Thanks to the various guides, and replies to some specific questions I posted recently on here, I've managed to removed, clean and refit my oil filter. Based on a few suggestions, I decided not to remove the rear panel but to leave it on. It was probably a little more difficult to clean the filter with it on but not a huge problem, just a bit fiddly.
I removed the engine cover, per most people's guidance - it made access much easier. I also took off the undertray and positioned an oil collector tray/container to catch the oil - not too much in practice but more than a few spoonfuls so it would have made a bit of a mess.
I made a mark on the engine side to line up with the timing mark on the cover, to be able to align it properly at the end. Getting the filter bolts to move was a bit difficult as even when holding the pulley, the belt was slipping a bit because it was loose. However, after a few goes and a sharp yank to start them off, the bolts came out fine.
Looking at the filter once removed (the cover bit), it wasn't actually as bad as I had feared, but there was a layer of crud about4-5mm thick around the edge, the consistency of putty. Anyway, it shows that the filter was doing its job! I then poked with a screwdriver into the engine-side part of the filter housing to get out more crud - seemed to be not too bad but some more came out.
I cleaned the cover out with a screwdriver, then an old toothbrush, then a rag to clean it up nicely.
A brand new O-ring seal on the cover, then everything was bolted up again.
As above, the belt was slipping a bit, so I removed it and played around with a combination of a smaller number of the spacers in the pulley to make it a bit tighter. The spare spacer went back on the outside of the pulley, held in place by the bolts and ready to be used if/when I replace the belt.
I haven't yet put the undertray back on as my next job is to put on the nice alloy 'Abarth' sump.
I removed the engine cover, per most people's guidance - it made access much easier. I also took off the undertray and positioned an oil collector tray/container to catch the oil - not too much in practice but more than a few spoonfuls so it would have made a bit of a mess.
I made a mark on the engine side to line up with the timing mark on the cover, to be able to align it properly at the end. Getting the filter bolts to move was a bit difficult as even when holding the pulley, the belt was slipping a bit because it was loose. However, after a few goes and a sharp yank to start them off, the bolts came out fine.
Looking at the filter once removed (the cover bit), it wasn't actually as bad as I had feared, but there was a layer of crud about4-5mm thick around the edge, the consistency of putty. Anyway, it shows that the filter was doing its job! I then poked with a screwdriver into the engine-side part of the filter housing to get out more crud - seemed to be not too bad but some more came out.
I cleaned the cover out with a screwdriver, then an old toothbrush, then a rag to clean it up nicely.
A brand new O-ring seal on the cover, then everything was bolted up again.
As above, the belt was slipping a bit, so I removed it and played around with a combination of a smaller number of the spacers in the pulley to make it a bit tighter. The spare spacer went back on the outside of the pulley, held in place by the bolts and ready to be used if/when I replace the belt.
I haven't yet put the undertray back on as my next job is to put on the nice alloy 'Abarth' sump.
