General Maintinance Advice Required

Tue Oct 17, 2006 1:39 pm

Cars just recently had oil + coolant change and im now looking to change gearbox and diff oils.
Whats oils do i go for? and where can i get these that aint gona cost an arm and leg? Is this a straight forward job or a pain in arse?

Also need new rocker gasket i think, where can i get this also? This may sound like a stupid question but to fit this gasket is it as easy as taking the rocker cover bolts out removing cover, take old gasket off, replace with new 1, and refit rocker cover? or is there anything else i should know?

Any help much appreciated

Tue Oct 17, 2006 4:12 pm

Hi I changed my rocker cover gasket, very easy to do.Undo bolts and lift off.When you are at it you might be as well changing the oil spary bar and gunking the rocker cover plus plastic insert under rocker cover to get rid of old oil residue.
The new gasket fits on only one way and replace bolts[don't over tighten]. Make sure all surfaces are clean when putting back together.
As for oils I am sure someone will be along with that info.
ECP or GSF for your parts.

Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:05 am

Any info on oils any1 ?

Wed Oct 18, 2006 6:12 pm

Your car is a Sport, right?

You'll need special LSD oil from the dealer for it.

as for the gearbox oil-SAE 80-90w is good

PS I have a set of the tools needed to get the drain and fill plugs out, if ya need them

Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:22 pm

I went to change the oil spray bar today and snapped the head on the centre bolt clean aff!! nightmare, done a full service with no glitches, then that...

I got everything from GSF. They recommended the dif and box oils no prob (dunno about LSD), spray bar was Ãƒ”šÃ‚£9. They might be able to supply a gasket aswell, which is simple to fit.

Thats 2 heads i've snapped (snapped a rocker cover bolt!

) so far working in the engine department,
MUST NOT OVERTIGHTEN
MUST NOT OVERTIGHTEN
MUST NOT OVERTIGHTEN
etc.

Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:25 pm

geo1400 wrote:
Thats 2 heads i've snapped (snapped a rocker cover bolt! ) so far working in the engine department,
MUST NOT OVERTIGHTEN
MUST NOT OVERTIGHTEN
MUST NOT OVERTIGHTEN
etc.

use this rule of thumb..

"the smaller the bolt or nut, the LESS force you apply" thats why 8mm spanners are smaller than 18mm ones

Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:10 am

320Touring wrote:Your car is a Sport, right?

You'll need special LSD oil from the dealer for it.

as for the gearbox oil-SAE 80-90w is good

PS I have a set of the tools needed to get the drain and fill plugs out, if ya need them

Cheers for info lads

Iv just orderd discs & pads allroung from gsf yesterday, didnt know they done oils! F@#k.

So i have 2 go to bmw for lsd oil?

How hard is gearbox&diff oil to change? you dont hav2 drop the diff out or anything?

Oh and yes its a sport

Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:46 pm

MadE30mike wrote:
320Touring wrote:Your car is a Sport, right?

You'll need special LSD oil from the dealer for it.

as for the gearbox oil-SAE 80-90w is good

PS I have a set of the tools needed to get the drain and fill plugs out, if ya need them
Cheers for info lads

Iv just orderd discs & pads allroung from gsf yesterday, didnt know they done oils! F@#k.

So i have 2 go to bmw for lsd oil?

How hard is gearbox&diff oil to change? you dont hav2 drop the diff out or anything?

Oh and yes its a sport

I'd go to BMW for the diff oil for your LSD. Its not TOO expensive, in relation to a new dif @Ãƒ”šÃ‚£250 for a slipper.

Diff is simple to change oil

On back of diff there are two pugs ( look like giant Hex bolts)

ALWAYS make sure you can get the FILL one (top!) off first, before you drain her. otherwise it'll be a diff off job.

I tend to use a "squeezy" bottle with a small section of hose fixed to the lid to get the diff oil into the fill hole.

She's spot on when the oil is level with bottom of fill hole.

Sun Oct 29, 2006 2:07 am

roughly how much does a garage charge to change the coolant?

Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:38 am

Kramer wrote:roughly how much does a garage charge to change the coolant?

A lot more than it would cost to do on your drive with a screwdriver and hosepipe

Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:04 am

DanThe wrote:
Kramer wrote:roughly how much does a garage charge to change the coolant?
A lot more than it would cost to do on your drive with a screwdriver and hosepipe

Changing the coolant on a M20 is not that straightforward, as draining the rad does just that. Doesn't drain the block, which has a seperate drain plug (19mm) in a close to impossible place under the exhaust manifold.
Easiest way is to drain the rad only, then thoroughly flush the rest of the engine with clean water from a hose.
Put things back together, add the correct calculated amount of neat antifreeze, then top up with water.
Should avoid the airlock problems, and keep the skin on your knuckles.

Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:06 am

geo1400 wrote:
Thats 2 heads i've snapped (snapped a rocker cover bolt! ) so far working in the engine department,
MUST NOT OVERTIGHTEN
MUST NOT OVERTIGHTEN
MUST NOT OVERTIGHTEN
etc.

Far more damage is done to cars, engines, mechanical things in general by overtightened fasteners than by undertightened ones.
Resist the urge to give it that extra little nip.