my first self service

DannyW · 16 Jan 2008 at 19:39

hi guys, i serviced my car tonight, i'm so pleased with my self i thort i'd post some pics ect

last service was at 68k in april 2007, so now its upto 76k so i thort i might as well. i even cleaned my MAF

went to ford, got oil and filter, came to £28

then went to halfords to get plugs and air filter cost about £25, my local dealer had no filters so just went to halfords.

oil filter was a bit of a pig to take off as i didn't have the special tool to do it, but hammer and flat head worked fine.

my only question is, when i fitted the new oil filter i did it hand tight (as tight as i could) will this be ok??

with any luck i'll get better mpg

and yes, i am a proper tight *****

fonzee · 16 Jan 2008 at 19:41

ahh we've all been there

what car is it?

and yes, doing the oil filter up by hand is perfect...

DannyW · 16 Jan 2008 at 19:42

mk2 mondeo 2.0 petrol.

i also forgot to gap the plugs, but i think they come pre gapped

TaKeN · 16 Jan 2008 at 19:44

Good Stuff,

I did this a few weeks back on my 306

In your second picture.. Is that the CV Boot I see leaking grease out ?

DannyW · 16 Jan 2008 at 19:46

TaKeN said:
Good Stuff,

I did this a few weeks back on my 306

In your second picture.. Is that the CV Boot I see leaking grease out ?

looks like it

will have a look tomorrow

nutcase · 17 Jan 2008 at 05:33

Sounds like you've overtightened the oil filter. Usually it's do it up until the gasket makes contact, then a 1/4 turn.

helpimcrap · 17 Jan 2008 at 07:19

i always do them hand tight until they touch, then maybe half a turn to make sure.

Sone · 17 Jan 2008 at 08:04

you seem to have expensive parts, when i used to get bits from local motorfactors for my mondeo the whole lot came to under £25.

The oil filter is not in an easy place to get off but a chain wrench is only a couple of quid.

ci_newman · 17 Jan 2008 at 08:51

Sone said:
you seem to have expensive parts, when i used to get bits from local motorfactors for my mondeo the whole lot came to under £25.

The oil filter is not in an easy place to get off but a chain wrench is only a couple of quid.

And a hammer & screw driver is even cheaper

I've been changing the oil on my car(s) for years, and I've always just done it up as tight as I could get it by hand

Sone · 17 Jan 2008 at 09:02

ci_newman said:
And a hammer & screw driver is even cheaper

not if you miss

ste_bla · 17 Jan 2008 at 10:58

did you remember to put a little oil on the gasket on the oil filter?

Five_Star · 17 Jan 2008 at 13:06

looks like a job well done, extra bonus points if you dropped the sump plug into the bucket the old oil drains into

K.C. Leblanc · 17 Jan 2008 at 13:37

How easy is it to change the plugs? I've always been scared of doing this.

volospian · 17 Jan 2008 at 14:13

K.C. Leblanc said:
How easy is it to change the plugs? I've always been scared of doing this.

Relatively easy. Do them one at a time, so you don't get the leads mixed up, and be careful not to cross thread them when you put the new ones in. That's about it.

Oh, and it may be worth checking the gap on the new ones before you put them in.

Sometimes the worst thing about changing them is actually getting to them

TaKeN · 17 Jan 2008 at 14:36

volospian said:
Relatively easy. Do them one at a time, so you don't get the leads mixed up, and be careful not to cross thread them when you put the new ones in. That's about it.

Oh, and it may be worth checking the gap on the new ones before you put them in.

Sometimes the worst thing about changing them is actually getting to them

Remember to clean the area around the spark plug up aswell, You don't want any dirt getting down the hole :eek:

K.C. Leblanc · 17 Jan 2008 at 15:02

It looks quite easy on my Car,

Slightly odd ingition on my car, it doesn't have a mechanical distributor, it's got and electronic one that sits on top of the cam cover between 2 & 3.

Crossy · 17 Jan 2008 at 15:08

I was always told to do the oil filter hand tight. Also to put a smidge of oil on the seal so its easier to come off next time around.

BigglesPiP · 17 Jan 2008 at 15:55

I hate ford sump plugs, although it looks like yours didn't decide to shoot across the floor.

Clarkey · 17 Jan 2008 at 16:24

you hammered a flat head screwdriver through the top of the filter where the threads are? :/

jpmonkey69 · 17 Jan 2008 at 16:32

Clarkey said:
you hammered a flat head screwdriver through the top of the filter where the threads are? :/

I'm not being rude, but your posting style annoys me a bit!

If you read/look at the pictures, he put the flat head screwdriver through the oil filter so it's a lot easier to remove. Kind of like a breaker bar.