I haven't done this before.  Is it possible to do it without having access to a pit or similar?

 

Also, what kind of oil is best for this car's engine?  Thanks.

If you buy s Pella 6000 your oil changes will become simple. No stripped sump nuts, no grovelling around on floor, no oil running down your sleeve and it removes all the oil and more as it sucks the oil from the filter housing in unlike a sump drop.

Thanks for that.  I looked on ebay and they're to be found on there for around £40. 

Pair of ramps, big piece of cardboard (just in case!) and an old bucket.

Thanks.  If you drive onto ramps, will it drain properly?

Thanks.  If you drive onto ramps, will it drain properly?

 

If you raise the front up by driving onto ramps, and the drain plug is on the rear of the sump, then yes - with the added bonus that you can now reach the drain plug, which helps!  This "drive it onto ramps" advice will have been given as a cheap alternative to buying a Pela 6000 oil extractor, for what it is worth, I've used the "up on ramps" method for about 40 years - you need to enjoy getting oil up your sleeve if using this method. Tomorrow I plan to buy a Pela 6000 for someone to give me as part of a Christmas present!

The trick to stop the oil on your sleeve is to keep pressure on the sump plug till its undone.

The trick to stop the oil on your sleeve is to keep pressure on the sump plug till its undone.

 

Yes I've become smart enough to do that, also by doing that you also avoid the next issue which is dropping the plug into the oil basin, I have a proper oil basin thing with a lip to assist dumping the old oil into a container - only thing is that it slips off the lip, oil spills, I quickly reposition the basin and in doing so generate a tsunami and more oil spills, oh bother, but if you don't spill a bit of oil then you are not having enough fun, now on Christmas day, after opening my nice new oil extractor all that will be behind me - if I remember I have this new toy at next oil change!

Edited 17 December, 201312 yr by rum4mo