Oil Change Tips

[RoscoS2]

OK, decided that I'm going to change my oil this weekend as it missed it's service last year. Before I give it a go I thought i'd ask you guys if there are any tips, DO's, DONT's and general advice on this subject?

What oil do you recommend? (correct for the car? I've a 16v if it differs)

Is it worth using flushing oil to fully clean the engine?

Is it advised to change the oil filter also? I found this on the awesome gti site, its a pipercross oil filter, do you think it's worth purchasing over a standard audi filter?

Cheers
Rosco

[s2avant]

Oil change is a fairly simple job. Take out sump plug, drain oil, change filter, put sump plug back in, fill up.

Sorry if that sounds sarcastic Not my intention. I work for a main dealer and you'd be surprised what even experienced technicians forget when they do an oil change.

I've seen cars without oil filters go out on road test (they tend to notice pretty quickly and sneak back into the workshop hoping nobody noticed) and even one guy who put 15 litres of oil in before he realised he'd left the sump plug out

As for oil, a decent semi-synth or fully synth is fine depending on what you want to spend. I use synta silver (semi) in mine and have had no problems.

You shouldn't need to use flushing oil unless it hasn't been serviced for a long, long time.

And finally I, personally, wouldn't bother with performance oil filters. the standard audi one is perfectly ok and has the correct valve built in so that if it blocks the filter is bypassed. Some aftermarket filters don't have it and if they block the oil can't get to the head.

Ben

[blu_s2]

Only other bits I'd add are; change the oil when it's warm/hot as it will drain easier. Renew the sump plug and washer with the change (or fit a fumoto valve instead - serach the forum).

As with any oil change when you replace the filter fill the new filter with oil before fitting it - hand tight only.

Oh and if you can get someone else to hold the drain tray instead so they and get covered in oil that s always a weeze, eh Paul

[Fat Audi 80]

This was not stated above, but while we are doing the basics.....

*** Take the filler cap off when draining the oil *** Makes life a lot easier!

Steve

[Stick Insect]

My advice is to make sure the engine is at full operating temperature. Make sure the car is jacked up safely with the drain plug at the lowest point, leave the oil draining overnight if possible. It's amazing how much oil drains out afterwards!. put your sump plug and your car keys in a polythene bag and tape this to the new oil container ( you can't start the car with the sump plug off then!)

I have followed this for years and it works. Apart from when I had to move my car once before I had filled the gearbox with oil and pushed it out of the way. The sump plug was replaced so oil didn't trail on the ground. The car did about 800 miles before the box failed!

HTH

David

[imster]

Whats the difference between the silver and gold synta stuff as there seems to be mixed feelings about what should be used for the S2.
any ideas:
thanx
imster

[Martynf]

Silver is semi synthetic and gold is fully. If you change your oil often then the gold seems a little overkill, but each to their own on oil! Like Ben above, I also have used silver for the last two years in my S and my bike too. Good stuff and fairly priced.