Guest Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 I have got all the bits together to change the oil in my 1.8 VVC K series with apollo tank. Looking through the archives, a 32mm spanner is required to hold the Apollo tank still whilst the rain plug is removed with a 10mm hex key. All is well until I discover my Apollo tank doesn't have a 32mm hex on the base of the tank. POBC - how do I get the drain plug out without damaging the Apollo tank please? For reference, here is a photo looking side on at the bottom of the tank. Edited by - Leebert on 23 Aug 2014 14:01:21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domus Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 I would suggest Water Pump pliers with longer handles than the tool to unscrew the drain plug. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2GBR Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Surely it must have a female fitting on the end of the bung have a look from underneath Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 I never bothered with draining the Apollo - only a bit left in the bottom and prob more left in the engine! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Thanks for the suggestions so far. There's not enough material to hold on with water pump pliers. Here is a link to a shot from the floor looking up. Looks like a machined threaded piece has been welded into the bottom of the tank. Excuse the poor mobile phone photo quality. I guess I could release the jubilee clips and raise the Apollo tank as high as I can and drain as much as possible from the sump plug. Cheers, Lee Edited by - Leebert on 23 Aug 2014 14:39:10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Englishmaninwales Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 I came across this yesterday changing the oil on a car with an early apollo tank - I have only seen them before with, as you say, a 32mm hex on the base. The drain plug takes a 10mm hex but luckily it had not been over-tightened previously, and was easily undone. Hopefully yours will undo easily. Just make sure the tank is held securely, prehaps with an assistant, whilst undoing the drain plug. Quoting Wrightpayne: I never bothered with draining the Apollo - only a bit left in the bottom and prob more left in the engine! Ian I always find at least 2 litres of oil in the apollo, even when it has been standing for a period Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Take the breather hose off the top of the apollo and let it drain back into the sump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 It really is a good idea to remove the apollo bung if at all possible as they have a magnet inside which picks up metal fragments. Not certain if the early ones had this but all the later ones do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titanium7 Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Save yourself a lot of hassle and get one of the PELA 6l vacuum pumps and suck the oil out of the Apollo from the top. Also useful for the differential and gearbox oil removal if you ever want to replace the oil in them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 By measurement I knew 7+ litres came out but I didn't have the non return valve on the breather. I found the Apollo drained when the oil filter was removed. If the sump gasket mod hasn't been done loads will be retained in the engine anyway. Regards Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 As I had loosened the jubilee clips for the apollo already, I lifted it up with the oil filter removed and more oil came out (at a guess, 1L or so). With the tank is back in and secured, I tried undoing it again with Mrs Leebert holding the top of the tank but I can't shift it. Looking at my scrap oil tank I would say there is in excess of 5 litres in there so hopefully it's all out. I would have liked to clean the magnetic bit in the drain plug though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grubbster Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Quoting Titanium7: Save yourself a lot of hassle and get one of the PELA 6l vacuum pumps and suck the oil out of the Apollo from the top. Also useful for the differential and gearbox oil removal if you ever want to replace the oil in them. It's well worth having one of these to hand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 New filter on and engine re-filled. It's been run up to temperature and I reckon it's taken just under 7 litres of oil. The dipstick is a nightmare to read - with the engine running it looks about 3/4 full and with the engine just stopped it appears to go over full but I could be dipping it for too long maybe (a second or so). Still, all done and no leaks visible at the moment. Thanks for your help and for the heads up on the vacuum pump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Dip it with the engine up to temperature and running. If the oil is too clean to see the level, lay the dipstick end on a clean piece of kitchen roll and look at the wet mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjmmarsh Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Put a fan heater on the plug for about 5 mins. It should help loosen it up. Don't apply too much pressure to the Apollo - it is easy to fracture the welds where the pipes go in/out. If the plug doesn't move, try a few taps on the spanner with a hammer to break the 'sticktion'. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 ........ and something on the apollo ! 😳 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 Quoting Grubbster: Quoting Titanium7: Save yourself a lot of hassle and get one of the PELA 6l vacuum pumps and suck the oil out of the Apollo from the top. Also useful for the differential and gearbox oil removal if you ever want to replace the oil in them. It's well worth having one of these to hand another from me, and, although it recommends against, handy for draining Fuel tank when you discover its leaking ☹️ Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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