Don't know how many, if any, of you folks do your own engine oil change on the road. (Beats paying $100 plus at a workshop.) Dropping the sump plug is reasonably easy. But, removing the oil filter, which must be done on every change, can be a real pain. The one on my Mazda is behind, and inside the left "steerer" I need to jack the bus up, on the right hand side, to remove the sump plug. When it's empty, I replace the plug, then put the jack on the opposite side, to get to the filter. It was only a few days ago that the chore came up, and I couldn't find the filter removal clamp. It would happen after I had drained the oil. So, dragged out the cordless drill. "punched" a hole in the filter. Let the oil drain into a container. Then, pushed big screwdriver into the filter and that gave me the leverage to unscrew it. The screwdriver "trick" was often used by us blokes when driving interstate transport. Hope it's of some help.
Don't know how many, if any, of you folks do your own engine oil change on the road. (Beats paying $100 plus at a workshop.) Dropping the sump plug is reasonably easy. But, removing the oil filter, which must be done on every change, can be a real pain. The one on my Mazda is behind, and inside the left "steerer" I need to jack the bus up, on the right hand side, to remove the sump plug. When it's empty, I replace the plug, then put the jack on the opposite side, to get to the filter. It was only a few days ago that the chore came up, and I couldn't find the filter removal clamp. It would happen after I had drained the oil. So, dragged out the cordless drill. "punched" a hole in the filter. Let the oil drain into a container. Then, pushed big screwdriver into the filter and that gave me the leverage to unscrew it. The screwdriver "trick" was often used by us blokes when driving interstate transport. Hope it's of some help.
Regards
Pipes
That brings back horrible memories. Great trick but the mess on the hands, floor, eyebrows.......
Made my own Filter wrench out of a piece of seatbelt old socket & a piece of pipe & fits any filter & have used it to hold a flywheel on a small motor. very versatile.
Typical Darryl. Very inventive as usual. I still take my Rosy to a very reliable garage on Waterloo Corner Road, Salisbury, SA. They seem to look after me, and I'm happy to refer fellow travellers as a result of that service. Today my "service" involved reconditioning the power steering pump and installing 2 new alternator belts. Rosy is a '95 model and has done more than 370,000kms, and most of this stuff is on-going maintenance. I rely on my car, so I have to look after "her". There have been times when I've helped former husband and partner to change the oil, spark plugs and points. I was very good at plugs and points. Now it's injectors in the diesel. Now grinding valves by hand was one of my specialties. It's just great to hear you are looking after your vehicles.
__________________
20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Typical Darryl. Very inventive as usual. I still take my Rosy to a very reliable garage on Waterloo Corner Road, Salisbury, SA. They seem to look after me, and I'm happy to refer fellow travellers as a result of that service. Today my "service" involved reconditioning the power steering pump and installing 2 new alternator belts. Rosy is a '95 model and has done more than 370,000kms, and most of this stuff is on-going maintenance. I rely on my car, so I have to look after "her". There have been times when I've helped former husband and partner to change the oil, spark plugs and points. I was very good at plugs and points. Now it's injectors in the diesel. Now grinding valves by hand was one of my specialties. It's just great to hear you are looking after your vehicles.
Oh CG you bring back memories. My late husband was a mechanic and I always seemed to end up with the job of cleaning parts and grinding valvles. Didn't do much for the skin on my hands.
When I had my own hire car business I used to do all my own grease ups and oil changes. Lot cheaper than paying for services on 13 cars. Think I will leave the Winnie servicing to the professionals though.
It gets harder as we get older, and the vehicles get bigger. In the park I don't think they'd appreciate me putting Rosy up on ramps and do the oil drain on my site. Besides, I have to stand on a box to reach the filler. On the road she uses a bit of oil when I have to push her, and I had to ask the chivalrous truck driver to pour the oil. No. sillies! Not the wine, although Rosy probably considered it just as refreshing. Besides, when I give her to the experts to check out there is usually a maintenance issue to deal with. She is old and she works hard. That's life.
__________________
20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
