Interim 6 month oil change

[Liam22]

6 months and 3500 miles into my Alpine ownership I thought I'd do an interim oil change. Partly out of curiosity, and partly because I didn't feel great about not changing the oil after running in.

I don't have a ramp, but am well equipped with trolley jacks and axle stands.

Jacked from the rear lifting point with a section of broom handle to protect it from the jack saddle.


One side up on blocks.


About as high as I can get on stands.


Rear stands pick up the lower wishbone mounting point.


Undertray removed with T30 and T40 bolts.


Curious that the OE oil filter is branded Nissan, and the new one branded Samsung!


Took almost 5l to refill the oil. A right PITA with the engine cover rail and very narrow oil filler obstructing funnel access.

[Sporky]

How was the original oil?

[Liam22]

As expected, really. It was still nice and golden on the dip stick (still on F). Much darker (almost black) as it poured out, and it came out *very* quickly. Notably thin but I don't have a lot of reference points, and I'm not about to save a sample.

[K800 RUM]

Nice to see some DIY maintenance avoiding main dealer rip off prices. Got to be good for the engine having an interim oil change.

[Car Mad Dave]

Helpful post OP, thanks. Out of interest, did you keep a note of the oil filter part number?

[Liam22]

Ordered from here (part numbers for filter and sump plug washer are listed):
https://renaultpartsdirect.co.uk/?make=1836&mo...

Sump plug is 14mm hex, BTW.

[Car Mad Dave]

Liam22 said:

Ordered from here (part numbers for filter and sump plug washer are listed):
https://renaultpartsdirect.co.uk/?make=1836&mo...

Sump plug is 14mm hex, BTW.

Thanks Liam

[Liam22]

Forgot to mention, the T40 undertray bolts are 8.8 grade M8 so I torqued them to 20 lb-ft. They go into steel rivnuts so there's no need for duralac, and there was no evidence of threadlock on them.

If anyone has more authoritative info on torque settings I'd love to see it.

[iKenndac]

I asked the Alpine mechanic at my local place for torque settings for various user-serviceable bits a couple of years ago, including those undertray bolts. The reply was:

- Oil plug: 34 Nm
- Wheel nuts: 130 Nm
- Undertray torx screws: "No official spec, but I would say not too hard — I always screw them in with hand tools."

[Hoofty]

Found myself doing this this afternoon - pro tip though, those undertrays hold plenty of water which will make an appearance the moment you jack one side up

I'm just about done but before I hit go, my preference has always been to find a way to crank the engine without firing (just the first time after changing oil). Any wise elders here know how that might be achieved? It's a nice-to-have, rather than must-have, admittedly.

I prefilled the filter and about 4-4.2l has taken it to about 2/3 up the dipstick marks prior to cranking. Surprising given the 4.2l capacity quoted on the service schedule (but perhaps agrees with poster above).

Nick

[Hoofty]

Hoofty said:

I'm just about done but before I hit go, my preference has always been to find a way to crank the engine without firing (just the first time after changing oil). Any wise elders here know how that might be achieved? It's a nice-to-have, rather than must-have, admittedly.

Update on this for anybody similarly afflicted by overthinking - it isn't possible (confirmed by Solihull techs, and at least not possible without creating many error codes), and it didn't even seem necessary - the oil light went out just as quickly as usual.

JFDI etc etc

[tony993]

Hoofty said:

I'm just about done but before I hit go, my preference has always been to find a way to crank the engine without firing (just the first time after changing oil). Any wise elders here know how that might be achieved?

Nick

Good question. I have been thinking about this over the past few months too. Pulling the fuse for the fuel pump might have been a good answer, but I just looked it up & this fuse serves several other components, including the starter motor.

I started a Honda CRX (a good few years ago now) after an oil change, & briefly heard the same horrible rumbling/grinding noise that was the prelude to my Lancia Montecarlo's big end bearings giving up. The CRX lasted until I sold it, a decade later, but ever since I heard that noise I've always tried to crank up the oil pressure before allowing the engine to fire, post oil change.

Anyway, it's good to know it's safe just to get on with it for our A110s, so thanks.

[Hoofty]

Ha, yes, that's the exact scenario I like to avoid; in my case the ice cold feeling of hearing an engine running while the oil light still burns brightly.

It was far from a comprehensive experiment but brimming the oil filter probably helped (and was as much as I could do anyway). Love a vertical filter - when fitting. Less so when removing...

[Liam22]

If the coil packs were visible it would be simpler to disconnect the ignition rather than the fuel pump. But the risk of tripping a fault code and a trip to the dealer is a bigger risk than a briefly ill-lubricated bearing IMO.

Reminds me I should do this job again in a few weeks!

[fuzzy-si]

Changed the oil in mine yesterday at just shy of 6,000 miles.

I think I'm going to stick to 6k changes, theres not a lot of oil and the filter is small.

Oil was just starting to get dirty.

[Liam22]

Funnily enough, I did my second interim oil change yesterday and referred back to this thread to check on bolt sizes

Didn't bother getting the car quite as high this time. Just sitting on the wooden blocks as in the first photo, so no axle stands this time.

The undertray bolts were a bit of a faff though. I think this is the excuse I need to invest in an electric 3/8" ratchet.

[fuzzy-si]

The undertray is a pain for the home mechanic.

I think it's a good excuse to invest in a scissor lift...

[fuzzy-si]

Liam22 said:

Funnily enough, I did my second interim oil change yesterday and referred back to this thread to check on bolt sizes

Didn't bother getting the car quite as high this time. Just sitting on the wooden blocks as in the first photo, so no axle stands this time.

The undertray bolts were a bit of a faff though. I think this is the excuse I need to invest in an electric 3/8" ratchet.

Oil change time soon for me on my car so have just bought this...

https://www.kielder.co/collections/eco-case-lite-k...

[kitcat7]

Ref. cranking the engine after an oil change, I normally just remove the plugs, a bit of a faff, but it is a good idea to have a look at them from time time anyway.