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Changing Your Oil

Changing your oil on a regular basis is imperative for air-cooled VWs since they were made without a real oil filter of any kind. They have to rely on a strainer that only filters out junk approx. 1/32" or bigger. Not much of a filter, huh?? That's why I always recommend that when folks rebuild an engine, they drill and tap the case for a full flow oil filter system.

TOOLS REQUIRED:

1 - 19mm socket & ratchet OR wrench

1 - 10mm socket & ratchet OR wrench

1 - Torque wrench capable of 7ft lbs OR 84in lbs

1 - Oil collection tray

PARTS REQUIRED:

1 - Oil change gasket set

1 - Sump screen (optional)

4 - Quarts of quality motor oil (SAE 30wt recommended)

WARNING - Oil is a hazardous material and must be disposed of properly. Bring your used motor oil to a proper recycling center for re-refinement. Additionally, oil is hazardous to your health. Use nitrile gloves so that it doesn't get on your hands.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Warm-up your engine by letting it idle for a few minutes. If you haven't already adjusted the valves, do that first before the engine gets warmed.

2. Place an oil collection tray under the engine to catch the old oil.

3. Remove the 19mm oil drain plug in the center of the round sump plate and allow the oil to drain.

4. Remove the six (6) 10mm sump plate nuts and remove the sump plate and screen.

5. Clean the sump screen with solvent or replace with a new screen.

6. Clean the old sealant and gasket material from the sump, sump screen and plate.

7. Apply new non-hardening (NON-RTV) sealant to sump, sump screen, sump plate and gaskets.

8. Replace in this order: gasket, sump screen, gasket, sump plate.

9. Use new copper bolt gaskets and replace the 10mm nuts torqueing them to 7ft lbs.

10. Place a new copper seal on the drain plug and replace plug into sump plate.

11. Add oil into engine, topping off as indicated by the dip stick. Check under the car for leaks.

12. Re-start the engine for a couple minutes. Shut it back down and re-check the oil level. Add more as required.

This may sound like a big job, but it only takes a 10 minutes or so. If you take your vehicle into the local "Quicky Oil Change" they will NOT check & clean the sump screen so be aware of this.

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