G'Day, Following the excellent advice found on this forum, I've found that doing a simple oil change has changed the response and smoothness of my engine which previously has seemed somewhat harsh especially on hard acceleration.
Advice was that a flushing agent be added prior to change (Nulon) to remove built up deposits. This I did, and noted that before adding the flush, the rockers etc were covered with a very thin film of dirty oil which if I wiped it away revealed shiny rockers...the best way I can describe it is to say it appeared as a 'veil'. Oil on the dipstick was brownish but not black - last oil change was 12000km ago and car has 102K on it and the previous owner had never needed to top the oil up.
Put the car on the ramps and was pleasantly surprised at the excellent accessibilty of the oil filter and sump plug (with "O" ring to seal!). So the change was very simple and straightforward. I pre-filled the filter and the oil light went out within a second after starting.
Since then I've noted that then engine runs more like a sewing machine sound-wise, is much quieter on hard acceleration and idles as though it wasn't running. Greatly improved NVH. Idle speed is also about 50 rpm higher (also did an ECU reset).
So I'm stoked....and thanks for the tips.:bowdown:

Nice to hear your engine is staying clean and the oil/filter change was easy. 12,000 Km oil changes sound a bit much but if they are mostly long distance trips, done inside a year, I guess they are ok. I change my car's oil every 5,000 Km, but only because that takes about a year, all in town short trips, and the engine (3.0L 12 valve) seems to love making sludge. No clean rockers in this one! lol

haha about to change the oil in my tr, mate of mine i bought it back off has treated it like s***, so im dreading to see the colour of the oil or how much is actually in it

also think 12K is abit to long but thats just me, 4-6K mark for me, just as i get time to do it around that stage

Put the car on the ramps and was pleasantly surprised at the excellent accessibilty of the oil filter and sump plug (with "O" ring to seal!). So the change was very simple and straightforward. I pre-filled the filter and the oil light went out within a second after starting.

Yes it's very easy to change the oil on our cars. Compared to my girl friends pulsar which is an absolute nitemare!! It's up on the back of the motor above the drive shafts.. what kind of moron... anyway :P

Interesting idea on pre-filling the oil filter, you shouldn't have to worry about doing that. Where did you get this idea from? I've always just filled it up to the correct amount (including oil filter amount) and it circulates itself in no time.

Pre-filling the oil filter simply saves the engine running dry for the second it takes for the pump to fill the filter, although I'm not convinced it really is necessary. I suppose it's like filling the oil pump with vaseline or thin grease after overhaul so that it is "primed". I've known blokes to remove the oil pressure switch and apply compressed air to the oil lines to purge all the old oil out, then after refilling with oil, crank the engine over with coil disconnected till the oil light goes out.....bit anal but to each his own.