Discussion
Doofus said:
Do you actually know how to do any of the jobs you intend to tackle?
Bit harsh! But I understand your point. Give them a break though. They are willing to have a go and apparently eager to learn. That’s a rare thing these days!OP
It kinda depends on your car tbh. Best bet is to take a look on YouTube searching for “ oil and filter service on xxxx” There’s loads of vids out there these days showing how and what you need to do specific jobs on specific cars.
A couple of things you will definitely need though is jack (get a decent one, it will pay you back in time). Axle stands (non negotiable in y opinion) something to drain the oil into. The bigger opening the better. It always goes where you least expect it! Then just basics. Spanners, socket set, oil filter wrenches are a life saver. The type you want will sort of depend on the car though. Some don’t needone at all. Some needone that will fit through the eye of a needle.
What car are you looking to service?
Don’t go near brakes yet if you don’t really know what you are doing. Perhaps a knowledgable friend can show you the ropes there? But get yourself on YouTube. Loads of vids. Oil changes are generally a doddle. Just a bit messy!
Plate spinner said:
If you don’t actually know what tools you’ll need, suggest you don’t take on a job 
Very harsh.OP - for oil & filter & air filter you need very little.
Perhaps an oil filter chain if it's stuck.
Socket /spanner to remove the sump plug.
Get an oil catch tank from Halfords for small money.
Rubber gloves.
Whatever screwdriver if needed for the air filter cover.
For brake pads (which is a piss easy job, especially with the internet to hand, or the workshop manual).
Socket set , including a breaker bar if you get stuck.
Axle stand. You can do it with a jack just don't put your legs under anything. Get an axle stand or two.......
Screwdrivers
Torch or light of some sort
Copperslip
If you get stuck you'll know what else you'll need soon enough. Nothing major.
Brake pads really are easy with the right instructions.
I once had a car where the oil filter housing was a simple hex nut to remove that was the same size as the drain plug, full oil change could be done with a single spanner.
I've also had brake pads held in with a single retaining pin, so could be changed with a wheel brace to remove the wheel, and a hammer. It was really hard to find a tool thin enough and strong enough to hammer out the pins with, but then i discovered you could carefully use one of the new pins from the replacement kit to hammer out the old ones, from then i kept hold of the old ones, and now it's the easiest job in the world.
I've also had brake pads held in with a single retaining pin, so could be changed with a wheel brace to remove the wheel, and a hammer. It was really hard to find a tool thin enough and strong enough to hammer out the pins with, but then i discovered you could carefully use one of the new pins from the replacement kit to hammer out the old ones, from then i kept hold of the old ones, and now it's the easiest job in the world.
ging84 said:
I once had a car where the oil filter housing was a simple hex nut to remove that was the same size as the drain plug, full oil change could be done with a single spanner.
K&N oil filters have a hex head on the end, well worth the few quid extra for cars with hard to reach filters.LosingGrip said:
What tools would you say are needed to do basic (as in oil change, filter changes, maybe brake pads) yourself?
For my cars (RenaultSport Megane / BMW Z4) here's what I'd use...I've gone a bit far with this, but just to point out it's quite car specific. And I'm sure some would use more tools, or less, or even just something different.
Jack to lift (with suitable jacking point adaptor)
2x axle stands to keep the end I'm working on up (with suitable jacking point adaptor).
Oil change:
Socket to remove undertray (Megane - hex bolts, Z4 just has a crosshead flap)
Socket to remove filter (both cars use a cartridge filter so don't need a chain strap).
Socket to remove sump plug (both now have a regular hex magnetic plug but the Megane comes with a square head plug from the factory which required a different tool)
Breaker bar - often the filter can be difficult to loosen even when torqued up correctly
2 pairs of gloves - one for general work and one specifically when working with the oil
Oil drain pan with enough capacity for the entire contents of the sump
Funnel to get the new oil into the engine
Torque wrench to ensure everything's done up properly, with the appropriate range (normally 25-50nm)
Somewhere to put the old oil filter, dirty kitchen roll etc - I normally use the bag the oil comes in
Somewhere to store the oil until I can dispose of it - I have a box lined with plastic that contains old oil containers for this purpose
A dirty oil funnel to decant from the drain pan into the above, and again plenty of kitchen roll for any mess.
Tool to reset the service light (both of mine can be done from the dash, but this is not always a given)
New parts - filter, filter housing o-ring, sump plug o-ring, oil
Brakes Pads:
Wheel nut socket,
Impact gun to get the wheels off,
Impact driver to get the wheels back on,
Torque wrench for the wheels (range 100-150nm) & caliper bolts (60-160nm)
New parts - pads, brake grease.
Front:
Pliers to remove the r-clip retainers (megane only)
Pin punch to get the pad retaining pins out (both cars use Brembo 4-pot calipers)
Hammer for the above
Screwdriver to push the pistons in
O-ring hook tool to help pull the pads out
Rear:
Tool to remove the slide pins (on the Z4 this is a torx or allen headed guide pin, on the Megane this is a pair of spanners, one of which I've cut the the end down slimmer),
Tool to push back the pistons (Z4 can use a screwdriver, Megane requires a windback tool)
Pliers & mole grips to unhook the handbrake cable from the caliper (Megane only - Z4 is integrated in the disk)
A file to clean up the carriers if any signs of corrosion that would cause binding
LosingGrip said:
Doofus said:
Do you actually know how to do any of the jobs you intend to tackle?
YouTube 
. Ive done oil changes on my bike before. Not done a fuel filter before, but youtube has shown me how to do that . 
Get a decent socket set, Halfords pro stuff is decent and normally on deal. And a torque wrench. That’ll get you through most of it, the rest will be odds and sods related to your actual car.
Oh, and a decent breaker bar / length of old scaffold tube to ‘encourage’ old stuff that it’s tine to part company with your car!!
Finally a kettle and a radio. Every job goes better with a brew and some music.
thebraketester said:
It’s quite car specific. Some oil filter housing require quite a Large socket ~30-40mm, for example.
Instead of buying sockets at that size it might be cheaper to get a spanner, but you might have to shorten it depending on access to the filter. I managed to find a cheap spanner at a machinemart instead of coughing up for a socket.In fact, this is under £6: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEDALPRO-HEAVY-DUTY-30-...
d8AAOSwhQhY2nS2My most used tool is a pair of water pump pliers. Those angled adjustable fellas. I've got a pair of Rolson ones that I "acquired" some years ago and I've used them on every job I've ever done I think. Reaching for stuff, stupid fiddly spring clips, grabbing hoses to give them a bit of a twist, holding nuts in place that seem to want an 18.3 mm spanner, all sorts. Even improvises as a hammer if I need it to!
My latest acquisition is a caliper rewinding kit. £25 from Screwfix since I needed it in a pinch but available for about £17 online. Life saver when you end up with a Ford and it's stupid left hand thread caliper. Useful for all cars though if you forget to push the caliper piston back in.
Then the usual spanners and sockets. Make sure you have spanners to match your socket sizes! If you're going for a breaker bar then I'd suggest paying for a good quality ratcheting one. I've got a static one and it's a bit of a pain to keep taking it out sometimes! E-Sockets are quite handy if you're taking on older Vauxhalls, get yourself some impact sockets and adapters if you're taking wheels off and on regularly. I've twisted Halfords advanced adapters before when using a 17mm socket designed for a 3/8ths ratchet on a breaker bar! A good jack & stands is essential!! No repair is worth risking your legs or life. If they save you once, it's money well spent. They're cheap too so worth it even if they don't. Small ramps are cheap enough second hand and are a good buy too. Just make sure they're rated for the vehicle you're using them with, support with axle stands and chock the wheels!
As far as quality goes, splash out on the stuff you'll use a lot (Sockets, screwdrivers etc) and go for something cheaper on a tool that doesn't see much heavy action (Aforementioned caliper rewind tool, oil filter tools, circlip pliers etc). Halfords Advanced seem pretty good and come with a life time guarantee if you keep the receipt. I have a set of silverline spanners I bought for about £10 many moons ago and they've been superb because I mostly use my Halfords socket set. Don't be fooled into buying all Snap On stuff because of the reputation though. It's worth it for mechanics who put them under stress every day, not so much use then they're used on the odd weekend by yourself. Lubricants are worth the spend, WD40 is alright but doesn't solve everything. XCP and PlusGas are better penetrants than WD40. Grease is handy too, depending on the job. Ensure this doesn't react with rubber if you're using it on caliper sliding pins.
You can go as mad as you like getting impact guns, specialised tools and all sorts else but let this build up over time. No point in blowing a few grand now when you only need your bolt extractor 3 years down the line.
The above is my own experience and philosophy. I'm sure someone will tell me I'm wrong but it's worked out pretty well so far!
My latest acquisition is a caliper rewinding kit. £25 from Screwfix since I needed it in a pinch but available for about £17 online. Life saver when you end up with a Ford and it's stupid left hand thread caliper. Useful for all cars though if you forget to push the caliper piston back in.
Then the usual spanners and sockets. Make sure you have spanners to match your socket sizes! If you're going for a breaker bar then I'd suggest paying for a good quality ratcheting one. I've got a static one and it's a bit of a pain to keep taking it out sometimes! E-Sockets are quite handy if you're taking on older Vauxhalls, get yourself some impact sockets and adapters if you're taking wheels off and on regularly. I've twisted Halfords advanced adapters before when using a 17mm socket designed for a 3/8ths ratchet on a breaker bar! A good jack & stands is essential!! No repair is worth risking your legs or life. If they save you once, it's money well spent. They're cheap too so worth it even if they don't. Small ramps are cheap enough second hand and are a good buy too. Just make sure they're rated for the vehicle you're using them with, support with axle stands and chock the wheels!
As far as quality goes, splash out on the stuff you'll use a lot (Sockets, screwdrivers etc) and go for something cheaper on a tool that doesn't see much heavy action (Aforementioned caliper rewind tool, oil filter tools, circlip pliers etc). Halfords Advanced seem pretty good and come with a life time guarantee if you keep the receipt. I have a set of silverline spanners I bought for about £10 many moons ago and they've been superb because I mostly use my Halfords socket set. Don't be fooled into buying all Snap On stuff because of the reputation though. It's worth it for mechanics who put them under stress every day, not so much use then they're used on the odd weekend by yourself. Lubricants are worth the spend, WD40 is alright but doesn't solve everything. XCP and PlusGas are better penetrants than WD40. Grease is handy too, depending on the job. Ensure this doesn't react with rubber if you're using it on caliper sliding pins.
You can go as mad as you like getting impact guns, specialised tools and all sorts else but let this build up over time. No point in blowing a few grand now when you only need your bolt extractor 3 years down the line.
The above is my own experience and philosophy. I'm sure someone will tell me I'm wrong but it's worked out pretty well so far!
Decky_Q]/quote said:
K&N oil filters have a hex head on the end, well worth the few quid extra for cars with hard to reach filters.
Don't buy k and n oil filters they are the worst brand out there with no bypass built in so if it gets blocked then the engine is starved of oil. Standard oem filter every time.
Ignore people who say to stay away if you don't know what you are doing. Cars are not that complicated and with a bit of logic you won't have problems with standard maintenance tasks.
Right, on to the general list:
- Trolley jack. Don't bother with a scissor jack, they are a pain.
- Axle stands
- Socket set. A cheap set is fine, they tend to be pretty decent for occasional jobs. Make sure it has allen key heads with it.
- Spanner set
- Hammer
- Screwdriver
That should cover most jobs, I recently did ball joints,springs+shocks and adjustable arms with the above.
A few extra useful bits:
- Copper grease
- Brake cleaner
- Chain/belt filter grippy thing
- Pocketknife/multitool
And my typical recycled kit to keep Gretta happy and save the polar bears:
- Old jack handle - use this instead of a pry bar and to use it as a wrench extension
- Blocks of wood/bricks - Useful as wheel chocks, balancing unbolted things on
- Old brake discs. Same as above, great wheel chocks.
Right, on to the general list:
- Trolley jack. Don't bother with a scissor jack, they are a pain.
- Axle stands
- Socket set. A cheap set is fine, they tend to be pretty decent for occasional jobs. Make sure it has allen key heads with it.
- Spanner set
- Hammer
- Screwdriver
That should cover most jobs, I recently did ball joints,springs+shocks and adjustable arms with the above.
A few extra useful bits:
- Copper grease
- Brake cleaner
- Chain/belt filter grippy thing
- Pocketknife/multitool
And my typical recycled kit to keep Gretta happy and save the polar bears:
- Old jack handle - use this instead of a pry bar and to use it as a wrench extension
- Blocks of wood/bricks - Useful as wheel chocks, balancing unbolted things on
- Old brake discs. Same as above, great wheel chocks.
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