First time DIY... all did NOT go to plan!

[93240se]

Hi, as an alternative have you considered changing the sump? I had to change mine on a 240 after finding a hole in the sump, had me baffled as it appeared to be leaking above the sump plug due to what looked like a stone chip had caused it to rust through. Got one quite cheap from VOLSAA in Derby years ago.
REGARDS,RICHARD

[Othen]

Originally Posted by ilmiont

My sump plug is still stuck to my sump

... we are all dying to hear about the sump plug - did you get it out yet?

Alan

[ilmiont]

Originally Posted by Othen

... we are all dying to hear about the sump plug - did you get it out yet?

Alan

Haha unfortunately I must keep you in suspense Alan as I've still not done anything since getting home.

Last Saturday the weather was patchy and the car was filthy having got back from Scotland and then sat on the road all week, so I ended up washing instead of getting underneath. I'd never seen the car in such a sorry looking state before. Today it was tipping it down in the morning so nothing done.

The parking situation is still problematic. I've tried to make contact with the landowner of the industrial estate in the village, in the hope of procuring my own parking space with room to work, but so far two emails and three phone calls have gone unanswered. I'm not sure what's going on there...

I will update here once I have news! I am somewhat apprehensive about touching the sump plug again if I have to do it on the driveway, as if it goes awry or I find the pan threads stripped, it'll be a general nuisance if the car has to be left in an unmovable state. I have the vacuum extractor now so may just use that, but if I can find a yard to rent, I'll give the plug another go after a long hot run and see if the pipe wrench helps. I do wonder if it'll be too big to fit though.

I've topped-up another 0.5 litres of oil in the interim. I'm now onto Volvo-bottled 0W-30 (supplied by FRF) instead of Castrol-bottled 0W-30; I'd been led to believe it would be the same stuff, so I was surprised to find I'm wrong. What comes out the Volvo bottle is paler in colour and possibly a little thinner than the Castrol.

Thanks for the support! Hope to get this sorted soon. Jobs are stacking up as I also need to track down my probable vacuum leak noise reported in another thread.

James

[Othen]

Originally Posted by ilmiont

Haha unfortunately I must keep you in suspense Alan as I've still not done anything since getting home.

Last Saturday the weather was patchy and the car was filthy having got back from Scotland and then sat on the road all week, so I ended up washing instead of getting underneath. I'd never seen the car in such a sorry looking state before. Today it was tipping it down in the morning so nothing done.

The parking situation is still problematic. I've tried to make contact with the landowner of the industrial estate in the village, in the hope of procuring my own parking space with room to work, but so far two emails and three phone calls have gone unanswered. I'm not sure what's going on there...

I will update here once I have news! I am somewhat apprehensive about touching the sump plug again if I have to do it on the driveway, as if it goes awry or I find the pan threads stripped, it'll be a general nuisance if the car has to be left in an unmovable state. I have the vacuum extractor now so may just use that, but if I can find a yard to rent, I'll give the plug another go after a long hot run and see if the pipe wrench helps. I do wonder if it'll be too big to fit though.

I've topped-up another 0.5 litres of oil in the interim. I'm now onto Volvo-bottled 0W-30 (supplied by FRF) instead of Castrol-bottled 0W-30; I'd been led to believe it would be the same stuff, so I was surprised to find I'm wrong. What comes out the Volvo bottle is paler in colour and possibly a little thinner than the Castrol.

Thanks for the support! Hope to get this sorted soon. Jobs are stacking up as I also need to track down my probable vacuum leak noise reported in another thread.

James

Thank you James.
On reflection, it is probably sensible to continue using the extractor pump method for the life of the motor car, I've heard of people doing that for years with no problems.
Alan

[andy_d]

Originally Posted by ilmiont

Haha unfortunately I must keep you in suspense

I'll give the plug another go after a long hot run and see
James

not tooo hot or your So going to need Decent gloves, to avoid burnt finger tips, or other bits of you finding the hot metal, where IS your exhaust in relation to the sump/where you would be when working on it, or hand/tool slips off the nut ?
(go on ask me why i raise this ..i have That tshirt as well as the burn scars )

[DaveNP]

Originally Posted by andy_d

...
(go on ask me why i raise this ..i have That tshirt as well as the burn scars )

I think the bloke selling those tshirts is on a nice little earner, I've bought one several times too , usually just after getting under the car and telling myself to mind the hot exhaust pipe

[andy_d]

Originally Posted by DaveNP

I think the bloke selling those tshirts is on a nice little earner, I've bought one several times too , usually just after getting under the car and telling myself to mind the hot exhaust pipe

the "back of hand/forearm BBQ" thanks to a nice and hot exhaust ,working on you own car wouldnt be the same without it,,

[ilmiont]

I'm conceding defeat on the sump plug.

There is not enough room to get the pipe wrench on and my twist sockets don't seem to be doing anything. My pipe wrench is 10-inch - maybe with a smaller 6-inch one you could get a hold but it still looks doubtful.

I did try a bit more aggression today and hammered on the 16mm twist socket (a size below spec). I got it most of the way on but although it was tight to begin with, it still ended up slipping off without moving the plug. I'd driven nine miles and waited about a quarter of an hour before starting and everything was still very warm to the touch.

Unfortunately, as much as I would like to have an operable plug, looking at it rationally it didn't make sense to proceed (and once again I was out of immediate options). I don't trust myself to try chiselling it and I had the extractor sitting there anyway.

So out the dipstick the oil came. It worked alright, not brilliantly, but then mine's quite a low-end one. It lost pressure after about 3.5 litres and I had to keep pumping to get the rest moving.

In total I still only got about 4.5 litres out though, including what dropped down with the filter. I'm sure the extractor's tube was at the bottom of the sump and the dipstick was coming out completely clean when I gave up but I thought there should be a bit more. I'm not sure this is encouraging with regards the prospect of long-term extractor use.

Due to slightly over pouring into the funnel I still ended up adding the book figure of 5.5 litres of new oil. After running the engine for a few minutes and letting it sit for 15 minutes, the dipstick reading now comes up to marginally above the top of the hatched area.

---

Once I switched to "Plan B" with the extractor the day went smoothly really. Thankfully the filter came off as easily as it should - I was wondering if that would have been welded on too! - and no leaks after starting or sitting, so my first oil change is done at last. Now we can go into cold start season on nice new golden oil.

I also replaced the rubber seal under the oil filler cap having noticed a little oil behind the filler neck which I'm fairly certain I haven't spilt there. The new rubber (genuine) is much softer and seems to create a tighter seal.

Long term, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the sump plug. Probably leave it for now as it seems to be for the best. I won't need to be doing this again until April or May anyway so I'll put it out of mind for the time being. I don't believe the extractor did capture absolutely everything today though so this saga may not be over yet.



Sump plug still in situ - maybe forever?

[Othen]

Originally Posted by ilmiont

I'm conceding defeat on the sump plug.

There is not enough room to get the pipe wrench on and my twist sockets don't seem to be doing anything. My pipe wrench is 10-inch - maybe with a smaller 6-inch one you could get a hold but it still looks doubtful.

I did try a bit more aggression today and hammered on the 16mm twist socket (a size below spec). I got it most of the way on but although it was tight to begin with, it still ended up slipping off without moving the plug. I'd driven nine miles and waited about a quarter of an hour before starting and everything was still very warm to the touch.

Unfortunately, as much as I would like to have an operable plug, looking at it rationally it didn't make sense to proceed (and once again I was out of immediate options). I don't trust myself to try chiselling it and I had the extractor sitting there anyway.

So out the dipstick the oil came. It worked alright, not brilliantly, but then mine's quite a low-end one. It lost pressure after about 3.5 litres and I had to keep pumping to get the rest moving.

In total I still only got about 4.5 litres out though, including what dropped down with the filter. I'm sure the extractor's tube was at the bottom of the sump and the dipstick was coming out completely clean when I gave up but I thought there should be a bit more. I'm not sure this is encouraging with regards the prospect of long-term extractor use.

Due to slightly over pouring into the funnel I still ended up adding the book figure of 5.5 litres of new oil. After running the engine for a few minutes and letting it sit for 15 minutes, the dipstick reading now comes up to marginally above the top of the hatched area.

---

Once I switched to "Plan B" with the extractor the day went smoothly really. Thankfully the filter came off as easily as it should - I was wondering if that would have been welded on too! - and no leaks after starting or sitting, so my first oil change is done at last. Now we can go into cold start season on nice new golden oil.

I also replaced the rubber seal under the oil filler cap having noticed a little oil behind the filler neck which I'm fairly certain I haven't spilt there. The new rubber (genuine) is much softer and seems to create a tighter seal.

Long term, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the sump plug. Probably leave it for now as it seems to be for the best. I won't need to be doing this again until April or May anyway so I'll put it out of mind for the time being. I don't believe the extractor did capture absolutely everything today though so this saga may not be over yet.



Sump plug still in situ - maybe forever?

Good work.

You have probably considered this, but why not weld something (like perhaps a ring spanner) to the bolt. If you could get a quarter of a turn then cut the handle off to get a full rotation that might just do the job. Not much to lose.

Alan

[ilmiont]

I don't have any welding equipment or know how to weld. Might be an option next time the car goes to a garage for work. Now I'm doing things myself, that won't be anytime soon, all being well - MOT due April. I think it may be best to let someone else take care of this, as at this point I'm satisfied I've done all I reasonably can and I do not want to risk ending up with the car on the driveway with a damaged sump.