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DIY oil change

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:45 pm
by marshy1987
Hi,

i have looked but can't find a DIY oil change for the lancer CJ. I plan on changing the oil every 7500km, ill take it to the dealership every 15k but between that i would like to do this myself.

i cant say i have really looked underneath the car to much but i guess my main questions are:

does the engine undertray have to be taken off prior to the oil change?
is it just your normal socket type drain plug or is it a gay hex bolt like some of the newer cars of seen
Also what weight do you guys use for the Lancer?

thanks guys

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:47 pm
by bd-850
there is a access Cover that you take off (10mm nut i think)

Normal Socket

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:55 pm
by aspir3
The oil tray has another small cover plate attached to it by those quick release pins. I am not sure of their name. You just need a screw driver to pry under the head to remove the inner pin slightly and then pull the whole clip out.

Once you have removed the inspection plate you can remove the oil sump plug and the oil filter if you wish to replace it.

Tools required;
screw driver
spanner set or shifting spanner
oil filter removal tool (if changing filter)
oil catch tray
Jack30 minutes of time.

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 2:29 pm
by marshy1987
To easy, thanks guys. still got about 2000k before i do it but want to make sure i got all the info before doing it .

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 2:33 pm
by zedd82

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 2:45 pm
by marshy1987
sweet, wow i love where the oil filter is located, no having to stick my hands through half the engine bay triyng to unscrew it.

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 2:57 pm
by vshufflers
every time i change engine oil weather it is my cars, truck, tractors, motor bikes or what ever that is 4 stroke, i always add a product called hi performance lucas heavy duty oil stabilizer, it stops wear and tear in new and used engine, its around $20 in a 1 litre bottle, mixing rate is at 50%,

Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:41 am
by JohnJohn
aspir3 wrote:The oil tray has another small cover plate attached to it by those quick release pins. I am not sure of their name. You just need a screw driver to pry under the head to remove the inner pin slightly and then pull the whole clip out.

Once you have removed the inspection plate you can remove the oil sump plug and the oil filter if you wish to replace it.

Tools required;
screw driver
spanner set or shifting spanner
oil filter removal tool (if changing filter)
oil catch tray
Jack30 minutes of time.


When I changed the oil & filter on my MY10 ES manual there was no cover plate or anything - I could get to the sump plug & oil filter without having to remove anything. Is this right - or did the dealership forget to replace something when I got them to do the oil & filter at the 1500 km service?

Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:50 pm
by The X
JohnJohn wrote:When I changed the oil & filter on my MY10 ES manual there was no cover plate or anything - I could get to the sump plug & oil filter without having to remove anything. Is this right - or did the dealership forget to replace something when I got them to do the oil & filter at the 1500 km service?

As far as I know on all trims the whole bit under the engine is covered with plastic panels, which are clipped on. Perhaps they forgot to put it back on?

Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:52 pm
by LZY_EYE
Yeah thats right Pete.

The undertray extends from the front bumper to the crossmember.

There is a small square hatch that comes away to do an oil change.

Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:59 pm
by JohnJohn
LZY_EYE wrote:Yeah thats right Pete.

The undertray extends from the front bumper to the crossmember.

There is a small square hatch that comes away to do an oil change.


Well that's just great. The service guys must have forgotten to put mine back on. What's the bet I'll never see that damn thing again - though I will ask about it when I take the car in for its 15,000 service.

Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 2:16 pm
by LZY_EYE
Funnily enough I have mine somewhere... I never used to put mine on because it wouldn't fit correctly with my braces.

I am a fair way away from Narooma though!!

Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:33 pm
by Striker82
Hahaha just looked under my car mine is also missing Hmmmm.

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:44 am
by exaltd
John and Bobby,

Do not fear. Not all of our cars have the undertray. My ES never came with an undertray. From day 1. I have a 09 model ES. Perhaps they have now put undertrays on all, but from my memory, I used to only see them on higher models.

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 8:19 am
by ofey
from what I know as well, ESs do not come with under/stone trays.

They only come on the higher end models. I have a set left over from when I swapped over to the RA front, so the stone tray changed.

If you're in Melbourne, I could let you have it for a small bit?

They are regularly well over A$100, well at least that's the price for the RA ones.

No point posting it interstate, the courier or Auspost charges would be massive!