I just shopped around on eBay and found a complete kit (oil, air, fuel & cabin filters) for £40 and a few pennies.

They're all Britpart filters of course, which a lot of people don't like, but I've never had an issue with them.

I bought several cans of Catrol Magnatec 5w30 A1 oil at Asda's a couple of months ago when it was £20 for 4 litres. Not sure if they're still doing it at that price.

I did the air and fuel filters today. The air filter is easy, the fuel filter not too bad, but I found it a bit of a fiddle getting the engine cover off. I read all the postings about the special pump you need to prime the new filter, and I couldn't believe it needs to be that complicated: all I did was empty the old filter into a large, wide jam jar, then used a little syringe (courtesy of Calpol) to inject it all into the inlet of the new filter, put it all back together again, switched the ignition on and off a few times to pressurise the system, and then started the engine. No problems.

Just the cabin filter to do tomorrow.

thanks Tim, I'll need to start shopping around for the bits and pieces.

I have already bought the ratchet spanner.

Iain

Stevie5tapes wrote:

fredastaire wrote:

I'm puzzled about using a hoist. I just lean over the front and undo and take the filter out the top. First time around I bent the lug of cable tag on the oil cooler block to leave enough room to lift the filter out the top.
I first lie on an old carpet to reach under to remove the undertray and undo the sump plug. Only special thing I do is use a pipe cleaner as a wick to draw the oil out that's left in the sump below the top of threaded plug insert.
.
Kind regards from Fred
.

I've just been reading on another forum, a Aussie one I think. Now it didn't say if it was the diesel or petrol engine, but the guy removed the engine cover first. Then un clipped the power steering reservoir and moved it to one side. The oil filter is then easy to get to but requires a 36mm socket to remove it. Now if this is the Diesel engine it looked a straight forward job.

Interesting I had a 1972 minivan and cannot recall the oil filter being awkward but again it is 40 odd yeras ago

On my mini at least (1963 Mk 1 Cooper) you have to jack the front up, take the front grille off, then undo the long bolt that goes vertically upwards through the middle of the oil filter canister. Whilst you're doing this, oil starts overflowing from the top of the canister and all down your hand and arm, then when you've undone the long bolt the canister drops on the floor (or onto the front subframe) and deposits its entire contents on the ground.

Putting it back is also a fiddle - making sure you've got all the washers and springs in the right place, and that the rubber ring is seated properly.

The FL2 oil filter, though awkward to get at, is cleverly designed to empty itself back into the sump whilst you're unscrewing it, so there is little if any spillage. OK, you do have to take the engine undertray off first, but otherwise it's a simple job.

Slightly off topic, but the earlier Mini vans ('59/60 on) had an integral pressed steel grille, a part of the body and not removable. Access to the filter was from above or below only. Many owners cut the original grille out and fitted a screw on version as fitted to the cars. OMG, that was going on 55 years ago!  10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

I readily admit I found the first time I replaced FL2 oil filter............... = a real battle.
Then I looked it up on here.....
Next time ,armed with knowledge and a more suitable spanner it was = a bit of a struggle
but subsequently = only a bit fiddly

This alone demonstrated to me the worth of Free2.com and the knowledge that folk generously pass on.

dunkley201 wrote:

Slightly off topic, but the earlier Mini vans ('59/60 on) had an integral pressed steel grille, a part of the body and not removable. Access to the filter was from above or below only. Many owners cut the original grille out and fitted a screw on version as fitted to the cars. OMG, that was going on 55 years ago!

We used to cut a "flap" in the N/S inner wing to get at the flywheel/clutch with a puller.
Same method used on the boot floor of early Jags with disc brakes on the inboard ends of the drive shafts which otherwise had to be removed to replace the brake pads.

Bill l Life Honorary Member of Wallasey Motor Club.
Licenced MSA Radio Operator for 35+ years.
Rallying is the only sport.