Thought it was about time the Caterham had some new oil thrown in it. My intention was to try an oil change every 6000 miles, so at nearly ten it was time.
Purchasing the oil was easy enough as I regard it as genuinely consumable so tend to go for the cheapest that Halfords has to offer, and that's saying something.
Whilst there I did consider buying a little something from their mainstream retail lines for the serious motorist, like a Sponge Bob Square Pants air freshener perhaps.
Now, despite their "I need some red paint for a 1969 Mini" advert on Dave TV, the tool pixie at Halfords (who'd previously impressed me with her knowledge of rivnut tools and her even more impressive knowledge of Halfords stock levels of these, ie none......ever) admitted they didn't even have a stock number for a sump plug and washer for a Crossflow.
So I tried the local independant motor factor who supplied me with what they assured me was the correct item. It wasn't, and I feel all the more let down due to the fact that they tried to take the upper hand. At least Halfords had the decency to admit defeat.
With the front of the Seven up on axle stands, I undid the sump plug and out glugged the old oil, thick, black and looking like the stuff when it comes spurting out of the ground in Texas.
I drained the oil in to a handy drip tray cum jerry can that I'd borrowed from fellow crossflower Rob. It's better than a normal open drip tray in so much as it's takes the form of a container with a huge hole in one side with a massive screw cap, about the size of a 7" single, to go over it once full of oil. This means the container can be instantly manhandled and moved around without spillage, and without the delay of waiting for the oil to drain in to a sealable container. Simple but effective like all things befitting an aluminium car.
When it came to refilling the engine with oil, I discovered the kitchen measuring jug was already lurking in the garage. This suggests I pay attention to precise liquid quantities more in car care than I do in cuisine.
Three litres of oil plus what was in the filter. Done.
