300TDI OIL CHANGE

[Dec]

Hey Legends,

I'm currently in the process of changing out my turbo, and currently have the inlet/manifold off the block.
My question is, am I able to do an oil change on the engine while this is out?
I see it is recommends to warm up the engine a bit before draining, but will this be possible with the manifold/inlet and turbo off?

I'm swapping the turbo, intercooler, filters, piping at the same time, so it would make sense to me to change the oil before I put everything back on.

PS. Any good methods of cleaning all the grime/dirt off everything in the engine bay?

[AK83]

I'd pull the drain plug ASAP and just let it drain for as long as possible(couple of days if possible).

Even add a bit of oil(a litre or two) to let it help drain as much possible of the old oil.
Sounds like a waste(adding new oil to just let it drain straight out), but it picks up a fair amount of the old oil with it.
(alternative to above is to pull the sump out and give that a clean out)

Also look to drain the oil cooler if that's possible with the other work you're doing.

[Dec]

Sounds like a good idea, I may pull the sump out to now that you mention it.
Guessing the oil cooler is for the radiator?

[micksta1973]

Drain plug's at the back, so jack the front of the car up a bit. Helps it drain. As mentioned, now is a good time to remove and clean out sump.

[AK83]

Sounds like a good idea, I may pull the sump out to now that you mention it.
Guessing the oil cooler is for the radiator?

Yeah, two hoses into drivers side of rad, down to the oil filter housing. Pull the hose connection for the lower hose and get it drain into whatever you use to catch oil.
Note there are small O rings on the ends inside the threaded nut. May get disturbed and may need new ones so they don't leak when refitting.

The lower pipe is designed that it holds oil in the cooler as the pipe starts low at the radiator and kinks up again before the hose end .. so it holds some oil in the cooler.

Must keep in mind that if you do disturb the oil cooler pipes and remove the small bracket that keeps them separated, that you must keep that bracket fitted when all reassembled.
Chap on the internets(Britannica) showed that if this small bracket isn't fitted the pipes vibrate too much and crack the connection fittings at the radiator.