Thread: 300tdi Service

Hi David,
I read a great article in an old LRO mag a while ago. The mechanic had a large plastic bag which he put around the oil filter when he took it off - this caught all the spill instead of it running all over the diff head.
I have taken off my roll bars so no more mess for me now
I suggest a large funnel for the gearbox oil which can catch the oil and funnel it into a catch can? Just a thought

cheers
Greg

Cant do a service on a 300tdi and not get a little dirty, i mean thats the whole fun of it when your doing your own service. just did mine a few days ago and all i did was lay down a massive plastic tarp under the car with the oil catchers and away i went. after spilling some oil around the diff's and bars just got a rag and wiped her down. Gotta love Diesels!!!!!!!!!

cheers simon

To remove the oil filter, cut a 2ltr container (milk) so that its slightly taller than the filter. Its a snug fit, but good so that you have enough grip to turn the filter. Some oil will leak, BUT no way as much as without container over it.

Having done all of my oil changes on my tdi, there are two tips that help minimize the mess of an oil and filter change.
EDIT : Yes, I type slower than others...
Filter: Use a 2L plastic milk container cut in half ( Or other plastic bottle that fits the oil filter you use). Either end will do, as long as it is a little bigger than the filter. The idea is that you get the filter loose, slide the milk container over the filter and then grip the plastic container and old filter with it, and undo together. Then, as the filter comes off, the excess oil in the pump system will go into the container. Then it's just a case of carefully manoevering it down past the drag link and panhard rod. Note - if you use the top half you will need the bottle cap ( One tends to forget the simple things)

Sump: (I've tried this whilst holding the drain pan, and it could have been disastrous - I'll suggest another way)

Use bricks or blocks of wood to support drain pan ( The type with a pointy end, not the round one) so the nose of the pan is over the sway bar and in line / under the sump plug. Have a cylinder half pipe of either metal or plastic standing by. ( If plastic then wait for oil to cool a little). Undo plug and oil will shoot out and land in drain pan. As stream subsides, use half pipe to direct flow into pan.


Alternatively, drop rear mounts for front swaybar....if it's level then it's not under any stress and should unbolt easy.

The having drain pan up near drain hole on R380 makes life easier - but still a bit iffy as you can't really see what you're doing. Thankfully one only has to an oil change there once a year (ish)

2L millk container for the oil filter works well

wow great! thanks!

the milk bottle idea is champ. that's the one that is the most annoying to try and clean up after!

I usually just loosen the filter, and the oil runs slowly.. then find where it comes to ground (by way of diff) and catch it there with the pan. no mess (usually) gets on the ground.. just all on top of the diff and wherever else it runs off to on its way down.

will be sure to try this one out next service!

David

I cut a nice size hole in the side of a 10 litre empty oil container. Then jack up the body of the car which will give enough clearance to slide the container under the oil filter. You can then undo the filter and catch most of the oil. For draining oil from the sump I fitted one of those sump plug replacement taps and fit a length of hose over it when draining.

Adrian

I use the 2L milk bottle or a soft drink bottle cut in half. For the sump I hold the sump plug in the top of the stream of oil and it slows the stream and avoids hitting the rod. It can be a bit hot on the fingers but you only need it for the first 2 litres then it won't hit the rod.