Oil Filter help

[vee_dubbin]

Re: Oil Filter help

Wildfire...Dude no offence but if you can't find the drain plug on the oil pan or can't figure out were to put the jack to lift your car or where to put a jack stand, then you shouldn't do work on your own car. I would let someone else with experience do your rear brakes. There are a few little details that not a lot of back yard mechanics know about when replacing the pads and rotors. Again, I mean no disrespect, but its for your safety and your cars well being as well as others that you share the road with.

[Wildfire]

Re: Oil Filter help

Ve dubbin.
You are right about the brakes, something as important like that I'd have an experienced mechanic with me. I had my friend helping me a few weeks back when I found I had bought a bad set of brake pads.
http://www.eurodrivers.ca/forums/sho...ght=mk4+brakes

As for the oil drain plug, jack stand and for me not to work on it because of that....not offence taken but geezer thats a bit harsh no?. There is a bit more to the story and it depends on the school of thought one uses when approaching a problem don't you think?

Ive done oil change a couple of times on my dads Peugeot 405 ages ago. This is the first time on a VW for me. Unfortunately I found out that you can't use a Michelin Hydraulic jack to lift the rail and then lower the on a stand on the same rail(Others on this forum may disagree, but the ones I was using made it impossible/risky to do so safely). When I placed the hydraulic jack and the stand next to each other (side by side), one of them sits 'just' out of the re-enforced rail. I did not think VW would make this reinforced point so short but I was wrong. I had an idea of a alternative reinforced point under the car, but rather than make a educated guess I stopped what I was doing and went to confirm this online.
As for the oil plug. On a Peugeot, it faces down. On the vw it faces backwards to the rear of the car. Now im looking from the front side of the car. One would not see that bolt. Now as I mentioned there are two schools of thought.
1. I can get deeper under the car and 'eventually' locate it.
2. Instead I can typed mk4 oil pan in google and looked at a diagram/photo of the pan. The diagram/picture gave a better idea and it confirmed which bolt I thought it was.

The point im trying to make is that it took me a bit longer to do something that i have not done before on a VW that may be considered simple or basic to someone else. I applied a different problem solving method by stopping and researching when unsure. Call it whatever you want, but I got there in the end. Now I can do it no problemo...

I just hoped the story can make someone laugh, smile or help anyone else on the net not to make the mistakes I made (i.e Standard oil filter wrench does not work at all (freggin useless!), be careful when jacking the car up as your stand might be out a few cm of the reinforced area).

But since your so kind to mention safety , would you like to change my rear brakes next Friday? I can provide lots of free beer? *hint *hint

Wildfire...Dude no offence but if you can't find the drain plug on the oil pan or can't figure out were to put the jack to lift your car or where to put a jack stand, then you shouldn't do work on your own car. I would let someone else with experience do your rear brakes. There are a few little details that not a lot of back yard mechanics know about when replacing the pads and rotors. Again, I mean no disrespect, but its for your safety and your cars well being as well as others that you share the road with.

[Khyron]

Re: Oil Filter help

I use the strap remover tool and yah it only fits in one place and only lets you turn about 1/4 inch before running into lines but it works for me every time so far.