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Doing An Oil Change....how Should I Top It Up?

nsta

By nsta,
in General Maintenance

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nsta Mentor

nsta

Posted
Posted

Hey people, ive been doing alot of oil changes to my car in the past, and need to know how to correctly top it up....

I just bought a 5l castrol edge 0w40, and filter too, doing both at the same time....but need to know the best way to top it all up.

Usually i just loosen the filter, and the drain plug and let all the oil come out, then top it upin one hit....

but i was told to top up 4l first, then turn on car, then top rest up till the oil is at the high level on the dipstick....should i be topping up all 5l or no?

thanks in reply!

blind_elk Grand Master

blind_elk

Posted
Posted

Put in about 4.5l. Start engine until the gauge registers pressure (5 - 10 secs), then switch off. Let stand for a few minutes to allow the oil to drain back to the sump. Now check dipstick, add oil as necessary.

RB30-POWER Mentor

RB30-POWER

Posted
Posted

drain the oil,

replace sump washer and torque plug up,

remove and replace filter,

fill engine with 4L or so of oil,

start engine, wait for oil light to extinquish,

let sit for a minute, check dip stick level.

top up until FULL.

the reason you start it after filling initially is because the oil filter is not full of oil initially until you start it and you will get a misleading oil level. (higher then it actually will be once new oil filter is full)

4drftn Experienced

4drftn

Posted
Posted (edited)

iv serviced cars many times... the way i see it and do it is,

get it warm (as warm oil will flow through internals easier than cold oil),

you get her up?,

undo plug and filter, let drain over a period of time (i leave it for over an hour, but no need to do it as long),

make sure area is clean of dirt ect. by using a rag, put new filter on 2/3 turn (run a bead of clear oil over rubber gasket helps seal under heat),

clean around plug hole on sump, put plug back in,

lower the car down,

put new oil in (i put in same amount that comes out), let sit for a bit, check dip stick and slowly top up bit by bit waiting about 1 min in between check until level is close to high level on dipstick,

take for a short drive to get oil a bit warm then recheck because new oil will be pushed around all internals, turbo ect. recheck and do slight top up done... and done right

* be sure to check your filter after car has been driven ( after a decent drive) for minor leakage. if leaking just tighten it a bit with your hand. (dont leave it to long to check and tighten as heat will make rubber gasket go hard and will break seal and then you will have to replace filter again...)

* best to do it yourself in your own time because most mechanics (under a time scedule) wont let it sit to drain long enough, which leaves contaminated oil inside engine and will contaminate new oil.

If done correctly when driving (highway or freeway) your dash cluster oil pressure gauge should be on the 4 mark or very very close to.

any qustions please ask... cheers

Edited by 4drftn
  • 6 months later...
scotty090 Apprentice

scotty090

Posted
Posted

Ive heard a few people commenting that you should fill your filter full of oil before fitting.

Please people, this will only end up in a mess, esspecially on a skyline where the filter is at an arms reach.

Do not waste your time, Ive never heard of a filter "popping off" because of this.

RB30-POWER Mentor

RB30-POWER

Posted
Posted

yeah i wouldn't worry, it only takes a couple of seconds to get pressure, because the engine was already hot from when you drained it, there still should be a fair bit of oil hanging around on most components, and if you run an oil like motul with ester or royal purple with molyb, it tends to cling to the parts for a while anyway after shutdown, so you have some protection still even without pressure.

W0rp3D Grand Master

W0rp3D

Posted
Posted

And make sure that the old oil filter seal isnt stuck on the engine when you change the filter, really makes a mess of your fire wall and leaves a hansell and gretel trail from your mates house where you did it all the way back to your house and then leaves the rest of the oil in a ig puddle on your drive way...... errrr .... so im told :D

(B1) MR_fanny Grand Master

(B1) MR_fanny

Posted
Posted
Ive heard a few people commenting that you should fill your filter full of oil before fitting.

Please people, this will only end up in a mess, esspecially on a skyline where the filter is at an arms reach.

Do not waste your time, Ive never heard of a filter "popping off" because of this.

i put put abit of oil in and swish it around before installing. works for me. whether it does anything i dunno..ha

  • 2 weeks later...
NA_Goodness Grand Master

NA_Goodness

Posted
Posted

Dont bother putting any oil into the filter before installing it. It does nothing except make a mess. However, you do need to place grease or oil around the seal to help it stick. Also, when you drain say 4.9L of 5L of oil, 100mL in the engine wont make much difference. Plus, do you guys change your sump plug washer everytime you change your oil? Otherwise it will leak. If you know exactly how much oil goes into the car, pour it all in. Then run the car until the oil light goes out, wait another 10 seconds then turn the car off and check the oil. There is no need for huge drives, just enough to pump oil around the engine. If the oil mark in a few millimetres from the "Full" position on the dipstick, leave it. The oil will drain back into the sump and fill that up. While you are draining the oil, go though and check the underside of your car as well. Steering boots, oil leaks, CV boots, fuel filter, that sort of thing. Once you have gone through and checked all that, then the oil will have finished draining. Don't bother about waiting for every tiny drop to come out, there will always be some left in there. Dont worry about contaminated oil too much though, that is what an oil filter is there for!!

And finally, DO NOT FORGET TO TIGHTEN THE SUMP PLUG!!!! A hand tightend sump plug will not leak straigt away, but within a few kms it will fall out and its goodbye oil, goodbye motor, big, big trouble! That is the most important step of the whole procedure!

4drftn Experienced

4drftn

Posted
Posted

highway cruizing (100km/h in 5th or top) is the only way to check true oil pressure, oil pressure will not build up on idle. its not something you have to do straight away, but it gives you a good indication of the oil quality etc. currently in the car.

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