For the sake of a £30 sump pan and some time under the car it seems daft to faff about. You will probably find the water pump coolant pipe is also on the way out so you'll be under there anyway.

All jobs demand respect, but the engine block is cast iron - you don't need to treat it with kid gloves. You need a sharp wedge to knock into the joint then lever it off. Obviously don't bash anything thing too far through there is important stuff inside.

" £30 and some time'

When I did my petrol sump.. it was @6 hours.. 3 attempts..( wrong kit supplied ) all of which got oil everywhere

Clean oil.. wouldnt want that with a soot carrier

varesecrazy said:

" £30 and some time'

When I did my petrol sump.. it was @6 hours.. 3 attempts..( wrong kit supplied ) all of which got oil everywhere

Clean oil.. wouldnt want that with a soot carrier

Click to expand...

looks worse for the diesel in the photos. with the exhaust very close and not as easy to drop out of the way as the petrol.


still be fairly easy on a lift


but it different kettle of fish when shuffling around on your back on a road or drive in winter and raining.

Aye, in the real world not everyone, probably most will not have access to a ramp and garage facilities, most as said will be outside at the side of the road or at best on a driveway not ideal to say the least. I’ve spent most of my DIY jobs just like that. Back and forward to my shed for tools and things that was needed, all adds up.

Thanks for the info,

It for now looks too much of a hassle to do personally.

I can't see how the bottom of the gearbox comes off for access and the catilizer downpipe would need to be cut or taken off the turbo (where it is nigh on rusted to also) :-(.

While it is rusty have just gone for a paint job and will look into getting mt fiat man garage to do the work in a few months.

Thank you for you advice however.

I don't have the diesel to check


but it appears to split before the gearbox

I did the sump on the Montego Prima diesel - the one noted for being a mobile smog factory. Changing the oil, the drain plug braze cracked and had the fitting spinning and leaking. The sump could not be drained (without waiting weeks for it all to drip out.

It was a Sunday, so no chance of a new sump. Most of the oil was removed by drilling a hole. Bolts removed, joint carefully separated (used a stiff paint scraper IIRC), The badly brazed plug fitting (and my drain hole) were brazed up with a plumbers blow torch. Thankfully I had the rods and flux to do the job. Halfords supplied the gasket goo.

A scrap sump needs minimal finesse to remove and it's possible to drain the oil. it's potentially messy, but probably one of the easier jobs that demand working under the car.