Could somebody please walk an amateur through how to do an oil and filter change on an ullyse, I am tired of paying garages and would like to have a go myself.

What tools do I need?
where do I find the oil sump plug?
How easy is the filter ro get to and remove?

Thanks in advance guys

Pretty much the same for any car so this is a general guide and using personal experience which I guess others may agree with.

• Go to the local motor factors and get the required oil filter, about £5 (i think?) and oil, either from there or even supermarkets etc. Just make sure the grade matches the book values and you don't get stupidly cheap oil since it might cost you in the long run. Also make sure you get enough. Also buy a sump plug washer if required.
• You will also need a method of removing the oil filter, often, this can be done by hand if you have a good grip and some gloves, however, this isn't always possible. You can buy a tool which will grip the fuel filter, it's often a chain tool or newer versions are a little different in that they go over the front. No idea on cost.
• I run the car to get it fairly warm, the oil will flow out better when warm but obviously you end up with issues such as hot engine parts which are not beneficial to you.
• Raise the car on the ramps as normal.
• Get a decent size tray if you need to protect your drive (some people use cement trays) and a decent sized bowl of somesort, I always use an old washing up bowl.
• You will need to go under the car and locate the sump plug, it's usually pretty obvious. At this point I will say I don't know what shape tool the Ulysses requires but it could be some form of alan key or square key etc. Will await others to answer that.
• You put the tray and the bowl underneath (tray is to protect drive from any spots that might spit out) the sump plug and undo the sump plug, do your best not to round it (i.e. be careful) do the last few turns using your hands (wear old rubber gloves if you don't want to get dirty).
• Release and the oil will drop out nicely, leave for about 10 mins.
• Now using your hand/tool, unscrew the filter - it is normal direction, i.e. anticlockwise. Watch out since this still contains oil and some will drop out.
• Leave another 5-10 minutes, the final drips may be the worse of the oil.
• GO back underneath, refit the sump plug using a new sump plug washer (if applicable, not all sump plugs use washers) - this crushes when you tighten it up. Tighten the sump plug tight but not stupidly tight, you will have to remove it in ~6k miles but you don't want it to leak.
• Smeer some of the old oil onto the seal on the air filter and refit the oil filter, do it tightly but only using your hand.
• Remove the oil filler cap (though you can do this earlier and it might help the oil drop through). Using a funnel if necessary, fill up engine, this is where it becomes difficult to know whether you have put the right amount of oil in. If the engine takes 5 litres, I would put in about 4.5 litres normally, drop the car off the ramps and then wait.
• After a few minutes cleaning up, check the dipstick by removing, wiping the oiil with a rag and then putting it back in, leave for 5 seconds then remove. Make a judgement about whether you want to add more (personally I would go to just below max at this point, no further, too much oil is bad).
• Remember the oil is at the top of the engine and has to work its way down, if you're happy you have more than the minimum, run the engine for a little while to get the oil flowing, let the oil drop down to the dipstick area again and check the level, top up if necessary. Refit the oil filler cap.

I hope nobody disgarees with too much of that

Just noticed you ask about where the sump plug is, as I don't have access to underside pictures of the ulysses i will give a few pictures of sump plugs on cars, it's usually obvious since the sump is always clear and it's the big plug on the sump.

This gives a really good guide;

http://chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/engineoil_bible.html

Hi jamx2

The above instructions are basically it.

I have the 97 petrol Ulysse and Change the oil myself. On mine the sump and filter can be reached without having to lift the car. My car is on paving slabs and inbetween is loose stones. The sump plug is on the bottom face of the sump and is removed by a socket I use the one for removing the wheel nuts 19mm oneside 21mm other? the washer type is a crush washer which I found differculty getting apart from a fiat dealer but they are not expensive if I remember 80p or less. The filter can be reached from above and as said before might be able to remove without a filter wrench. It is a good idea to have the engine warm and leave it to drain for as long as you got to get as much of the dirty oil out as poss. Just don't forget to replace sump plug before refilling!!! I have seen it happen . A funnel is a must for refilling with new oil as I found it impossible to get close to the filler chamber with the five litre oil containers.

All the best.
Donald

Thanks everyone, I will have a go at it over the weekend.

Your advice is very much appreciated


Cheers

jamx2

Dispose of the old oil correctly of course

What, onto the garden fence?

What if you live in a block of flats

Looked under the bonnet, the filter seems to be at the front facing upwards, does this not get messy when removing? how easy is it to locate a new filter in place as I cannot actually see where it sits in due to other components in the way. I am proberbly being over cautious.

Yes it may get messy when removing in my experience so make sure you collect the oil dropped from the filter. The filter is screwed onto a long bolt thread basically, refitting isn't something you can miss as a big length of metal sticks out and you just screw it onto that.

The oil will run down the sump I just pull the container forward a touch so it covers the dribble from the sump and the oil from the filter and just loosen the filter and let it drain before complete removal. It Does'nt take long. Easy to replace as said above, and just hand tight!