How not to change oil.

[oharab]

I finally got time to service the PM.
I bought Oil, oil filter, stuff that gets rid of the gunk inside the engine, air filter and spark plugs.
All was going well. Until....
Now the biggest car I've worked on in the past is a 1 litre. The more astute of you will have noticed the problem already. The oil came out of the car easily. I dropped the sump plug in the bowl but who doesn't. Picture the scene. Oil flowing gently from the bottom of the car into the little red bowl.
Picture my face as I start to realise the little red bowl is a little too little.
Now picture my face as the oil keeps gushing out of the bottom of my car and all over my Dad's drive.
Net result: 30 mins or so to change the oil & filter. 2 hours cleaning the oil off the drive.

Was not a happy bunny.
Then spent 2 hours trying to work out how to get the distributor cap off. I couldn't get the fan cover thing off to start with, so tried to get my hands and a wrench down there.
When I had some help (me under the car, guiding the fan cover thing round the fan whilst my dad pulled) I had the cap off in about 5 minutes.
Discovered I needed new HT Leads, Cap and Rotor arm.
Also discovered I have a leak at the front of the engine, behind the fan somewhere, and the diff at the back seems to be leaking too.
A neighbour who used to work for BMW for a long time, then proceeded to make me cry by listing all the things that E34s are known for going wrong.
I discovered why my heating is on all the time though.

It's not a very clear picture, but the little unit at the passenger side of the car where I guess it's supposed to be controlled into the cabin has been bypassed using a few rather spiffing plumbing connectors and a zip tie keeping it all up!
The bottom pipe has been cut, so now I need to get some new pipes to find out if the unity bit is broken. Any ideas what the part numbers for those are, I've looked on RealOEM, but can't work out what I'm looking at!
I also need the hose (rubber boot?) that goes into the carb and the connector to the idle valve as they're stuck together with electrical tape.
I'm a little disillusioned atm. Especially when you read my next post.
I know it's because it's an old car, but that doesn't stop me feeling grumpy.

Right, I'll go start a new thread.

B.

[califblue]

your not alone...been there done that Forgot the drain plug...5qts on the Driveway!

[bullyd]

me too! forgot the sump plug £25 of premium oil into the waste container

[Lennyz525i]

your not alone...been there done that Forgot the drain plug...5qts on the Driveway!

That's hilarious

[2fast]

Lmao

[Gayle]

Congratulations. The diagnosis part of the exercise seems to be going spendidly. Isn't that usually the hardest part? You are going to feel so good about this car when you get it up to spec again. Like Jeff advises, one thing at a time and do it right.

As far as unhappy dad-- Time to turn a percieved problem into a precieved benefit. Tell dad his driveway will never rust now.

And for the smart ass next door. Tell him he doesn't know what he is talking about and slap the list from Bruno's website of what will break on him. And act superior as you do.

[oharab]

My Dad was fine. Luckily it wasn't a real block paved drive, so a lot of fairy liquid and a hose and it was gone. I also can't diss (does anyone really use that word) my neighbour. He was really helpful and wasn't being mean, just passing on his experience. I'm sure if I had a problem, he'd be only too happy to help. He nearly gave me a brand new tyre for the spare, but it was the wrong size when he'd dug it out of his garage.
As for the Pimpmobile, there is a certain amount of tension in the house about it. It was bought as a cheap work horse (cheap to buy not to run) but I've kinda fallen for it's charms and really want to make it go like it should, spending money if required, but doing most of it myself. Still, what's life without tension! That reminds me, I need to renew the fan belts, must add it to the list :-)

B.

[Nick.Hay]

Aftermath of an engine swap!!

Oil, powersteering fluid, brakefluid, coolant, CV joint grease, petrol... What a f*#king mess!! But atleast the job is done!!The driveway Madness

[uscharalph]

Aftermath of an engine swap!!

Oil, powersteering fluid, brakefluid, coolant, CV joint grease, petrol... What a f*#king mess!! But atleast the job is done!!The driveway Madness

Part of the price of DIY!