I decided to change the oil in my 2003 Superb 1.9 tdi last weekend and bought Halfords VW full synthetic oil at something like £42.00 and a new filter for £3.99 and set about the task fully confident I could do this with ease.

I took the wife to the local garden centre to warm the oil up before draining and ran the car up on to ramps and removed the under engine cover and slacken'd off the sump plug, opened the filler and removed the plug.

The oil drained nicely so I had a cup of tea and then set about removing the filter top. Oh dear, this is where the problems started. I just could not get it off. The boa constricter tool I have used for many oil changes in the past just couldn't touch it. I was dead scared of damaging the cap unlike a can filter that you can wack a screwdriver through. I managed to break the Dipstick guide so had to order a new one from Skoda which fortunately cost only £3.14.

After many deleted expletives I decided to refit the sump plug and fill it with the new oil (I needed the car for my work the next day),

I made a wooden plug to plug the hole but that fell out the next day spraying oil all over the engine

I've ordered a 14 sided 74mm cap spanner tool from ebay to do the job proberly as soon as I get it.

So a simple oil change turned into a comedy of errors.

My mate suggested just changing the filter and leave the oil.

So, my question is, do you think I can get away with just changing the filter and leave the new oil in? I've properbly only covered about 200 miles. Or, should I change the oil again and treat this as a £42 flush !!!!

By the way the car was on a variable service regime but I have decided to reset the computer manualy to 10k interval.

Thanks and seaons greatings to one and all.

Tugman

I'd just change the filter and leave the oil.

By the way, VW Longlife III oil is only about £28 from my local TPS (Trade Parts Specialists), so I would guess it will be the same from one closer to you.

HI

Just change the filter

The plastic top torque 25Nm max

No need to wind it down to the max the seal on the side does all the work not the flange on the cap.

Chris K

Thanks for that. I'll be changing it again in 10K anyway.

Tugman

Was the oil 505.01 spec?

The oil I used was Halfords own which I believe is made by Comma.

It's specially for VW/Audi 5W/30 504.00 and 507.00 fully synthetic oil.

Cheers

Tugman