oil capacity p38 4.6

[gfromleeds]

hi guys
im doing an oil change this weekend (first time im doing it myself. dam recession) and wanted to check a few things first..
firstly how much oil does it hold? (4.6)
i heard somewere that even with the sump plug out the engine still holds quite alot of old oil.
if this is true how much and how do i get this out (do i realy need to?) if im leaving abit of old oil in the engine can i still use an engine flush? if its not completly drained out could it harm the new oil?

 

[wammers]

hi guys
im doing an oil change this weekend (first time im doing it myself. dam recession) and wanted to check a few things first..
firstly how much oil does it hold? (4.6)
i heard somewere that even with the sump plug out the engine still holds quite alot of old oil.
if this is true how much and how do i get this out (do i realy need to?) if im leaving abit of old oil in the engine can i still use an engine flush? if its not completly drained out could it harm the new oil?

You can never drain all the oil out, there will be around .8 of a litre left in oil cooler and pipe work. Get engine warm drain oil, if you are using flushing oil refit drain and put five litres of flushing oil in run engine at tickover for a few minutes then drain. Refit drain plug, change filter, refill with 5 litres of engine oil, start engine, when oil light goes out switch off and continue filling and dipping until level is reached. Approx another .8 litres. Capacity from dry is 6.6 litres but refill is 5.8 litres.

 

[gfromleeds]

You can never drain all the oil out, there will be around .8 of a litre left in oil cooler and pipe work. Get engine warm drain oil, if you are using flushing oil refit drain and put five litres of flushing oil in run engine at tickover for a few minutes then drain. Refit drain plug, change filter, refill with 5 litres of engine oil, start engine, when oil light goes out switch off and continue filling and dipping until level is reached. Approx another .8 litres. Capacity from dry is 6.6 litres but refill is 5.8 litres.

sounds like alot of ****ing about will harm to NOT use the flush and just leave the .8 of old in?

and whats this about magnetic sump plugs? do they make any differance or are they just a gimmic? £14 for a sump plug sounds alot
has anybody used one and was there anything stuck to it on the next oil change?

 

[Irishrover]

You can never drain all the oil out, there will be around .8 of a litre left in oil cooler and pipe work. Get engine warm drain oil, if you are using flushing oil refit drain and put five litres of flushing oil in run engine at tickover for a few minutes then drain. Refit drain plug, change filter, refill with 5 litres of engine oil, start engine, when oil light goes out switch off and continue filling and dipping until level is reached. Approx another .8 litres. Capacity from dry is 6.6 litres but refill is 5.8 litres.

Mornin Wammers......If the oil and filter have been changed on a regular basis, flushing is not necessary. Take the car on a short run, get it up to normal temperature and then remove the sump plug CAREFULLY as the oil will be very hot and will run out quickly, this will flush any deposits out. The remaining oil left in the system will not make any significant difference to the new oil.
If, on the other hand the oil has not been changed regularly, use flushing oil as advised. You will still have the 0.8litre of flushing oil left in the engine before refilling with engine oil.

 

[Irishrover]

Regarding magnetic plugs, they will only pick up ferrous particles not carbon based contamination, this is held in suspension by the oil and removed by the oil filter if the particles are larger than a few microns.

 

[wammers]

Mornin Wammers......If the oil and filter have been changed on a regular basis, flushing is not necessary. Take the car on a short run, get it up to normal temperature and then remove the sump plug CAREFULLY as the oil will be very hot and will run out quickly, this will flush any deposits out. The remaining oil left in the system will not make any significant difference to the new oil.
If, on the other hand the oil has not been changed regularly, use flushing oil as advised. You will still have the 0.8litre of flushing oil left in the engine before refilling with engine oil.

Hiya mate,
It was the OP who talked about flushing. I just told him how to do it if that's what he wanted to do. True i never flush petrols unless they have had water contamination. And only do diesels if the oil is like mud.

 

[gfromleeds]

Regarding magnetic plugs, they will only pick up ferrous particles not carbon based contamination, this is held in suspension by the oil and removed by the oil filter if the particles are larger than a few microns.

thats what i was thinking.
i mean i can see the logic, but surly the oil filter would pick out any metal particals in the oil.

 

[KJT]

Magnetic sump plugs are definately worth having. I also have a classic mini and they have always had them. They can do no harm only good in my opinion. I wouldn't be without one myself.

 

[hoarec]

thats what i was thinking.
i mean i can see the logic, but surly the oil filter would pick out any metal particals in the oil.

Just think.....where is the filter in relation to the sump, how far would any bit's of metal have to travel to get to the filter, the 'majority' but by know means all.... of the working parts are in the sump area, so a magnet in this area where the oil collects the majority of the time is a good idea, it will pick up the bits of metal 'before' they can start on their journey to the oil filter.

 

[Irishrover]

Just think.....where is the filter in relation to the sump, how far would any bit's of metal have to travel to get to the filter, the 'majority' but by know means all.... of the working parts are in the sump area, so a magnet in this area where the oil collects the majority of the time is a good idea, it will pick up the bits of metal 'before' they can start on their journey to the oil filter.

Just remember that "Bits of metal" are going to be ferrous (Iron & Steel) that are picked up by the magnet, not bearing material (Lead based non ferrous).
As the oil tends to be on the "Black" side even on petrols, diesels are worse, this is mainly due to carbon type molecules being suspended in the oil and not mettalic particles.

 

[wammers]

Just remember that "Bits of metal" are going to be ferrous (Iron & Steel) that are picked up by the magnet, not bearing material (Lead based non ferrous).
As the oil tends to be on the "Black" side even on petrols, diesels are worse, this is mainly due to carbon type molecules being suspended in the oil and not mettalic particles.

Mostly the magnet will be covered in a dark grey dusty material. Minute particles of metal. If you find a bit of piston ring stuck to it you've got big problems.