Gonna attempt an oil change (v6)

[bongomike]

Hey Guys, haven't been on the forum for a while been busy.....

I'm thinking about changing the engine oil and filter on my V6. Am I right in thinking if I drain from the sump plug I will need to replace a washer if so where do I get these are the commonly available.

or would I be best to go down the oil extractor pump route?

or take it to a garage and get it done professionally (using that term loosely being in Regional Queensland).

Cheers
Bongomike

[Grahame at work]

I've done it twice now - and hope to again next weekend - and have so far re-used the same bits and not had any problems.

Apart from always dropping the nut & washer into the oil as I take them off requires a bit of fishing around in the warm oil

Good luck

regards Grahame

[skyhigh123]

I've just done the seventeenth oil change on mine.(I've had my diesel Bongo since 2006)

I'm still using the same copper sump washer, not just because I'm tight but because I never remember to buy a new one when I get the filter and oil.

Based on my experience, I reckon you should be ok reusing the washer!

[Northern Bongolow]

have a look on the net, there are ways to (plump) up the washer again to reuse it.

[Simon Jones]

A quick smear of blue Hylomar compound on the threads will help ensure a drip-free plug.

[Driver+Passengers]

have a look on the net, there are ways to (plump) up the washer again to reuse it.

Some related posts here:
search.php?keywords=washer+anneal

[bongomike]

Thanks for all the info guys

Is the oil filter easy to get off?

Bongomike

[Simon Jones]

Should come off with an oil filter wrench. The diameter of the filter is much less than the diesel: it's just under 7cm, so make sure the wrench will go that small. Something like this should do the trick:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 55216#tab1

[Poohbear]

I've just done the seventeenth oil change on mine.(I've had my diesel Bongo since 2006)

Why have you done seventeen oil changes in less than 6 years? Do you do exceptionally high mileage? Modern oils can take quite a hammering without breaking down so once a year is enough unless you do really high mileage. Otherwise you're just wasting money and time.

[skyhigh123]

I've just done the seventeenth oil change on mine.(I've had my diesel Bongo since 2006)

Why have you done seventeen oil changes in less than 6 years? Do you do exceptionally high mileage? Modern oils can take quite a hammering without breaking down so once a year is enough unless you do really high mileage. Otherwise you're just wasting money and time.

I simply follow the recommended service schedule , changing the oil and or filter every 5,000/10,000 kilometres. I bought the bongo with 60,000 kms on it, it's now done 163,000. Apparently average expected kms per year on a car is 20,000 so in 5 years I'm not doing "exceptionally high mileage".
I'm aware that oil technology is claimed to have improved significantly since the Bongo engine was designed but with 100,000 trouble free kilometres covered I'm happy to carry on expending the time and money required to stick to the recommended intervals.