How hard is it to change the oil and filter on a 4.2?
08-20-2002, 04:51 PM
#1
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
How hard is it to change the oil and filter on a 4.2?
Given the outrageous prices the dealers charge to change the oil and filter and fill w/ synthetic oil (my Porsche dealership, which is also my Audi dealership, charges $130 to change the oil and filter w/ a syn fill!) and my not trusting the quick-change shops, I prefer to do it myself.
So what's involved?
Thanks, Andy
So what's involved?
Thanks, Andy
08-20-2002, 05:01 PM
#2
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 12,697
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well...
It's both easy and hard...or at least, potentially annoying...
I've done it twice on the 4.2 and once on the S6...
The biggest problem is getting the car stable on jack stands...the A6 has only 2 front jacking points and the car is quite low, so my damn bottle jack doesn't fit under when the car is all the way down...plus, you cannot jack the car up from it's jack stand points...unless you have a wide based jack...it starts to crush through the chassis...not good...
So, if you have good jacks and good jack stands (preferably faily low so they fit under the car without having to jack it up 2 freaking feet), it can be quite easy...if not, be prepared for annoyance and crushed jack points...
Another not-so-fun part is the removal of the oil...8 quarts comes out fast and you need a receptacle that can handle fast flowing oil, otherwise its spills over (like it did the last time I did it)...not fun...
One last not-so-fun part is the oil filter removal...it can be extremely tight, so the hand may not be able to loosen it...a wrench may be necessary...not the complete circle wrench, but the open ended type...a small circle one would probably work though...the filter is long and thin...
But, once you get it off...after about one million turns...it dumps oil on you or the floor, but certainly on some engine parts that you then have to clean up...not real fun either...
Oh, and by the way...for the pleasure of this annoyance, you will save about $50.
8 x 4.50 = $36 (M1)
1 x 40 = $40 (dealer price for oil filter)
=$76 + tax...no bargain.
Enjoy...I'll see if I ever do it again.
I've done it twice on the 4.2 and once on the S6...
The biggest problem is getting the car stable on jack stands...the A6 has only 2 front jacking points and the car is quite low, so my damn bottle jack doesn't fit under when the car is all the way down...plus, you cannot jack the car up from it's jack stand points...unless you have a wide based jack...it starts to crush through the chassis...not good...
So, if you have good jacks and good jack stands (preferably faily low so they fit under the car without having to jack it up 2 freaking feet), it can be quite easy...if not, be prepared for annoyance and crushed jack points...
Another not-so-fun part is the removal of the oil...8 quarts comes out fast and you need a receptacle that can handle fast flowing oil, otherwise its spills over (like it did the last time I did it)...not fun...
One last not-so-fun part is the oil filter removal...it can be extremely tight, so the hand may not be able to loosen it...a wrench may be necessary...not the complete circle wrench, but the open ended type...a small circle one would probably work though...the filter is long and thin...
But, once you get it off...after about one million turns...it dumps oil on you or the floor, but certainly on some engine parts that you then have to clean up...not real fun either...
Oh, and by the way...for the pleasure of this annoyance, you will save about $50.
8 x 4.50 = $36 (M1)
1 x 40 = $40 (dealer price for oil filter)
=$76 + tax...no bargain.
Enjoy...I'll see if I ever do it again.
08-20-2002, 08:33 PM
#6
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Find a sloped driveway instead.....
That's what I do w/ my Porsche. Back it down the slope and onto home made ramps (2 x 12s glued and screwed together in progressive lengths). Works great, while other Porsche owners complain of the problem you mention.
Andy
Andy
Trending Topics
08-20-2002, 09:47 PM
#10
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 12,697
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you have a 4.2 sport?
The other cars...even the 2.7T sport sit higher...but...I might give it a try...
I'll have to find someone to go to Target for me...I can't go there...no Target, no Wal-Mart, no KMart...just can't do it...I'm a bigot...I admit it...just can't do it...
I'll have to find someone to go to Target for me...I can't go there...no Target, no Wal-Mart, no KMart...just can't do it...I'm a bigot...I admit it...just can't do it...