Oil change and oil filter change - Skoda Fabia 1.4 tdi

To access the underside of the engine, you must raise your vehicle: Securing the vehicle: removing and refitting the wheel

You can also do this with just 2 jack stands, placed on each front side of the car.

When placing the vehicle on a ramp like this, don't forget to use the handbrake and engage first gear to ensure that the vehicle doesn't fall backwards while draining!

In the second photo, you see that never being too careful, it is possible to multiply the protections!

To access the engine oil pan cap, you must remove the rocker panel cover.

8 screws (if you still have them all!) normally secure your cover. You only need a fairly large flat screwdriver to remove them.

Note that it is also possible to drain the oil by suction (via the oil gauge), but having experienced this type of experimentation with expensive equipment for a completely useless result, I strongly advise against this type of method...

Especially since during a suction oil change, you cannot remove all the impurities remaining at the bottom of the oil pan... Which is the whole point of the operation!

You have removed the rocker panel cover, the engine oil pan is exposed!

You have to venture a little further underneath the vehicle to find the drain plug.

It's time to use your oil change kit! Mine is relatively practical, as it allows you to collect the oil in a container, which can then accompany you to the recycling center where you will throw away your oil.

Don't forget to open both caps of the can: one to let the oil in, the other to let the air out.

We place the can in front of the cap, be careful, there is a certain pressure which will make the oil come out at a certain angle at the beginning (quite far from the edge), then gradually, the jet of oil will have less pressure, and therefore flow less and less far from the hole, until it flows vertically.

So be careful to adapt your recovery tank so as not to miss the oil jet.

Loosen the cap with a 19mm socket.

We will take advantage of the oil change to change the oil filter.

We open the hood on the driver's side, then remove the engine cover (3 fixing points, a bit difficult to remove...).

On a 1.4TDi, it's simply royal: just look at the space we have! The engine offers itself to us without restraint, the oil filter beckons us! (we almost want to change the alternator just for the fun of it!)

I have drawn in red the foam frame which helps reduce noise (hell on this engine!). We can simply remove it, it won't bother us that much... The oil filter is circled in red.

While all the oil is draining into the pan, change the oil filter.

Here you will need a 32mm socket to be able to remove the filter cartridge.

And an extension cord.

Pull the oil filter

Before replacing the new filter: be careful! It is essential to remove the old seal (always supplied with the oil filter, if you have nothing, there is a problem!).

First photo, we see that we must therefore remove the seal from the old filter (use a fairly thin flat screwdriver).

Second photo: comparison of filters, seals. It's good, they are the same!

Then put the new filter in the oil filter cover.

I draw your attention to the type of filter you are going to use. On the original filters, the filter is arranged in a chevron pattern. To my knowledge, only one brand reproduces this type of "folding". On the filters of other brands, the folds are straight, not chevrons. I think that the chevrons achieve more efficient filtration.

In the third photo, you can clearly see the chevrons, as well as the new gasket that was put in place (before fixing the filter to the cover). When you order, you can see a picture of the filter, and see if it has chevrons or not.

Replace the oil filter cover which accommodates the new cartridge.

It is recommended to tighten the filter to 25Nm. If you have the luxury of a torque wrench, that is fine, otherwise, tighten, but not too hard

Before filling with new oil, remember that you have a drain plug to replace! 19mm socket, to be tightened. It is advisable to change the plug as well as the gasket

Your drain plug has been tightened, so you can add approximately 4L of oil into the engine through the top-up port. Then add little by little while checking the level on the dipstick.

Warning! Don't forget to put the vehicle back on level to get a reliable reading. Too much oil or not enough oil will damage your engine! You can run the engine a little (30s) to mix the new oil a little, and add more if necessary. BUT DO NOT DO IT WITHOUT OIL! (or with too little)

To reset your service indicator to zero (wrench that appears when starting), you must press the button on the meter, engine off, then start, and turn it clockwise (procedure for the 1.4TDI).

It will reappear in 15,000 km and you will say to yourself: "already! damn, let's go to the excellent Oscaro tutorial to do my own oil change!" :)