Well what a crap day..
Started with the oil, drove round for a few minutes to get the oil warm to make the task easier. Then started the task of jacking it up and getting it on the stands. Pretty scary for the first time, but managed that ok, and access was vastly improved, even with the stands on their lowest setting.
So off came the undertray, and, all prepared with an old oil bottle to catch the oil in, I attacked the drain plug. Which was stuck solid. Was done up rather tight, and with access to just a small socket set, I stuggled for 2 hours, tried allsorts, but it wasn't budging. So dropped it off the stand and ran it down to the garage at the end of the road, where it took the kind old man approx 0.2s with a breaker bar to crack it off. Oh how easy things are with the right tools.
So, back home, I get it back on stands and commence oil drain. Managed to cover myself and the road and everything within a 3 foot radius in oil, but hey, thats part of the fun! Next job, filter. Dead easy, manual states it should be hand tight. Obviously last bloke knew better. No budging. Sigh. No way I'm going to go back to the garage, and anyway, its got no oil in now. So its off to halfords for a filter wrench (I know, I could have shoved a screwdriver through, but with my luck I'd of slipped and gone through the sump or something expensive..). This is turning into an expensive oil change.
So, get back, remove filter and throw it as far as possible, and fit the new (prefilled) one. Stick the new washer on the sump plug and tighten it (but not too tight..). Tada. Now we're starting to do well. So, full of confidence, in goes the new oil. Bit at a time, checking the dipstick, then adding a bit more. Wonderful. Step back, admire handywork. Notice car is still on stands. Slowly realise oil is now all at back of engine, and dipstick is at front. Ah crap.
So off the stands and recheck oil. Oops. Under car, drain plug sloooowly out and drain a bit off. Recheck. Lovely.
So, 5 hours in, and I've changed the oil. I am the master of Mechanics.
Next is plugs. With the wonderous design of the boxer engine, this means dismantling half the bay. Whoopee. Finnally, I can see the leads going into the side of the engine! Surely the next bits easy! I'll just get the spark plug socket and stick it on the ratchet and.. ah.. 1/2" socket, 3/8" ratchet. Wonderful.
And so this is how I left the plugs, deciding that this is a sign I shouldn't be allowed near cars alone again. Stuff whoever is sending these signs though, I'll try and find something that'll fit tommorrow. After a bit of tidying I needed to shift the car. So, fingers crossed, I climb into the seat and turn the key. Fully expecting to hear the sound of grinding metal or a piston to come through the bulkhead and hit me in the knackers, I was plesently surprised when she started perfectly, and purred rather nicely. Roars quite nice too with half the induction system missing too.
So only a partial, and rather drawn out success (aren't I the optimist..). But I know more than I did this morning, which was the point of the exercise I suppose.
Lowering is so last week, the new thing is the rallyslag look
Note mum's best tupperware. She'll go mad if she finds out..
Your supposed to get the oil in the container...
Note to self: On hot days, place board under jack..
