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Service time.......
Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:37 pm
by dext924
I am planning on getting to old girl serviced in the next month or so, but I have heard the oil change can be a bit of a sod. How do you peeps get round this? Is it worth taking to a garage for them just to change the oil and for me to do the rest?
Anyone in the Salisbury / Amesbury area that can help would be great.
The other filters and checks seem do-able, jus the oil. She has done just under 5k over the year, so I thought it was about time.....
Re: Service time.......
Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 11:27 pm
by wonkanoby
dont know were you heard that
ive never seen an easier motor to change oil on
Re: Service time.......
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 10:29 am
by haydn callow
Very easy job on a Bongo....Filter is getaatable from under the Passenger seat and the drain 19mm socket (I think) by reaching underneath....you will need a fairly large shallow catching tray.
Some will say " get and do it with a Pela Pump down the dipstick hole "....I have always prefered to do it the conventional way and it's quicker.
Re: Service time.......
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 10:37 am
by dave_aber
I use a pela pump, and it does work OK - but was Haydn points out it is pretty slow.
Re: Service time.......
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:26 pm
by chipvan
after recent worries bout a body kit and geting oil changed.i got mine done at the garage as i couldnt get under there.but now i can
I can either remover front body kit or use ramps.
I was suprised it was an easy job for them,holds loads of oil.not much came out from filter,but still put something under filter too.
go for it,i will next time....but when on ramp noticed some coolant pipes cracked..so alls well for spoting them
Re: Service time.......
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 6:59 pm
by dext924
Oh, I thought is was awkward as a huge under tray needs to be removed? A friend who had one said it was really diddly and a sod to get back on.
Is this not the case then......?
Re: Service time.......
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 7:17 pm
by rita
dext924 wrote:Oh, I thought is was awkward as a huge under tray needs to be removed? A friend who had one said it was really diddly and a sod to get back on.
Is this not the case then......?
dont need to remove tray,there is a hole in the tray for access to the plug.
Re: Service time.......
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 8:25 pm
by Bob
I'm happy with a Pela Pump, warm the oil up then poke to pipe from the pump down the dipstick hole and pull it back up about 1/4".
Doesn't seem to take too long.
Re: Service time.......
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 9:03 pm
by wonkanoby
as said the sump plug can be reached with it insitu
and evan to remove its not that bad
as it splits in 2
it does help to have a helper for the larger rear bit when removing last bolt each side and reoffering up
Re: Service time.......
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 8:36 am
by dext924
Thanks for the info. Is there any where here or does anyone have a photo of where the sump plug is? Think I have figured out the oil, air and possibly the fuel filter, but not sure as to where I would find the sump having never been under one before.
I have done cars in the past, but never had to lift the seats to get to the bits!

so please bare with me while I find my way around
Thanks
Re: Service time.......
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 10:13 am
by wonkanoby
its under the motor
on drivers side
about 3 feet back from rear of drivers door
about 3 feet in
a hole in the thick plastic tray
you will see a bolt in sump
Re: Service time.......
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 3:12 pm
by mikeonb4c
haydn callow wrote:Very easy job on a Bongo....Filter is getaatable from under the Passenger seat and the drain 19mm socket (I think) by reaching underneath....you will need a fairly large shallow catching tray.
Some will say " get and do it with a Pela Pump down the dipstick hole "....I have always prefered to do it the conventional way and it's quicker.
I flat disagree with conventional oil change being quicker (or better) Haydn. Just to balance things up, others might like to consider the advantages of sucking oil out through the dipstick hole using a Pela pump (or similar):
* no need to crawl about under the car. You can wear your best suit while doing the job (though I don't recommend it).
* no sump plug to remove. These can be tight, and you will be well advised to have a spare sump plug washer handy
* no risk of oil spillage onto drive (due for example to the discharging oil overshooting the catch tray, or oil sloshing over the edge when you move it).
* no oil getting on your hands (and it seems to get everywhere - door handles, tools etc. etc. - once it gets started)
* No catch tray to carry away carefully, empty and clean out after the job (oil getting on your hands and everywhere else etc.)
* no oily rags, paper etc. to dispose of
* oil goes straight into container with pour away spout so no mess disposing of it
* on a Bongo, the pump appears to extract at least as much oil as may be extracted by sump plug removal.
It's a no-brainer.....honestly (unless you are an exceptionally skilled artisan like Haydn).

Re: Service time.......
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 4:19 pm
by haydn callow
Predictable.
I did not say either way was better than the other.
It is quicker without the Pela.
No need to be sarcastic. Why you have to have a "dig" whenever the oppertunity arises is a problem that needs addressing.
you do things your way and I will do as I please.
Re: Service time.......
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:26 pm
by mikeonb4c
haydn callow wrote:Predictable.
I did not say either way was better than the other.
It is quicker without the Pela.
No need to be sarcastic. Why you have to have a "dig" whenever the oppertunity arises is a problem that needs addressing.
you do things your way and I will do as I please.
Because Haydn, you need to work harder at giving a balanced view, and not just your personal view. It is for that reason that I 'predictably' come on here to try and put some balance into the debate on behalf of other readers: it is certainly not to 'have a dig'.
You are a respected authority on BF (believe it or not!) and so it is especially important that you give a balanced account, and not just a personal one. I honestly doubt that the average user would find the traditional way of changing the oil quicker than using an extractor pump, especially if they have any oil spillage (which they almost certianly will, sooner or later, and SWMBO will bat them round the ears with a frying pan for that). I have done the job both ways and the Pela made a very unpleasant job into a quick and pleasant one.
My post may have been direct and rebuttative (I love inventing new words

), but I can see no sarcasm in it. On the other hand, the remark
Some will say " get and do it with a Pela Pump down the dipstick hole "....
...might be judged by an English teacher as being close to sarcasm.
I know I'm being blunt, but I think it is necessary. You know I love you really, and we all respect you and what you have done for Bongo owners (for which I have given free praise many times and endured accusations that I must have a commercial interest, which I don't, but which can't have done product sales any harm).

Re: Service time.......
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:49 pm
by haydn callow
It's a no-brainer.....honestly (unless you are an exceptionally skilled artisan like Haydn).
I use a pela pump, and it does work OK - but was Haydn points out it is pretty slow
Very easy job on a Bongo....Filter is getaatable from under the Passenger seat and the drain 19mm socket (I think) by reaching underneath....you will need a fairly large shallow catching tray.
Some will say " get and do it with a Pela Pump down the dipstick hole "....I have always prefered to do it the conventional way and it's quicker.
Don't think that's an unbalanced view......just my way of doing things....peeps are intellegent enough to read all posts and work things out for themselves..
dont know were you heard that
ive never seen an easier motor to change oil on