Best way to drain the engine oil?

[chris s]

I've just tried to change my oil for the first time (usually get a garage to do this) but I found it impossible to undo the sump plug and it actually looked as though it might have been welded in..? I didn't want to put too much effort as I might have damaged the plug.  Is it usual for the plug to be so hard to undo?

Is it possible to drain the oil via the filter, or would this leave a lot of the old oil left?

[Paradox1]

Hi mate.

as the oil is held in the sump, you need to undo that to get rid of all the oil. if you drain from the oil filter, you will still have all the old used, dirty oil at the bottom of the sump.

the bolt is tight, just perceive, you can do it

What oil are you putting in by the way?

[K9]

Hi mate.

as the oil is held in the sump, you need to undo that to get rid of all the oil. if you drain from the oil filter, you will still have all the old used, dirty oil at the bottom of the sump.

the bolt is tight, just perceive, you can do it

What oil are you putting in by the way?

drive the engine warm as the oil will drain faster. and drive the car so the front is up on both sides. or use 2 jackstand.

[chris s]

Cheers for the replies, I'll give it another go one evening this week... I'm putting castrol edge in

[andybon]

If you can, a small breaker bar will crack it off no problem.

Anyone else tighten theirs up say hand tight then a quarter turn, then the next time they come to get it off its welded itself on?

Happens every time to me!

[col]

I've just had a full service with a full oil change obviously and my gti is now leaking oil profusely ....

Never lost a drop of oil previously so I'm hoping they've just not tightened my sump back up properly.  Don't want to touch it as I'm taking the car back on Tuesday and don't want them trying to say I'm the one to blame.  I'll just keep checking the dipstick and topping up a bit... 
200 quid and they can't even tighten the feckin thing back up

[Stevepd]

I've just had a full service with a full oil change obviously and my gti is now leaking oil profusely ....

Never lost a drop of oil previously so I'm hoping they've just not tightened my sump back up properly.  Don't want to touch it as I'm taking the car back on Tuesday and don't want them trying to say I'm the one to blame.  I'll just keep checking the dipstick and topping up a bit... 
200 quid and they can't even tighten the feckin thing back up

Another reason to do it yourself, you'll kick yourself when you see how easy it is to do.

Steve.

[chris s]

I'm going to give changing my oil another go today... Fingers crossed the sump plug will loosen... Do people reckon it'd be easier if the oil and therefore sump were fairly warm?

[chris s]

Do people usually use a new sump plug when changing the oil or is the existing plug typically ok?

[omeydz]

Yep get it upto temperature. Drains out better as oil is thinner.

Tighten up sump plug screw when cold and use a torque wrench 

[4ndy]

http://www.pelapumps.co.uk/default.aspx?a10page=pl6000 

[dazza]

I have an oil extractor i use it on the beater as i can also get the oil filter out from the top.

I don't usually use it on the golf i'm not convinced that it gets all the oil out. But when i do the oil change in a couple of weeks i'm going to use the extractor then drop the sump plug just to see if it misses anything.

[chris s]

Well apart from a small spillage when removing the filter (hadn't appreciated how much oil would be held in there) the oil and filter change seemed to go quite well.  Both the sump plug and oil filter housing needed some gentle persuasion to come undone but chuffed I avoided paying to have it done

[rich83]

I've just done the same on my wife's car. The dump plug was a bit stiff, but loosened up with a bash on the spanner.

[pudding]

Well apart from a small spillage when removing the filter (hadn't appreciated how much oil would be held in there) the oil and filter change seemed to go quite well.  Both the sump plug and oil filter housing needed some gentle persuasion to come undone but chuffed I avoided paying to have it done

The housing can be a bitch when over-tightened, usually resulting in them splitting when using a breaker bar.  I keep a new one on standby for such eventualities.  Happened to me on my R32 twice!    As for the sump plug, a lot of mechanics see a big M14 bolt and think it needs M14 torque!  20lbft is plenty for that and the plastic filter housing.