www.imoc.co.uk

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Regular oil and filter changes are the most important part of your car's maintenance schedule. Each person has their preferred interval - I drive less than 5K a year including track days and change the oil & filter every 6 months and use a high performance, fully synthetic 5W-40 oil and sports filters, which hold 40% more particles.

This job isn't rocket science but there are easy and less easy ways of changing the oil and filter to reduce mess.

Warm the engine to normal operating temperature, this will allow the oil to drain easier.

Unless you have access to a hydraulic ramp, jack up the rear of the car (using the hard point on the cross-member) and remove the rear driver's side wheel. You can see the location of the filter here:




It'll make your job a lot easier by removing the four 10mm bolts that hold the plastic undertray in place. Remove the undertray. This picture also shows the location of the sump drain plug with the undertray removed:




This is where the job can get messy, so place some old newspaper on the ground and use a flat bowl or oil catch tin placed under the sump. Loosen the sump plug with a 14mm socket. Hold the plug in place with your spare hand otherwise it'll drop into the oil catch bowl. Allow the oil to completely drain for around 15mins.




Remove the oil filler cap on the engine side:




Have your preferred oil and filter ready:




Fill the new filter 2/3 full with new oil. This will allow the sump to lubricate when the engine is started for the first time:




Adjust the position of the oil catch bowl and remove the old filter - it's easy enough to loosen it by hand. Allow the oil to drain for 10 mins and then screw on the new filter, taking care not to spill the oil that you've filled it with. Hand tight is fine. Replace the oil drain plug and clean up the underside of the sump. Replace the plastic undertray.




Fill the engine with new oil. The Rev3+ 3S-GTE takes 3.9 litres including the oil in the filter:




You may find it useful to print off a few labels showing the date and mileage when the oil/filter were changed. I stick this on the underside of the engine cover:




Fit the rear wheel and jack down the car. Drive the car easy for 10-15 mins off boost until the new oil has circulated.

*** Remember to dispose of the used oil and filter responsibly ***