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[Marks DTM Calib]

Remove the cable tray and as a temporary measure, tie teh cable to the aircon pipe....this gives more than enough remove to support removal and refit.

[Entwood]

As Mark says .. I tried it without re-moving the cable tray .. ended up having to redo the passenger side completely

Cable tray is a bit of a pig .. but the small clips CAN be undone using a small flat bladed screwdriver, be carefull, they break quite easily

Once the tray is completley off the cables swing out of the way, I tied mine to the bonnet support strut with a bit of string ! and access to everything goes up by about 1000 % !!

HTH

[Alex W]

Thanks Mark!

That did the trick. Second cover off in moments after that

[Alex W]

Second gasket done, all plugs renewed. Thanks everyone!

Just got to try and remember how to put it all back together.

Swapping the thermostat first. Watch this space.

[Alex W]

Thought I'd do the oil change next. Simple job. Drop the oil, change the filter and refill. Easy, my cat could do it.

But....can I get that oil filter cap to move? Can I f***! I tried using an extension bar but I can't get the leverage required from under the car.

Any tips out there.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Sounds like its been fitted by a sapnner monkey.

Is the whole filter housing turning or its not budging at all?

I generally use a small ratchet with the correct large socket fitted and hang off it if its tight!

Did you get the stat done ok?

[Alex W]

Nothing moves Marks. I've used all the strength I have. Working under the car on the drive doesn't allow much leverage.

Didn't start the stat yet, decided the oil would be a nice easy job first

[CaptainZok]

I remember my filter cap was a right swine when I first got the car.
Ended up wit ha breaker bar and 3 foot of scaff pipe to shift it with a chain wrench round the housing as the bloody lot was spinning.
Luckily I was working with the car over a pit.
Maybe worth getting the car mobile and finding a friendly local garage with a pit/ramp to get the cover off for you but make sure they torque it to the figure cast on the cap when refitting.

[Alex W]

Thanks Captain,

I have already dropped the old oil out but I'm just going to have to put the fresh stuff in and forget about replacing the filter for now.

I'll take it back to the garage that did the last oil change for me and ask them to change the filter.

[Richard A]

Please ask to watch while they take the old filter off, then make sure the new one is 'hand tight'.
regards
richard a

[Alex W]

Thanks Richard,

Sadly,  my oil filter is the newer paper type that fits inside a cannister fixed to the block. It has a cap that is supposed to be torqued up to a set amount (can't remember how much just now, it's somewhere in the maintenance guides), the last people that changed the oil/filter probably used an air tool and have overtightened it so now it's impossible to remove manually (thats assuming they got if off last time and actually changed the filter, perhaps they didn't manage it either and gave up just like me).

[VXL V6]

Thanks Richard,

Sadly,  my oil filter is the newer paper type that fits inside a cannister fixed to the block. It has a cap that is supposed to be torqued up to a set amount (can't remember how much just now, it's somewhere in the maintenance guides), the last people that changed the oil/filter probably used an air tool and have overtightened it so now it's impossible to remove manually (thats assuming they got if off last time and actually changed the filter, perhaps they didn't manage it either and gave up just like me).

15Nm from memory.

[Alex W]

Finished at last!

I just want to say a big thanks to everyone that has offered help and advice.

This is the first job I've done on a car myself for over 30 years and if I'm honest I probably bit off a bit more than I could chew so I didn't get everything I wanted  done. I wouldn't have dreamt of even attempting this job without the information in the maintenance guides and the knowledge that help is just a few minutes typing away on this forum.

To my utter amazement when I'd finished reassembly the car started first time and drives well

However, while I was under the car I noticed that I'm losing ATF from the gearbox and my offside rear shock absorber is covered in oil

So, more jobs for me - but not today, I'm knackered!

Thanks again all

[Alex W]

I spoke too soon.

Took it for a drive, pulled up at some lights and noticed steam rising from nearside of the bonnet. Went straight home and have discovered oil leak from passenger side when engine under any load. Oil is gushing out.

I must have messed something up when fitting the passenger side cam-gasket. I cleaned the faces, used the right sealant in the right places, I carefully felt all round to ensure nothing pinched and that seal felt good then I torqued it up to the correct level, carefully doing the bolts up a little at a time in a spiral pattern from the centre.

The whole job took me three days. I'm truly gutted. I just can't face taking it all apart again.

Looks like I'll have to pay a local garage after all. Bugger it.

[Marks DTM Calib]

I spoke too soon.

Took it for a drive, pulled up at some lights and noticed steam rising from nearside of the bonnet. Went straight home and have discovered oil leak from passenger side when engine under any load. Oil is gushing out.

I must have messed something up when fitting the passenger side cam-gasket. I cleaned the faces, used the right sealant in the right places, I carefully felt all round to ensure nothing pinched and that seal felt good then I torqued it up to the correct level, carefully doing the bolts up a little at a time in a spiral pattern from the centre.

The whole job took me three days. I'm truly gutted. I just can't face taking it all apart again.

Looks like I'll have to pay a local garage after all. Bugger it.

If its coming out under pressure then it sounds more like the breathers are not clear as the crank case is always at a slight vaccum.....

Did you clean the breathers fully?