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Want to do an oil change at the weekend including throwing a can of that engine flush stuff cos I put in a bottle of that thickener into the car a month or so ago and the car hates it. I just want to flush out the entire engine and top it up with a load of 15w40

Never done an oil change before so tips and tricks would be very helpful

You'll need latex or nitrile gloves (this is a must - used oil's carcinogenic!), a suitable drain pan, suitable containers for holding the used oil, an oil filter wrench (I use a chain attached to a 1/2" socket thing), 5 or so litres of oil and a new copper washer for the sump plug

Do the flushing on the old filter

Before you put the new one on, dip your finger in fresh oil and run it around its seal.

Put the new filter on hand-tight only

Jack the front end of the car up as high as you can as this aids draining (thanks to Steve for this tip!)

Warm oil drains a lot better, but don't get it too hot as you'll burn yourself

Lower the car before checking the level

Make sure you've got your oil, filter, flush and a new crush washer for the sump plug before you start

Get the engine up to normal running temp.
Follow the instructions on the flush (usually it's chuck it in then run the engine for a given time).
Raise the front of the vehicle using ramps or jacks (support with axle stands if using jacks).
Place a suitable recepticle to catch the oil, remember you're gonna have 4.summat litres of dirty, cruddy oil which you really don't wanna spill on your drive. It'll come out with some velocity at first so be ready....
Undo the sump plug taking care not to get hot oil all up your arm.
Swear as you get hot oil all up your arm.
Swear again as the oil misses the contain and squirts all over the drive.
Swear again as the oil changes course as the velocity reduces so it again misses the repositioned container.
Grip the hot oil filter with both hands and try to turn it anti-clockwise.
Swear as you realise it isn't going to move and your hands are burning.
Swear again as you realise that you should've bought that filter wrench.
Get a screwdriver and a hammer.
Hammer the screwdriver through the filter.
Swear as more hot oil comes out of the holes in the filter.
Swear as you realise you should've have put safety glasses on.
Unscrew the filter.
Go and have a cup of tea while the last of the oil drains.
Fit the new crush washer to the sump plug, refit plug to sump and tighten.
Get the new filter, smear oil around the rubber seal so that it goes on better, refit and tighten by hand.
Lower the car to the ground.
Check oil capacity in the handbook.
Take oil filler cap off, pour in new oil.
Swear as the oil goes all over the engine and you realise you should've bought a funnel.
Get a cloth and clean up the spill.
Try to position the cloth to catch any more spillages.
Fill the oil to a bit less than the capacity in the book.
Check the dipstick then top up to the right level.
Start car, no throttle, make sure the oil light goes out.
Turn it off and check for leaks.
Check the dipstick again, top up to the right level.
Done!

Remember to dispose of your old oil in an environmentally safe manner

Edit: I'd typed all that shyte so I wasn't going to waste it!

Thanks guys. Very helpful

DaiRees wrote:Undo the sump plug taking care not to get hot oil all up your arm.
Swear as you get hot oil all up your arm.

You owe me a cup of tea Dai as i spat it out all over the place when reading that part.

Am I right in thinking that the Ew10J4 doesnt have a sump washer? It requires gasket paste?

DaiRees wrote:Edit: I'd typed all that shyte so I wasn't going to waste it!

Yours was better

If you change filters etc. along with it, give it a good look over, is it worth resetting the service indicator on the dash?

Service indicator? The only time I ever reset that is when the spanner pops up. I never use it. 12,000 mile service interval on a 158k old car my harris

Never changed a sealing washer (other than when it came with a set of gaskets) never had one leak either.

Newspaper, plenty of it, and/or a nice big sheet of cardboard. The oil will do everything in its power to not go where you want it - come out of the drain hole sideways, trickle down the sump and miss the bowl, the wind catches it too. Get the car up high enough to get under it and look at the sump, then have some handy bricks or whatever to raise your bowl or whatever high to the sump. You really need to wear gloves, if only to catch the drain plug without scalding your hands before it falls into the bowl and you have to go fishing for it. I've more or less given up with latex, nitryl etc. gloves and use Kleber washing up gloves as they fit me nicely (no saggy fingers) and they're very very tough.