Hi,

I trust I can get some help to do the next oil change with less mess!  I have done lots of oil changes on various cars over the years but found doing an oil change on this car very messy.  The main problem was draining the oil from the sump.  The sump plug faces down and is a flat faced plug with a Torx drive.  Also the sump is wrapped in an insulating blanket so the plug is recessed below the surface of this insulation.  The main problem is that as soon as the plug is loosened oil starts dripping down onto the Torx drive bit and then ones hand.  The plug takes a little while to remove and during this time more oil is leaking onto the hand undoing the plug.  As I said very messy!!

Can the insulating blanket be readily removed because this would make access to the plug a lot better.? There are a couple of easily releasable plastic rivets to release the blanket at the front of the sump but couldn't see any at the rear of the sump to remove the insulating blanket. 

Also the oil filter was very tight. I couldn't remove it with a water pump pliers.  So I then just replaced the oil and now plan to do another oil and filter change some time soon when i get a removal tool.   I need a oil fiter removal tool to suit dia 76mm and 14 flats.

I welcome any suggestions to make the oil change easier.  I could get a tool to suck the oil out through the dip stick hole but would rather drain through the bottom of the sump.

Removing the oil by pump makes it a clean job and you can do it safely with the oil hot.

Then if you want to still change the sump plug you do, as many main dealers and others do.

I change mine via a pump.

 

Could you cut a small section out of the insulation for access. Not sure how it's secured.

 

And yes you definitely need a tool to remove the filter, mine was so tight, last person must have been Hulk. Was even difficult with a tool and a long wrench.

 

I now have to slightly overtighting than I usually would on this type of filter as it's drips a little if I don't. Hand tight then a little bit more with a wrench stops the dripping for me. If changed my oil 4 times and each time had to do this. Maybe the overtighting previously has warped something. Who knows, never loses enough to notice.

 

So be interested to see how you get off on your filter.

Many thanks for replies.  Maybe a sump pump is the way to go.  There seem to be a lot on the market at various prices.  Can anyone suggest a good one to buy.

On 23/12/2019 at 17:58, bris24 said:

Many thanks for replies.  Maybe a sump pump is the way to go.  There seem to be a lot on the market at various prices.  Can anyone suggest a good one to buy.

 I use one of these pela 6000 oil extractor more expensive than some but does an excellent job.

Thanks for reply.  I understand from the Pela 6000 literature that the suction tube is 6mm diameter.  I am going to check that this size will go into the dipstick hole on the fabia.  Also I will have another go at seeing if the thermal jacket can be readily removed from the sump.  However in all likelyhood I will get a pump (probably the Pela 6000) as with the insulating jacket in place draining is really messy.

I got Pella 6000 and I use it regularly to do oil change service on wife's Golf Mk5 with ease, however I have attempted to do some oil extraction from my Fabia mk3, started fine however it did not extract the full amount. It appears that there could be a kink in the sump hence the probe can not twist to reach the bottom and substantial amount of oil will thus remain. 

Thanks for comments EdHru.  I have bought an electric pump.  One of the cheap ones on ebay!  A friend of mine has used a similar pump and he said it worked fine (on a Mk3 Otavia diesel).  So when I next do an oil change I will try the pump.  Maybe I will get to the bottom of the sump?  (or remove most of the oil and then remove the plug)

Does anyone know if Skoda garages pump out the oil or remove the drain plug.   If the plug is removed how is the oil spillage minimised?