Practical Classics's deputy editor Ben Field and I drove out to the Practical Classics workshop to change the oil.
Rolled the Austin Devon project car off the ramp and stuck the Jaguar in the air. Dumped the hot oil and removed the filter housing. Cleaned up the housing and inserted the new filter bought at Beaulieu in May. It wasn't possible to fill the housing with oil due to its horizontal mounting and slow -turn bolt securing. Left the rubber seal in place because it was hard to get at. I've kept the new one in case it starts leaking.
Poured in 8.25litres of lovely golden Millers Classic 20/50 semi-synthetic oil. Ben removed the coil/distributor lead and I cranked the engine to get oil moving again. Dipstick level perfect.
Started the engine and watched for the oil warning light to go out. Pressure gauge needle rose steadily. Engine sounds much quieter.
THIS IS the story of life with a classic car. I drive a 1972 Jaguar XJ6 and write about it here. I'm Martyn Moore, former editor of Classic Cars magazine. This is a two-year story about the roller coaster ride of classic car ownership. The most recent entries come from a classic car rally in 2005, the last journey I made in the car before putting it into storage. Use links on the right for earlier entries.
