Need Help! Oil Change.

blktoptrvl · #1 11-13-2009, 06:37 PM

OK, decided to change the oil today using the instructions below.

I have the six mm allen wrench (L-shaped w/4"in shaft for leverage) in the oil filter cover drain plug. I am getting no joy in loosening the drain. I am assuming I am not getting enough leverage, but I cant image it should take more than a little pressure to get the plug loose but it is fighting.

Before I go "gorilla" on this plug I just wanted to make sure...

1) The instructions below are good for my 2006
2) This is a standard counter-clockwist (off) plug
3) It is OK to put a LOT of pressure on the plug

Any thoughts/replys/help would be appreciated.

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...lvetronic.html

admranger · #2 11-13-2009, 06:55 PM

There's an o-ring in there and it will be 'snug' to 'really snug' depending on the skill of the guy who tightened it last.

Lefty - loosey, even when you are on your back...

Not sure that the torque value should be as I don't have the Bentley manual handy.

4" allen wrench is tough to turn by hand. Get a set of allen head sockets instead. 3/8 drive ratchet and I bet it doesn't feel all the snug.

blktoptrvl · #3 11-13-2009, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by admranger

There's an o-ring in there and it will be 'snug' to 'really snug' depending on the skill of the guy who tightened it last.

Lefty - loosey, even when you are on your back...

Not sure that the torque value should be as I don't have the Bentley manual handy.

4" allen wrench is tough to turn by hand. Get a set of allen head sockets instead. 3/8 drive ratchet and I bet it doesn't feel all the snug.

Thanks.

I wanted to be sure it is supposed to be this 'snug' begore I go hulk on it.

admranger · #4 11-13-2009, 07:02 PM

That o-ring creates a 'snug' feel and I think the small allen wrench is causing things to appear to be tighter than they really are.

If your engine falls on you while loosening the plug, it is not my fault!

blktoptrvl · #5 11-13-2009, 07:57 PM

I went out and purchased a 6mm bit and it has rounded the filter drain hole.

I can't believe how tight this is...

So, now I am stuck with a couple of new questions...

1) Since this plug is so tight, it makes me wonder if BMW has ever changed the filter when they changed the oil. It will be interesting to see what the filter looks like when I gtet in there.
2)Can I ignore the filter plug and just remove the entire filter cover?

blktoptrvl · #6 11-13-2009, 08:28 PM

OK. I just got a 24mm and took the whole filter cover off. The drain plug it obviously there so you can drain it before removing the while cover and getting oild all over everything.

WFrancis · #7 11-13-2009, 10:39 PM

I can offer you a replacement filter canister w/ new drain plug should you need it

Wicker

blktoptrvl · #8 11-13-2009, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WFrancis

I can offer you a replacement filter canister w/ new drain plug should you need it

Wicker

Thanks for the offer... Let me know how much you want for it. I plan to check the dealer for a price later next week.

I think (this is a WAG) that what I said above is probably partially true.

To save time, I think the BMW mechs have never taken out the filter canister drain. They just unscrewed the entire canister with oil in it (I hope) as I had to tonight. For them it is no big deal, but for me it caused a bit of an oil spill in the garage. That sucker is in there tight.

When I next tried to remove the drain plug, I had to fight to get it out too. I ended up torquing off the nose of a 3/8 -> 1/4 socket adapter before I was able to get the drain out using a hardened socket and a cheater bar. I was lucky I didn't strip that out too.

This whole mess makes me very uncomfortable and worried that when I had the car serviced, BMW never actually changed the oil? That the drains had never actually been removed. Somebody tell me I am just being paranoid! Please!

admranger · #9 11-13-2009, 11:43 PM

Likely the techs just took the whole canister off (why mess with the extra step when you have a large drain tank under the X5?). The filter would have been an unholy mess if it had never been changed.

If you are paranoid about it, just change the oil twice as often as the indicator lights suggest for a while. Heck, that's what I normally do anyway on my vehicles anyway.

blktoptrvl · #10 11-14-2009, 10:42 PM

If you are suggesting that more oil changes now could somehow reverse or mitigate any damage done prior to now then I am sure you are just kidding.

Either way, thanks for the responses.