Thread: Oil Change MY2003 TD5

I do all my own oil & filter changes - have never had to remove anything to replace the filter.

They can be a bit awkward to loosen off - especially if person who did the last change had too many weeties for breakfast before installing the filter. A lot will depend on what type of tool you are using to loosen the filter.

I have never dropped the sump to check oil sludge, but always check the used oil for metal / other crap after I have drained it. Dropping the sump is not as straightforward as it sounds - there can be a bit of fiddling around getting it off and re-installing. But it can be done with patience - and at least you don't have to lift the engine to do it.

However, last oil change, I did drop the sump to check the oil pump bolt. It was tight - but removed, cleaned and re-fitted with new loc-tite to be sure. If this has never been done on your vehicle, suggest that you consider doing it. If you do a search on "Td5 oil pump bolt", you'll find plenty of info on it on this site.

An easy way to loosen that oil filter is with a soft rope,8mm in dia.Wrap it around the filter 2 or 3 times, hold an end in each hand and pull the undo direction whilst keeping a firn grip on the spare end,Works well in reverse to do up.
Dont forget there is a seperate centrifical filter next to the main filter.Its located in the housing,10mm nuts on the lid,be carefull not to overtighten.
Andrew

There have been recent threads on this. Just buy some Superworks oil filter pliers from Supacheap. Red handles, black jaws, approx $17. Makes removal of the main filter easy as.
Cheers
Discolaw

I second what discolaw says about the 'Supercheap' pliers. They are excellent and make it a breeze to undo tight oil filters etc. Only problem is that you should not use them to do up the filter, it is too easy to over tighten.

What works really well is use a pair of clean rubber gloves, the give the grip needed to get a reasonable amount of purchase on the filter when re-installing, then re-tighten in a couple of weeks - also remember to apply some clean oil to the filter seal before installing the filter.

Removing the full flow oil filter requires a bit of a jiggle to get it out and you will inevitably spill some oil. However, I have found that, once loosened, if you pull a plastic bag up over the filter cartridge, you can then complete undoing it and manouver it out and with a little care, the plastic bag will catch all the oil and eliminate the need for any messy cleanup.

I have found that on my '04 Disco that i have to remove the oil return line off the turbo to get the full flow filter out which I found to be odd. I have tried all sorts of angles and tounge positions and I just cant get it without taking off the return line. Also watch the puny 6mm tapped holes on the centrifuge filter housing that strip easily. I drilled out mine and tapped them to 8mm. Regards Robbo.

FWIW, I have noticed after doing 3x oil changes on my 04 D2a, that the oil filters come in slightly different lengths ... the Cooper filter is longer, the Mahle is shorter (maybe 10-12mm difference).

With my tongue position just so ... I can get the Cooper filter in/out ... just, but the Mahle filter requires no face contortions or tongue twisters.

... I have a supply of 5x Cooper oil filters in the shed

Kev..

Ryco put out a td5 main oil filter which fits on easily and is readily available from Repco etc. and reasonably priced. The quality control predictions when they switched to making them in China seems to have faded away. I think there are so many variables re: debates on oil & filter quality that there is no perfect answer. Just do regular changes & avoid no name dirt cheap stuff.
Ryco also do a td5 air filter. According to the box its made in the U.K.
Cheers
Discolaw