Thanks to the great instructions and photos on this site, was able to perform my first oil change without too much trouble!

- Picked up the "gold" oil filter from Napa for $11
- Castrol Syntec 5W-30 from Canadian Tire was on-sale for only $22.99!
- Napa wanted $54 (!!) for a set of 36mm low-profile sockets, but got one on eBay for less than $20 w/ shipping to Canada.
- RhinoRamp 8000's from Canadian Tire

After reading the thread about the guy who inadvertently drained his transmission oil, I carefully studied the photos in the Oil Change How To thread to make sure I got the right drain plug. Only a few drops of spilled oil on the ground!

Broke the seal on the oil filter cartridge, and let the oil drain out. Replace oil filter and seal gasket and re-install. Add new oil, and we are good-to-go!

I would encourage anyone who hasn't tried an oil change before to give it a go. A bit of work, but very rewarding once you're done!

 

I agree completely. I bought my 2003 MCS in February and, not knowing its' service history, had the oil changed at the dealer to the tune of around ninety dollars. A few weeks ago (Five thousandish miles later) I decided to do my own. I bought a 36mm socket online for less than ten bucks, and five quarts of Mobile 1 and a Purolator filter from Pep Boys for about thirty.
Although I do have the Bentley manual, I actually found the assorted step-by-step instructions from this group more useful. The only real issue I had was that apparently Son of Kong was the tech who tightened both my filter canister and drain plug. The next day I dropped off the old oil and filter at the quicky-lube - piece of cake!

 

The only issue I've had with oil changes is that my strut bar is in the way. So, I have to contort my arm in weird ways to get the filter out. Other than that it's a piece of cake.

 

I always feel it's better to change your own oil....It's like bonding with your car!!!

 

I change mine every 5K now and I think she runs better.

 

I got mine from Lordco for $10, about 2 years ago. Try also Princess Auto. I grinded a small socket (3/8 drive) into a square and epoxy-glued it to the 1/2 drive of the 36 mm socket. This allowed me to use smaller rachet wrenge (3/8) due to the tight space of the oil filter housing.