As Im back to work tomorrow, today was the last day I had spare to do anything useful.

Ive been meaning to change the oil since the weather started getting colder as the car sounds like a tank when cold with oil I put in, in the summer.

So even though the weather is freezing and there is snow on the ground I had to do it.

This is what I put in, in the summer, it was pretty expensive but Ive never been happy with it.


Tools and my workshop


engine cover off, VAG engines look terrible without all the plastic covers.


oil draining


having a brew while the oil drains


oil drained


new oil to go in, its been discontinued for some reason, VAG recon the engines burn it but Ive never had any problems and the engine is noticeably smoother and quieter on 0w.
by the next service only 5w30 will be available.


all finished and letting the oil circulate, felt colder than -2.


needed to change a CV boot as well but didnt get time.


and I also need to look into the engine not getting warm enough. It will go up to 85-90c when under load which is normal but when driving around town or idling it drops to 65-70c which I dont think is right.

*shudder* those photos are giving me nightmares, i spent hours looking at that engine, after the injection pump on my passat failed, tried everything but had to take it in to a garage in the end.

sounds like your thermostat is jammed open if its not staying up to temp, good to hear the new oil helped with the noise and do the CV boot asap or the joint will get dirty and dry and fail as well

Quote from: Binary Shadowsounds like your thermostat is jammed open if its not staying up to temp, good to hear the new oil helped with the noise and do the CV boot asap or the joint will get dirty and dry and fail as well

yeah thought it would be the stat, problem is it is behind the cambelts so it is a complete front end off job to replace it or so Ive been told.

did you ever do the fuel filter on yours? i couldnt see how you are meant to prime the system after doing it and dont want the system full of air.

thats one of the issues i had i couldnt get it to prime when i changed the injection pump over so i had no chance, in the end the garage had to use a vacuum pump on the return to draw the fuel through, mityvac i think

Quote from: Binary Shadowthats one of the issues i had i couldnt get it to prime when i changed the injection pump over so i had no chance, in the end the garage had to use a vacuum pump on the return to draw the fuel through, mityvac i think

yeah it stupid, usually they have bulb to hand prime the system.

Given the conditions its kinda brave to be working on the car in the road, if it was me Id be bricking it every time a car came past wondering if they were numpties or not.

to checnge the fule fiter... just remember to brim the new one with diesel before you fit it and youll be fine

do it when the engine is warm... and when you start it hold it at 2.5k revs for a couple of min just to make sure

you changed some oil.
yea, thats hardcore  :bowdown:

Quote from: Eggtasticoyou changed some oil.
yea, thats hardcore  :bowdown:

Hardcore because of the weather.

Its more hardcore than me. Id have taken it to the garage like a cissy girl.

pah you think thats hardcore.. i had exposed rockers in falling snow on a v8 the other day...

Quote from: Binary Shadowsounds like your thermostat is jammed open if its not staying up to temp,

got a quote from audi to replace the stat.
As i thought it is a front end and cambelt off job and they want £805+vat  :puke:

I think ill see how it goes.

Where do dealers get off with such ludicrous hourly labour rates

You would think they employed NHS consultants to do the work.

land rover want £75+vat per hour to work on a range rover, its less if you have a disco and even less if its a freelander.. same people doing the work tho im sure