Righty-ho, then...
Today, on my Disco 2 TD5 (The "Maroon Monster"), with the help of a mate, I have:
- Changed the oil from the black sludge that was in there from the last owner, to a more effective Castrol Magnatec stop/start 5W30
- Changed the Fuel Filter (straightforward enough, and relatively easy)
- Changed the Air filter (ridiculously easy)
- Changed the Oil Filter (turned the air blue, more below)
- Did NOT change the Centrifuge Oil Filter (more below)
- Checked the differential oil levels.
The above with the aid of the Premium Service Pack from Craddocks, which at a shade under a score (£20) is practically a steal
So, last being first, why did I not change the centrifuge oil filter? See the photo:
The round thing below the hose is the centrifuge filter housing. The housing protects the filter itself, and is held in place by two smallish bolts. The one on the right looks fine. The one on the left has, not to put too fine a point on it, been burgered, most likely by the wrong socket being stuck over it, the result being rounded corners, which will require some work to get it out in one piece without damaging the surrounding parts. Further, it'll require a replacement bolt to secure it back again, which I didn't have to hand. So, in the next week, a suitable replacement bolt (actually, I'll get a few, just in case!) will be purchased.
Next up: The more conventional Oil Filter Can. This WAS replaced, but ye gods, what an utter female hound of a job it was
. See the photo below:
This photo was taken from the left side of the engine bay, facing to the right. The new can is in place (big black thing!). There is NO room to insert it from the rear, or below. Or above, come to that. Which means it has to be tipped to one side while extracting the old one (spillage alert!); the reverse is true of inserting the new one, by the way. And forget easy working space, there's not enough room to swing a molecule, let alone a mouse, in there. I jammed fingers (plural. As in more than once) doing this bit of the job.
We tried two different can removal tools, and the one that eventually did the trick (with more than a little swearing along the way) was a strap style tool. Now, I have a band wrench, but it couldn't fit. Note the pipe below the can. It's a bare 8mm or so gap above that damn thing to the filter can, with NO wiggle room whatsoever. So, I had to go get another wrench for this. That resulted in the band tool. The band (a nylon belt) is flexible enough to be bent around the can, so as to position it, and then a ratchet extension and ratchet socket spanner were used to good effect to work it loose (and the new one tight). Changing this can took most of the time involved in the entire exercise. Here's another photo.
Now, unless I miss my guess, this is the return pipe for the turbo. Does anyone know of a replacement part for this that gives more finger room for filter changes, or an I stuck with this utter bitch of a job every time I change the oil? Further, what bleepwitted moronic cretin came up with this design?! In every other engine I've seen or worked on, the oil filter is easily accessible from BELOW the engine, not practically trapped behind a network of pipes and mid-level towards the back of the bleeping thing
*ahem* Sorry, had to get that off my chest.
Anyhow, finally, a shot of what was possibly the most anticlimactic job of the day: The fuel filter, which we were expecting to be an utter sod of a job, and turned out to be dead easy (I used the band wrench). This is the new one in place, and was simplicity itself in accomplishing.
I'm rather glad I did that bit second (after the air filter)!
The last job of the day was to check the diff oil levels, and these were fine, which was nice. I did note though, that the plugs were of a poly plastic-like material, not steel or brass. VERY easy to burger up if you use the wrong spanner or socket, so I'll be getting some (hopefully brass) spares for the future (on the principle that if I don't, I'll need 'em).
Anyhow, jobs done, my Maroon Monster now runs a bit more quietly, smoothly, gear changes are smoother and easier, and she drives along a lot better than she did before. All in all, a good days' work
