ruteger said:Sorry to be obtuse but I plan on doing the 7.5k intermediate oil change on my '03 330Ci after it arrives, and am unclear about the oil filter release valve that returns the oil to the pan.
If this is the case, if the oil filter is changed after the old oil is drained from the pan and the drain plug reinserted, isn't old oil from the filter 'cup' being returned to the oil pan? If the oil drain plug isn't removed a second time to remove this old oil, doesn't the old oil from the filter cup get mixed with the new oil that is subsequently added? The amount of oil in the cup isn't likely that great, still, it is old oil.
The oil drain pan accomodates ~7 quarts of oil. When the dipstick reaches MAX it's actually reading about 6 quarts of oil. According to my personal experience and the Bentley's manual, the oil drain pan on the E46es has a pressure release valve, so when the drain pan is overfilled it will slowly leak out the excess oil, thus preventing damage to your engine.Wouldn't it make more sense to change the oil filter before the pan is drained of old oil to actually get all of the old oil, both the old oil that is in the drain pan and the old oil that is in the filter cup?
The only problem I could see with changing the oil filter before draining the pan is that the extra oil in the pan might force a seal to leak, but I wouldn't think it likely since the engine won't be started between the time the oil filter is changed and the oil pan drained.
Sorry if this has been addressed before, I just want to make sure I understand the proper procedure before I attempt it.
ruteger said:Thanks. The owner's circle online owner's manual has no oil change instructions (that I could find), and the oil change DIY over at bmw330ci.com misses this small, but important, nuance.
The bmw330ci.com DIY has the change sequence being completely straightforward (drain oil from pan, replace drain plug, change filter, add new oil) with no mention of the oil filter return valve. However, the narrator does mention that he couldn't get anywhere near the 6.9 quarts of new oil in, something like only 5.5 quarts.
I may be interpreting your information incorrectly, but are you saying it is only possible to add 6 quarts, even though the manuals say the capacity is nearly 7 quarts?
This would actually make sense if the narrator of the DIY was retaining the old oil from the oil filter cup in the pan. The amount in the cup would come close to making up the difference between 6 quarts and the 5.5 quarts that he was actually able to add.
I vaguely remember reading somewhere that this particular oil change DIY was incorrect, but since it was sometime ago, I don't recall it being specific about what information was wrong with the DIY.
No oil will ooze out when you remove the filter housing. However, you should have something to catch the oil filter right away, since the oil filter will trap SOME oil. As soon as you unscrew the oil filter housing, a seal between the oil filter and the tube between the housing and the drain pan releases and the remaining oil in the oil filter housing drains into the drain pan. Then you can remove the drain pan plug and extract most of your oil.exBMWannabe said:I'm a bit thick this morning after reading this thread a few times. :banghead:
Hack's experience recommendeds that the oil filter be removed before (?) removing the drain plug after taking about a half a quart out to prevent spillage. I'd rather not take the chance of opening the filter housing and oozing oil all over the place. Plus, I don't have any way to pull the oil out other than the plug.
Couldn't you just pull the plug and grab the oil filter after a few seconds of draining or even before you put the drain plug back in? Won't that allow for the oil in the tube to drain down to the drain pan and out getting your 6 qts of oil out?
Thanks for the info on putting a bit of oil in the filter housing to help reduce a dry start. That's new to me.
Bob
Kaz said:Dan, you're making this WAY more complicated than it needs to be. :tsk: :tsk:
6) When oil drains at a slow drip, re-insert oil drain plug
7) Add half quart of oil in filter housing, re-install filter