Jimbo1959
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2018
- Messages
- 1,786
- Reaction score
- 1,811
- Location
- Ayrshire
- Your Mercedes
- VW Scirocco. The Quattro, E350 CDi Blue Efficiency Sport Coupe, now both gone
Have you ever felt small or stupid while doing a job?
I was doing the big service on Swmbo's car today, oil, air, fuel and pollen filter and 5.4 litres of oil. Oh, and an o/s/rear side light bulb.
Everything was going as well as can be expected when they hide the oil and fuel filters under the wiper assembly on the bulk head, a total pita to get to unless, you have hands the size of a childs.
The easy way to get to them is to take off the wipers, the wiper scuttle and the plate that they all mount to. Then you have reasonable access to them both. (Sorry, I was so distracted, I forgot to take pictures). Mind you it helps when you have the 32mm socket to loosen the oil filter housing cap, similar idea to the Mercs, but with a big nut on the top.
I had the car up on my ramps and was doing the prep work while the oil was draining. Got the oil filter cap off, removed the old cartridge and cleaned it all out then my neighbour stopped by for a wee chat. Meanwhile I carry on working on autopilot, not a good idea,
So, I continue, changed the air filter, then the fuel filter and start buttoning up the oil filter housing just before putting the oil in. I go over to the bench to pick up the oil and guess what's sitting on the bench next to the oil? Yup! the blo*dy oil filter.
A little cursing and swearing ensue until, I realise it could have been a hell of lot worse. I could have filled it up with oil and refitted all the bulkhead parts and wipers. and I still hadn't refitted the sump plug arrrgh!!! What a bleedin' mess and waste of oil and money that would have been.
Oh dear, feeling like a total t*at, I strip the cap off and fit the filter, go underneath and fit and nip up the sump plug, then go over everything I've done while chatting to the neighbour just to make sure I haven't cocked up anything else.
The moral of the story? just stop working when chatting to friends, it's safer and cheaper all round. Luck was on my side today, for a change.
I was doing the big service on Swmbo's car today, oil, air, fuel and pollen filter and 5.4 litres of oil. Oh, and an o/s/rear side light bulb.
Everything was going as well as can be expected when they hide the oil and fuel filters under the wiper assembly on the bulk head, a total pita to get to unless, you have hands the size of a childs.
The easy way to get to them is to take off the wipers, the wiper scuttle and the plate that they all mount to. Then you have reasonable access to them both. (Sorry, I was so distracted, I forgot to take pictures). Mind you it helps when you have the 32mm socket to loosen the oil filter housing cap, similar idea to the Mercs, but with a big nut on the top.
I had the car up on my ramps and was doing the prep work while the oil was draining. Got the oil filter cap off, removed the old cartridge and cleaned it all out then my neighbour stopped by for a wee chat. Meanwhile I carry on working on autopilot, not a good idea,
So, I continue, changed the air filter, then the fuel filter and start buttoning up the oil filter housing just before putting the oil in. I go over to the bench to pick up the oil and guess what's sitting on the bench next to the oil? Yup! the blo*dy oil filter.
A little cursing and swearing ensue until, I realise it could have been a hell of lot worse. I could have filled it up with oil and refitted all the bulkhead parts and wipers. and I still hadn't refitted the sump plug arrrgh!!! What a bleedin' mess and waste of oil and money that would have been.
Oh dear, feeling like a total t*at, I strip the cap off and fit the filter, go underneath and fit and nip up the sump plug, then go over everything I've done while chatting to the neighbour just to make sure I haven't cocked up anything else.
The moral of the story? just stop working when chatting to friends, it's safer and cheaper all round. Luck was on my side today, for a change.