Well.....you all warned me! That gearbox oil filter has to be the worst design and part I have seen on a car for a while!! Simple job really.....or should be. Got the car jacked up on axle stands so high enough and happy with all of that.
Then the first issue. Some nob jockey hadn't used a crush washer on the 22mm refill plug. Therefore it was chuffing welded on there prettry much as the two metal faces had partially fused. With a few whacks of a hammer on a wrench/socket I managed to get it to budge then unscrewed fine.
Second 14mm hex bolt drain plug came undone nice and easy. Then we get to the fun bit. Easy to unscrew the 8mm bolt securing the filter. Well, not sure it need that bolt. It seemed stuck in there good and proper. Tried to be gentle and careful........nothing. Tried a bit harder and strategically prying and trying to get some movement.....nothing. Tried a bit harder then a fair bit harder and it just starts to break up at this point.
Now I am left with some broken off and looks like I need to drill it out now. Or get some kind of bolt or fixing on to the rest of what is left to get a secure fixing to extract it. Called it a day for the night as I haven't got a right angled drill attachment which I will need. Unless I take a section of the exhaust out the way. I have moved the rubber exhaust fitting out the way but it is all still a bit tight. It would be a great deal easier on a lift but I haven't got one yet! Re-enforcing the decision to get one.
Does anyone know a tool or attachment or some clever little puller or something to see if I can get a secure fixing somehow on what is left to extract the rest in one piece?
Here is what is left and also what broke off:
Here is what the new oil looks like compared to the old oil. Can you tell which one is which!!