BigAl2010

Hi there, I bought 5W - 30 fully synthetic oil the other day for my 2001 2.3 Zetec, is this correct or should I have gone for the semi? Thanks in advance. Thought I could add some input on this topic too. I have the MK2 2002 2.3 DOHC Petrol version and did my very first oil change today. I couldn't find any specific advice on where the sump plug drain was nor where the oil filter actually lived within the engine bay. Here is what I found : To access the sump plug drain bolt you need to jack up the car and place it on axle stands first of all, then put wheel chocks on the back wheels and make sure the handbrake is ON! Remove the under engine hard plastic cover - there are 2 screws at the back of it (near the handbrake under the car) and a few around the edges that are bolts. Once all these are undone you can slide the cover towards the rear of the car and it should lift off - it is quite large and heavy so watch you dont let it fall on your face! Once the cover is off if you crawl under the car on your back with your head towards the back wheels look up and the sump drain plug is at the back of the lower engine about where the handbrake would be. This needs to be undone with a 13mm spanner or socket - make sure you have a empty litter tray or something like it to catch the oil into once you open the drain plug. Be careful as it will be warm as you need to let the engine run for ten minutes before you undo it to let the oil run smoothly and quickly. Plus you need to take off the oil cap on the top off the engine. Let it all drain out for about 15 mins then you can take out the oil filter - This is to the left of the drain plug you just took off but higher up above the exhaust pipe - you will have to reach up about 6 inches above and use your hand to undo the oil filter anticlockwise. If it is too hard to turn by hand you need to use a special filter removal tool which you can buy for about £6 from any car shop etc. Once you start to undo the oil filter a lot more oil will start to pour out so watch it! Once out lower the oil filter through the engine bay until you can get it out completely. Be sure to wipe off any excess oil which was spilt onto the exhaust pipe etc or it will burn and smell later on! Let all the oil drain out from where the filter was and when all done wipe with paper towel etc. Now fit the new oil filter by smearing a little of the old oil around the rubber rim before you screw it in as this will help to make a tight seal. Put the oil filter in and screw it hand tight then tighten it a bit more with the hand. This is tight enough and doesnt need to need the hulk to undo it next time! Put the sump drain plug back in and check the seal is good - if not you can buy a new seal for pennies or even a new drain plug screw for only about a quid. Tighten it back up nice and tight. Replace the under engine plastic compartment in the reverse order you took it off. Take out axle stands and lower car and remove chocks behind rear wheels. Now with some 5w30 fully synthetic oil (about £23) pour 4.5 litres into the engine using a funnel. Once you have 4.5 litres in the engine check the dipstick level and replace the oil screw on the engine. Start the car up and the oil light will show for a couple of seconds and then go off which is fine. Let the engine warm up to the 90c mark on the temp gauge and bobs your uncle all done!