Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 08:53:48 -0800
Reply-To: Tobin Copley <tobin.copley@UBC.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tobin Copley <tobin.copley@UBC.CA>
Subject: Re: Oil filter changes on diesels?
In-Reply-To: <3BF21C74.20125.2BDB472A@localhost>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"
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.
--
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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 ~-()-==----()-~
| 
