Basic Yearly Service
Moderator: martauto
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jon-m42
- E30 Zone Regular

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- Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 11:00 pm
Hi All,
I was just reading up on the e30zone wiki under the service section > oil section and it states:
When replacing oils, always fill with the car on an even level surface. Use the dipstick to avoid overfilling the engine, and always fill differentials and gearboxes to the brim.
1: Now my question is that why should the engine be on when pouring new oil in?
I have always changed the oil when the car is switched off however making sure it is at normal operating temperature. So before removing the sump plug I would often take her on a good run.
and
2: I am due to carry out my service at some point soon in the next week or two. Having a quick browse through ecp I see a oil filter for £17.94??
It is a VM Oil filter of some sort.
What oil filters do you all use and is there a real big difference between the cheaper brands such as Hengst, Mann, Gutmaan ??
Thanks
Jon
I was just reading up on the e30zone wiki under the service section > oil section and it states:
When replacing oils, always fill with the car on an even level surface. Use the dipstick to avoid overfilling the engine, and always fill differentials and gearboxes to the brim.
1: Now my question is that why should the engine be on when pouring new oil in?
I have always changed the oil when the car is switched off however making sure it is at normal operating temperature. So before removing the sump plug I would often take her on a good run.
and
2: I am due to carry out my service at some point soon in the next week or two. Having a quick browse through ecp I see a oil filter for £17.94??
It is a VM Oil filter of some sort.
What oil filters do you all use and is there a real big difference between the cheaper brands such as Hengst, Mann, Gutmaan ??
Thanks
Jon
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

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jon-m42 wrote:
When replacing oils, always fill with the car (standing) on an even level surface.
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jon-m42
- E30 Zone Regular

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- Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 11:00 pm
Core blimey mate thanks for that.Brianmoooore wrote:jon-m42 wrote:
When replacing oils, always fill with the car (standing) on an even level surface.
I thought I was going mad for a second. Im for sure getting old.
Right any ideas about the oil filters and or would any regular oil filter do ?
Thanks
Jon
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Grrrmachine
- E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member

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When I wrote that I never anticipated someone thinking it meant "leave the engine running." Murphy's Law strikes again.
As for filters I've used both Filtron and Mann in the past and never had a problem with either.
As for filters I've used both Filtron and Mann in the past and never had a problem with either.
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jon-m42
- E30 Zone Regular

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Its already been a long week and long hours at work with the lack of sleep. Still no excuses simple mistake on my part.Grrrmachine wrote:When I wrote that I never anticipated someone thinking it meant "leave the engine running." Murphy's Law strikes again.
As for filters I've used both Filtron and Mann in the past and never had a problem with either.
Thanks again for the help
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Gert_8
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jon-m42
- E30 Zone Regular

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It happens lol There are many other ways this could be said like:Gert_8 wrote:That's the sort of thing I'd do!
'When replacing oils, always make sure the engine is switched off and the car is parked on an even level surface. Use the dipstick to avoid overfilling the engine, and always fill differentials and gearboxes to the brim. '
It also could be said in many other ways but its all good. I'm thankful for the help here as always.
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daimlerman
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The term 'fill to the brim' with regard to diffs and gearboxes is not quite accurate either!
This statement implies turning the car on it's side to completely fill the 'box and on it's nose to do the same with the diff.
If fact,what you do is remove the fill plug FIRST.
Then remove the drain plug and allow all the old oil to drain.
Then re-fill via the fill plug until oil runs out of the fill plug,allow the level to stabilise at the lower lip of the fill plug,replace the fill plug.
It is important to remove the fill plug first,because it is far better to have elderly oil rather than no oil if you later discover that the fill plug is siezed into it's thread....
This statement implies turning the car on it's side to completely fill the 'box and on it's nose to do the same with the diff.
If fact,what you do is remove the fill plug FIRST.
Then remove the drain plug and allow all the old oil to drain.
Then re-fill via the fill plug until oil runs out of the fill plug,allow the level to stabilise at the lower lip of the fill plug,replace the fill plug.
It is important to remove the fill plug first,because it is far better to have elderly oil rather than no oil if you later discover that the fill plug is siezed into it's thread....
Youth is wasted on the young.
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BenHar
- E30 Zone Addict

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Put the drain plug back in first.daimlerman wrote:The term 'fill to the brim' with regard to diffs and gearboxes is not quite accurate either!
This statement implies turning the car on it's side to completely fill the 'box and on it's nose to do the same with the diff.
If fact,what you do is remove the fill plug FIRST.
Then remove the drain plug and allow all the old oil to drain.
Then re-fill via the fill plug until oil runs out of the fill plug,allow the level to stabilise at the lower lip of the fill plug,replace the fill plug.
Ben
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broadie
- E30 Zone Regular

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Ha my mate's old man whose in his late 70's.On his old bike he drains the oil. Then fires it up with the sump plug out. I asked him why he said to get all the crap out of the oil ways.He's been doing it all his life!
Makes me want to cry.
Makes me want to cry.
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daimlerman
- **BANNED**
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The fresh oil will push the remaining dirty oil out,so to wait until clean oil is draining out could be considered 'best practice'.BenHar wrote:Put the drain plug back in first.daimlerman wrote:The term 'fill to the brim' with regard to diffs and gearboxes is not quite accurate either!
This statement implies turning the car on it's side to completely fill the 'box and on it's nose to do the same with the diff.
If fact,what you do is remove the fill plug FIRST.
Then remove the drain plug and allow all the old oil to drain.
Then re-fill via the fill plug until oil runs out of the fill plug,allow the level to stabilise at the lower lip of the fill plug,replace the fill plug.![]()
Ben
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BenHar
- E30 Zone Addict

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You'd be waiting for a long time "until oil runs out of the fill plug" if you don't put it back in at some point.daimlerman wrote:The fresh oil will push the remaining dirty oil out,so to wait until clean oil is draining out could be considered 'best practice'.BenHar wrote:Put the drain plug back in first.daimlerman wrote:The term 'fill to the brim' with regard to diffs and gearboxes is not quite accurate either!
This statement implies turning the car on it's side to completely fill the 'box and on it's nose to do the same with the diff.
If fact,what you do is remove the fill plug FIRST.
Then remove the drain plug and allow all the old oil to drain.
Then re-fill via the fill plug until oil runs out of the fill plug,allow the level to stabilise at the lower lip of the fill plug,replace the fill plug.![]()
Ben
Ben
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G-Bear
- E30 Zone Squatter

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Get an oil filter from the dealers. Most people do. I picked one up last week for around £14.
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jon-m42
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 570
- Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 11:00 pm
Thank you to all who have helped here so far.
lets not get carried away with the English although it is very important to write and speak clearly as we all would desire however this is a forum and not no English class lol
if every in doubt just start a new post like I have saves all the confusion.
Thanks again ;)
lets not get carried away with the English although it is very important to write and speak clearly as we all would desire however this is a forum and not no English class lol
if every in doubt just start a new post like I have saves all the confusion.
Thanks again ;)
