Re: 1.9DG Oil Filler Removal (Finally done!)

[SamsBus2012]

The oil filler pipe on Magnus has been porous for some time now ( at the lower bend) but I have now grown tired of replacing the self amalgamating tape seal I made everytime it eventually breaks down. So after sourcing a particularly good replacement from Mick at nw_t25 I am about to put the van on the stands and climb underneath with a selection of tools!
I have seen several hints toward "modified" spanners and cheap thin spanners on various threads but could do with some clarification - in short, any tips please to get the thing off (in particular the top nut) without removal of the exhaust etc?.....

[itchyfeet]

3/8" 13mm socket and a square bar with a spanner, bar is an offcut from a door knob spindle but any square bar that fits in the socket without turning will do

[SamsBus2012]

Yep, late exhaust. Thanks for that, look a really good tip. Mine looks a lot more gunky than that! Now which door in the house can i get away with removing the spindle from????

[ghost123uk]

That man itchyfeet ^^^ has a picture for every occasion Seriously, I applaud you for it


.

[what2do]

That Christ he's not a 'selfie' addict - put you off your breakfast........

[itchyfeet]

That man itchyfeet ^^^ has a picture for every occasion Seriously, I applaud you for it


.

Thanks
I took that picture last night!
I like to solve these forum myths where I can, I heard of the thin spanners myself and thought it didn't sound right so I crawled under and had a look while miss itchy was watching some rubbish on the TV
You can do a lot with sockets and a square bar because you can then use standard spanners and get in places a standard sockets set wont.

[what2do]

That man itchyfeet ^^^ has a picture for every occasion Seriously, I applaud you for it


.

Thanks
I took that picture last night!
I like to solve these forum myths where I can, I heard of the thin spanners myself and thought it didn't sound right so I crawled under and had a look while miss itchy was watching some rubbish on the TV
You can do a lot with sockets and a square bar because you can then use standard spanners and get in places a standard sockets set wont.

Last night you say? I thought you didn't like the cold. E D I T E D I T E D I T E D I T, just remembered the pics of your van on ramps with snow in the background. Perhaps you're not as soft as you look

[itchyfeet]

Only one of us has central heating

[SamsBus2012]

That man itchyfeet ^^^ has a picture for every occasion Seriously, I applaud you for it


.

Thanks
I took that picture last night!
I like to solve these forum myths where I can, I heard of the thin spanners myself and thought it didn't sound right so I crawled under and had a look while miss itchy was watching some rubbish on the TV
You can do a lot with sockets and a square bar because you can then use standard spanners and get in places a standard sockets set wont.

Cant thank you enough. That really is above and beyond etc.... Mrs Samsbus objected to the removal of the bathroom door handle so popped to B&Q at lunchtime and picked up a spindle for a couple of quid. Fits snuggly in the ring end of a 9mm spanner though may see if an adjustable fits the gap if I need more leverage. Just waiting for the new gasket to arrive in the post. Cheers again itchy, I'll post some pics of the results.

[itchyfeet]

I wonder if the thin spanner rumour means a thin wall socket?
sockets often have different diameters for the same sizes, this 13mm (actually a half inch hex) 3/8" drive socket is 19mm in diameter, I don't think you will get any more than that in, even that's a squeeze.

I have ground sockets down in diameter before and cut them down in length too for hard to reach places.

[SamsBus2012]

OK so finally got round to doing this (rather embarrassed it has taken so long).
Got the van up on the ramps rolled out the old lino and slid underneath with an assortment of tools. I am pleased to report the "itchy method" was a success in loosening off the top nut. Don't do what I did first and cut the door spindle too short. I also discovered that a thin walled fairly short ring spanner from above the pipe also works.
Now this is where things started to not go quite as well as i'd hoped. The top nut was in fact corroded onto the stud and I was in fact loosening the whole thing. No matter i though, juts put it back with a thicker washer to make sure it tightens down on the gasket.
Thing is, it proved to be an absolute bitch to get the thing to catch and it kept knocking the gasket out of alignment etc etc. Plan B thinks I, I'll cut down an M8 bolt and make a new stud ..... Robert's your dad's brother.
At this point, my allotted work period overrun and off I went for the afternoon on family duties. That over and Kids to bed back out to the van on at 7.45 on a sunny evening. Perfect only take half and hour. Bolt duly cut down and cleaned up I found myself once again on my back fumbling around. Stud lined up I started to twiddle and at that point one fumble too many and the stud slipped out of my grip. I hear a clink but no site of the stud. Not on the engine carrier and nowhere under the van. Well I have to say that the offending article had performed a perfect arc and shot though the adjacent hole straight into the sump!
I can feel it just with the tip of my finger.... Quite a few expletives and a considerable amount of a*** twitching later ( i think the comic expression is twitching like a rabbits nose)I gathered my thoughts.
Anyway, my cheapo flexi camera bought for £24 in Maplin about 5 years ago has a little magnet attachment. Anyway suffice to say, thank god the WBX has not got a steel sump and my heart attack has been avoided. Phew says I. "Why have you been swearing so much" says the wife. Job done and I suggest that if you ever get in the same position you stuff a rag in the hole whilst re-threading the stud.
As a footnote, the new filler has a very slightly different alignment to the old one and now clashes a bit with the dip stick. Is it possible to rotate the dip stick tube?

[silverbullet]

FWIW I had one engine here that had 12mm a/f M8 nuts on the filler tube.
So easy to remove!

[itchyfeet]

In theory you can rotate dip stick tube but it is held in place by a small bracket ( welded or folded can't remember) to an alternator bracket, you would need to have this modified.