DIY: Changing Oil & Filter in a 35d - new pics added

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by Penguin

..
FYI, I found that the petrol engine drain plug torque is 18 ft-lbs for a 17 mm plug(according to Pelican parts). But with that much thread, it would seem stripping it is probably not that much of a risk. Interestingly, I found that a 17 mm oil drain plug on a Mazda specifies 25 ft-lbs, 33 ft-lbs on a NSX, and a 17 mm plug on a Porsche is 37 ft-lbs. Quite a range!

The "oil pan" on the 35d is not sheet metal. It looks like cast iron but is probably a strong light alloy. And as you say with that much thread it would be hard to strip a 17mm bolt with a standard length 3/8 breaker bar. The plug was only "snug' from the factory. It easily broke loose with a light tug using the same breaker bar. BTW I use a breaker bar instead of a ratchet simply to make it easier to feel/judge the force required to remove & replace a bolt.

Did you use ramps or a lift, or did you find enough room without? I have a sloping driveway, so I find I can back vehicles in, pull forward onto ramps, and end-up with the vehicle level.

I'm still building the 3 bay garage. The CFO has suggested that putting in a 2 post lift before installing the windows and doors is maybe a bit premature. Heaven knows I would not want the CFO thinking I would do anything prematurely

So I used 4 home made wooden "ramps" which raise a vehicle a whopping 3 inches. But this little extra height makes it so I can lay on my side instead of on my back. The "ramps" are simply scrap 2x12s cut with a 45 degree bevel at staggered lengths and screwed together from the TOP. A 4 wheel drive vehicle can drive up on them without pushing them forward. The only trick is not driving off the other side

FWIW this is one of the areas where you can actually feel & hear the "turbo lag" when coupled with an automatic. The 35d really revs up to be able to drive up a 1.5" high 45 degree "hill". By comparison our old 3.0L manual PathFinder gets up on these ramps without any high reving engine drama.

Funf Dreisig

Edit: added picture of filthy X5 wheel on a magnificently hand crafted X5 35d oil change lift. The gray block is not screwed down. I used it to form the ramp for the rear tires and then placed it 'behind' the front tires because the pitiful excuse for a parking brake on ALL E70 X5s does not actually hold the vehicle stationary where you apply the brake.

BTW this front wheel has been driven 4001 miles and only washed three times by the cheapest laser car wash option. And some of those miles were towing a couple of tons of sand, etc.. We don't baby our work truck