Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2005 06:58:09 GMT From: Valued Customer <nonospaml.com> Subject: questions about 9-3 oil changes
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!