen.

    The Lift is a EE-6503 made in China. I had to import the lift myself an hired a broker to do the forms and receive through US Customs.


    I'm not sure why two crush washers and one drain plug, the one in the sump has a magnet while the crankcase plug does not. The new one doesn't have a magnet. There are two different size threads also. The kit also included a pair of rubber gloves. I would rather the rubber was in the form of an o-ring. I have gloves...

    I normally don't reuse o-rings, but couldn't find the odd sizes so I inspected and reused. They were no cut or chipped and they still had a round cross section.
     
  19. MB_Fahrer

    MB_Fahrer Formula Junior

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    #19 MB_Fahrer, Jun 11, 2016
    Engine coolant is easy. Messy but easy. Run it with the blower set to max, defroster on, and max heat temp. Wait for the thermostat to open, open the front drain plugs, turn off engine and grab a beer. Gently blow out the system using air through filler cap once the majority of the fluid is drained. If you're re-filling with the same fluid, simply pour in until you can no more. Wait a few minutes, top off then start the engine. Let the thermostat open and fill until you're about 40mm (could be off on this number, but it doesn't have to be exact as any excess with bleed out the overflow). If you're changing to a different fluid, once drained, refill with distilled water....four or five times until it comes out clear. Then you may put the the new coolant in it. PS, just about any Ethylglycol (sp?) based coolant will do, however the best you can buy is Porsche coolant. Next best is BMW. Next best is the last generation of MB coolant. Forget trying to find Shell Glycoshell in the USA.
     
  20. Kevin Rev'n

    Kevin Rev'n Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #20 Kevin Rev'n, Jun 12, 2016
    I just re-used the orings, cleaned and lubed them, cleaned o-ring grooves too.

    Yeah the "change kit" could use a more thoughtful setup. I am thinking that Daniel at Ricambi could put some thought to it and make it even better.

    Filter
    11 quarts of oil
    2 New mesh screen o-rings
    Some kind of o-ring lube that is compatible in a small tube
    Crush washers
    I am not sure how I feel about new drain plugs and not sure why they even supply one new one in kit.

    What else do we need in the kit?
    New Hat? LOL
     
  21. Kevin Rev'n

    Kevin Rev'n Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #21 Kevin Rev'n, Jun 12, 2016
    I like your industry but personally I couldn't do it this way. If you look at the last pic in the first post the undertray has two removable plugs in the center section of the tray. The fwd most one is circular and is a Ferrari part and might work if you can size the hole properly. I think that other guys have used his one before for the mod you did.

    I may feel differently after I remove my own rear bumper to access the work but I like to get in and poke around and detail the cars nether regions too.
     
  22. RayJohns

    RayJohns F1 Veteran
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    #22 RayJohns, Jun 12, 2016
    I'm liking those race ramps you have there! I'm gonna have to get some of those I think :)
     
  23. Kevin Rev'n

    Kevin Rev'n Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #23 Kevin Rev'n, Jun 12, 2016
    I highly recommend them. I have the smallest ones that are 8 inches. If I were to buy again I would get the 10 inchers.
     
  24. Keith360

    Keith360 Formula Junior

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    #24 Keith360, Jun 13, 2016

    I bought two filter kits from Ricambi, I'm not sure why a spare engine crankcase plug is included and not the oil sump drain plug. I thought is was a nice touch on providing a pair of rubber gloves. I guess it encourages the one who bought and used the kit to keep their hands out of the dirty oil.
     

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