I recently bought a 2003 XJ8 Vander Plas and would like to know if there is a step by step guide (with pics) on changing the oil & oil filter. I heard the filter can be a b***ch to remove ....Can you use a topsider pump to get the oil out? My indy is quoting me 120 for a synthetic oil change . Is this too high?

Also what is the going rate for the 30,000 maintenance? My indy said it's about $800. Is this reasonable? Thanks for all your help. The car is sweet and drive like a dream.

 

Oil changes are really easy...jack up, use jack stands or ramps...pan is at front...drain oil/undo filter which is is really easy to get at...replace filter having oiled the seal and half filled with clean oil to reduce startup starvation....refill with 10:30W synthetic...all done. One of the easier cars to do home oil change on actually! (VW Bug is a bitch BTW)

 

Remove the lower air duct for cooling the alternator (one bolt) to gain relatively easy access to the oil filter. A strap oil filter wrench is the easiest way to remove the filter. The filter is small in diameter so make sure your wrench can cinch down small enough.

A topsider pump can be used and is actually not a bad way to drain the oil. More and more cars such as Mercedes are not installing drain plugs in their oil pans and removing the oil from the top with a pump is the only option to drain the engine oil.

$120 is a little steep for an indy for charge for an oil change. Going rate for indy's oil change, $21 labor, $11 oil filter, and $6.99 qt for fully synthetic oil. So that would be about $78 total.

What's your shop doing for $800?

 

Yeah, those quotes seem high... even for the Jag.

 

I found that changing the oil in my 2001 VDP to be pretty easy also. The drain plug has a rubber o-ring - no need to crank down on it, and the filter is easy to get to and near the drain plug. You can get to both from right in front of the RH front wheel. I made a note on the drain plug size, unfortunately I don't have it with me. But really it's pretty nice. I like to use my own brand of 5W-30 dino juice and a bottle of STP oil treatment (call me old-fashioned). I just like the idea that it's been done right, the drain plug isn't stripped, the filter won't need a wrench and I won't have a mess all over my beautiful engine. The first time I changed the oil I had to do the old mechanic's trick of driving a long screwdriver through the oil filter to crank the darn thing off. I mean somebody must've put that sucker on there with a jack hammer.

 

Ewww.... STP For me, seems to leave a lot behind in the valve covers. Maybe I'm wrong, but I stopped using it about 25 years ago. Should I be reconsidering?

Actually, I found a good tutorial on the net a while ago:

Oil Change instructions for Women:

1) Pull up to Jiffy Lube when the mileage reaches 3000 miles since the last oil change.
2) Drink a cup of coffee.
3) 15 minutes later, write a check and leave with a properly maintained vehicle.

Money spent:
Oil Change:$20.00
Coffee: $1.00
Total: $21.00

Oil Change instructions for Men :

1) Wait until Saturday, drive to auto parts store and buy a case of oil, filter, kitty litter, hand cleaner and a scented tree, write a check for $50.00.
2) Stop by 7/11 and buy a case of beer, write a check for $20, drive home.
3) Open a beer and drink it.
4) Jack car up. Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands.
5) Find jack stands under kid's pedal car.
6) In frustration, open another beer and drink it.
7) Place drain pan under engine.
8) Look for 9/16 box end wrench.
9) Give up and use crescent wrench.
10) Unscrew drain plug.
11) Drop drain plug in pan of hot oil: splash hot oil on you in process. Cuss.
12) Crawl out from under car to wipe hot oil off of face and arms. Throw kitty litter on spilled oil.
13) Have another beer while watching oil drain.
14) Spend 30 minutes looking for oil filter wrench.
15) Give up; crawl under car and hammer a screwdriver through oil filter and twist off.
16) Crawl out from under car with dripping oil filter splashing oil everywhere from holes. Cleverly hide old oil filter among trash in trash can to avoid environmental penalties. Drink a beer.
17) Install new oil filter making sure to apply a thin coat of oil to gasket surface.
18) Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine.
19) Remember drain plug from step 11.
20) Hurry to find drain plug in drain pan.
21) Drink beer.
22) Discover that first quart of fresh oil is now on the floor. Throw kitty litter on oil spill.
23) Get drain plug back in with only a minor spill. Drink beer.
24) Crawl under car getting kitty litter into eyes. Wipe eyes with oily rag used to clean drain plug. Slip with stupid crescent wrench tightening drain plug and bang knuckles on frame removing any excess skin between knuckles and frame.
25) Begin cussing fit.
26) Throw stupid crescent wrench.
27) Cuss for additional 5 minutes because wrench hit bowling trophy.
28) More Beer!!!
29) Clean up hands and bandage as required to stop blood flow.
30) ...and even More Beer!!!
31) Dump in five fresh quarts of oil.
32) another Beer.
33) Lower car from jack stands.
34) Move car back to apply more kitty litter to fresh oil spilled during any missed steps.
35) Beer.
36) Test drive car.
37) Get pulled over: arrested for driving under the influence.
38) Car gets impounded.
39) Call loving wife, make bail...
40) 12 hours later, get car from impound yard.
Money spent:
Parts: $50..00
DUI: $2500.00
Impound fee: $75.00
Bail: $1500.00
Beer: $20.00
Total: $4,145.00
But you know the job was done right!

 

SuperSport, you are correct about STP. One, it's a waste of money. Two, it can cause havoc with VVT's if left in the engine too long. Today's petroleum products have come a long way from over 4 decades ago when Mr. Granetelli came to market with his magical engine syrup. There is no reason to add anything to todays engine oils.

Save the STP for your 396 Chevy with scratched bores and oil rings ready to go; instead of burning a quart every 200 miles with STP you might go 250.