Lancia Motor Club

Hi everyone, I've owned a 1.3 Fulvia for 14 years now and have never bothered to find out if anyone has a clean way of changing the oil filter during an oil change? My method is to puncture the old filter in situ with a hole in the top and another close to the base and let the oil in the filter drain into a aluminium take-away container. But even doing this, I end up with the remains pouring over the engine and gearbox. How did Lancia garages do it? Just let it pour everywhere then steam clean it? All suggestions welcome.

Hi Stanley,
 I usually just let the oil drain for a while then stuff a load of kitchen roll around underneath the filter housing, unscrew the filter as quickly as possible, then immediately turn it right way up ,at least that way you retain a decent % of the oil in the filter; must admit though, it wouldn't be the first time I've managed to tip most of it over the bell housing anyway. ::)

Brian Hilton
8227 8)
 

I did it just last week (oily rag instead of kitchen paper)and didn't spill a single drop.With a bit of care you can wrap a decently thick rag or paper around the under side of the base of the filter housing and spin it loose and as Brian says tip it upright very quickly. At worst you spill a few drops if your not quick enough. Preparation is the answer so make sure you also place a rag in the near vicinity  on the inner wing for example so that you have somewhere to go to with the filter if it is leaking. All the oily rags/paper just gets placed in a plastic bag and job done. Don't forget to replace the oil of course!.

Thanks for that, you both use the same technique. I think I'll give that a try. Didn't realise that if you spin it off quickly it's better. Even with my container wedged underneath it used to dribble and find its way along the sump fins to the front of the engine. There isn't a Chinese take away here either so I would have run out of containers anyway.   :)