leedav

Not really. With a neon you are situated somewhere near the outside edges of the car. Driving the 300 is like being in the middle seat of the middle row of an MD-11.

leedav

Halfway there now. Oil is draining, filter is out. Used an allen key and band filter wrench. Tomorrow I'll take the plug and cover to the auto parts store and fit an allen socket and filter end cap wrench. I've decided to take the time and torque them both properly to spec, and to use the 0W-40 that the dealer recommended.

What are you guys doing to document your oil changes? If I send myself an email with the date and mileage, and keep it along with the receipt for the filter, gasket and oil am I good to go?

1999Porsche911

Just put the date of the change on the reciept for the oil and filter and put in the glovebox.

Ekename

I just keep a spreadsheet with the date I do anything and save the reciepts.

leedav

The renntech says to put the filter on the car and then install the housing. It looks like you put the filter in the housing first and then fill the housing with oil. Is that correct?

NickS

The proper installation method is to put the filter element into the housing. Push down until it "clicks" into postion. Then slowly fill the housing up with oil allowing the filter to soak up all the excess oil. Keep doing that until the oil level in the housing is about 1" from the top. Then screw the filter housing back on to the car.

leedav

Thanks very much Nick.

NickS

Anytime.

leedav

mine took 10, and looks like it will take another .25 or .5 after I get back from work.

leedav

Had a slight oil smell when I got into work. I'm assuming it is the dribble from the bottom of the pan and where I touched the pipes. Anyone else get this?

My dash gauge reads down 1 bar after 10 quarts, and my oil pressure is higher with the fresh oil.

Gretch

I forget, does a 2004 have a dip stick?........I always check both, but go by the dip stick reading.

leedav

Yes. The dipstick and the gauge in my car correlate very well. I was about 1/8" down after filling and running, and one bar down when I got to the office.

1999Porsche911

Make sure that you let the car sit for 15 minutes or more to get an accurate reading. 10 quarts sure sounds high to me.

leedav

Yup. you're right. It's a tad high now. Now what?

1999Porsche911

The first indicator was the increase in oil pressure...very bad for your engine. Oil pressure will increase with oil volume. To get rid of the excess oil, remove the oil filter and dump the oil in it. Reinstall and run engine for a few seconds; repeat until you get rid of enough oil. It is always better to run slightly lower oil level than slightly higher. Let the car sit on a flat surface for a good while and recheck.

My guess is if you did in fact add 10 quarts, you have almost a quart to remove.