Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2005 09:09:23 GMT From: Johannes H Andersen <johsnospamfitter.com> Subject: Re: questions about 9-3 oil changes
James Sweet wrote: > > "Valued Customer" <nonospaml.com> wrote in message > news:65omu0drgvsdo5obtffoeecb9rgv3k83ftnospamcom... > > Hello, > > > > Owner of a '99 9-3 CV here... I recently caused $500+ damage by > > changing the engine oil myself. I was cussing out the dealership the > > whole time while trying to remove a hopelessly siezed drainpan bolt. > > What should have taken 15 minutes turned into a 6 hour nightmare. The > > bolt was tourqued down very tightly and they used a copper washer > > between the bolt head and the pan. > > > > When I went to the dealership sometime later, they told me the head of > > the bolt isn't designed to be loosened with a regular wrench, the > > copper washer is used becuase it's soft and forms a seal, and the > > torque applied was by the book. > > > > While I've let the dealership change my oil since, these answers have > > never set well with me. > > > > 1. Does anyone change their own oil in a 9-3? > > 2. Is it really necessary to torque the sh!t out of the plug? > > 3. What makes the head of the bolt so special that the dealer claims > > there is a special wrench used for oil changes? > > 4. If you change your own oil, do you use the copper gasket? I tried > > to go once without it and had a constant slow leak. > > > > Thanks! > > While I'm not sure about the other questions, every car I've changed the oil > on used a copper gasket, without it I don't doubt it would leak badly. Most > of my experience is on RWD Volvos and a couple C900's though. I'm not sure > what sort of plug the 9-3 uses, but it threads into aluminum correct? It > shouldn't be so tight that you ruin it trying to loosen it, provided you use > a quality socket. It may be that dealer garages are protecting themselves against claims for a new engine. Only once had the dealer change the oil, I couldn't undo the oil plug with the correct ring spanner and using a hammer on the spanner! I complained and the dealer replaced the oil plug. It is no secret that all cars leak oil to some extent. Notice to oil track in the middle of the inner motorway lanes.
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