I changed the oil for the first time on this car over the weekend. It was pretty much uneventful except for a few quick questions I would have loved to ask someone had I had the computer on. This was the car's first oil change, too.

1) The crush ring on the drain plug didn't come off with the drain plug - it almost seemed painted on....(haven't gotten to the question yet!): Is the crush ring sided?.....meaning is there a top and bottom? I noticed the seam in it and put that seam facing down (to the driveway) becuase that is what it looked like when I pryed the old one off.

2) What is the torque spec on the drain plug supposed to be?

3) The filter housing should be torqued to 25Nm. The funny part is that my 27mm socket is a 1/2" drive, but my 1/2" drive torque wrench only goes down to 35Nm. So I would have liked to use my 3/8" drive torque wrench, but I didn't have a 3/8" to 1/2" drive adapter (not even sure if they make these ) What have other's done? I just got it pretty snug and left it at that.

4) The coolant res. needed to be moved to gain access to the filter housing - how did most people "move it aside" - did anyone disconnect any lines? I didn't, but the unit didn't exactly rotate out of the way very easily.

Thanks!

By the way, I bought the car with 2200 miles on it and just changed it at 3032 miles. The oil wasn't that dirty - to my surprise.

 

Drain plug torque is 30nm. Got it from Mini Mania website.

They make a 3/8" to 1/2" adapter.

I just kind of tilt the coolant res. off to the left side (towards the engine). I use a small piece of wire to keep it there. The hoses tend to make it want to fall back into position.

 

Thanks for the quick reply -

If you are in Monterey - you are on the computer at 4:55 in the morning?! Can't sleep, eh?

 

It doesnt matter which side of the crushring is put on first.

 

For those of us with American torque wrenches, that's 22 lb-ft.

Also from MiniMania, "Torque oil filter cannister to 25Nm or 18 lb-ft."

 

haha, yeah right. I've been up since 4 to get ready for work. Longer commute this particular day. Not in my Mini either!

Just kind of depends what you buy, either is available at places I've bought them. Cannister torque is stamped on it!

 

Convoy to Ft. Hungry Lizard?

Was that in Monterey? I had difficulty finding a decent one in the right range in any system.

 

Nope, commuting the other direction.

I bought all 3 of my torque wrenches at Sears. Last one I got is 1/2" drive for lug nuts. I have 2 others that are 3/8" drive, both with different measurements.

 

Huh.....I bought my two torque wrenches from Sears as well and both of them have both ft/lbs and Nm. They are called "digitorq" or something like that. One is 3/8" and the other is 1/2" drive.