At 7:25 AM -0800 11/14/01, Shawn Wright wrote: > >From looking at pictures of the filter orientation on diesel Vanagons, it >appears that changing the oil filter would be a real pain, and very messy, >due to the angle of the filter, and the hoses in the way. >I assume this would be similar for any I4 conversion using the diesel >mounts. So is it really a pain, or am I imagining it to be worse >than it really is? Shawn, Your imagination is indeed getting away from you. I have an '82 diesel and I don't have any problem changing the oil filter. I did have to buy one of those saucer-shaped oil filter "wrench" tools with a 3/8" drive socket on it to remove the filter, since I can't twist the filter off without breaking my hand. (I broke my left hand when younger, and it never healed right so full-on twisting can break the bones again... :-/ ). I got my filter wrench from Canadian Tire, and the filter comes off effortlessly with it. I don't know what I'm doing differently from other folks, but spillage is not a problem, and access is easy. There's a black plastic "oil-catcher" cup that clips onto and hang under the filter and stays with it to catch oil until the filter is clear of the oil filter mount. It snaps off and can be laid down on the oil drain pan to drain. The filter is then rotated open end up, and lifted up between the coolant hoses. It's very easy, and unlike my old flat four air-cooleds, there's no lying on the ground at any point in the oil change process. Sometimes a few drops will drip down onto the block, but they are small in volume and easily cleaned up. I have managed to change the filter with no spillage whatsoever. Because the filter, when installed, does lie at a considerable angle, I don't pre-fill the oil filter all the way, as one would normally on a flat four. Filling it about 3/4 or so will permit you to reinstall without having any of the pre-filled oil spill out. Before starting it up the first time, I remove the injection pump solenoid wire and crank the starter until the oil pressure light goes out, then reconnect the wire and start the engine normally. This way the oil filter is fully filled and the oil system up to pressure before the engine starts. Removing the coil lead, for example, would do a similar thing on an I-4 gas conversion. Hope this helps. Changing the oil and filter on the diesel is really clean and easy. You don't even get oil on your fingers removing the oil drain plug! Great design! T.
-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tobin Copley Bowen Island, BC, Canada 49deg 23'N-123deg 19'W '82 Westfalia 1.6L NA diesel ("Stinky") '97 son Russell ============= '99 daughter Margaret /_| |_L| |__|:| clatter SPEED KILLS! {. .| clatter! Drive a Vanagon diesel ~-()-==----()-~ |
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