Lamborghini Logo
   HomePicture GalleryNewsRepairsCar PartsHistoryCars For SaleWeb SitesSite Index
   

Oil & Filter Change In A Gallardo
Lamborghini recommends you change the oil and oil filter in your car every 7500 miles.  Since I like to do all my own work on my car I decided to do this myself as well.  I have already written up how to do this for the Diablo. Unlike the Diablo getting to the Gallardo oil filter is a bit more difficult. The problem is the oil filter is buried in the top center of the engine. This write-up explains how to do this.  It's not difficult to do it just takes more time than you would expect.

 
  Figure 1. Figure 2.  

Like many things with Lamborghini repairs the is an easy and a hard way to go about doing this.  The filter itself is tiny relative to the size of the engine see Figure 1.  If you get an oil change at a Lamborghini dealership he will use a special customized tool (a Gallardo Oil Filter Wrench) to unscrew the oil filter in its difficult to reach location (see below). This filter opening tool has a Lamborghini part number #61595014. You can order it from places like LamboStuff on the web for about $105. The problem is it takes time to get it shipped from Italy.  I wanted to change my oil right away. Here is how I proceeded.

The reason for the special Gallardo Oil Filter Wrench is that it is very difficult to get a "normal" oil filter wrench in to open the screw off the filter. There is simply not enough space to get a good leverage with most common tools. I tried a number of them before finding one that would work.  Even then I had to make space to get in there. The wrench in figure 2 fits over the oil filter (B) and a regular wrench fits the side shown in the (A) photograph.  The common plastic oil filter opening tools don't allow you to get a wrench in as well. There is not much space in there.

The process is fairly straightforward.  In order to make room. First remove the two air inlets and throttle control units. First remove the air hose going to each unit. The have a common pipe hose clip which is loosened with a screwdriver, Figure 3. With these opened, disconnect the hoses from the air inlet throttle assembly.

The latter is attached to the engine itself with 4 screws as shown in figure 4.  Use an Allen wrench to open these.  Carefully set both throttle assemblies aside. No need to disconnect wires and controls. Just carefully set them on the side of the engine.

 

 
Figure 3.   Figure 4.

 

We next need to detach the ECS valve depression tube, Figure 5. There is a spring clip on the tubing.
Press on it with a pliers and slide it down. Then open the 4 screws that are shown in Figure 6.
This allows you to move away the two vacuum assemblies and get your hand into the area to feel the filter Figure 7.

 

 
Figure 5.   Figure 6.

 

Note, no wire connections have to be opened you are just moving things out of the way to get to the filter. 
You can feel the top of the filter assembly.
The only tool I could find that would allow you to open and tighten this filter is shown in Figure 8 and 9.

 

 
Figure 7.   Figure 8.

 

Because the handle is quite narrow when you grasp the top of the filter in the engine there is enough room to twist it open. 
As I said above other tools are so big, when you get them in there you cannot twist the filter cap off.
The pointer in Figure 10 shows the location of the filter. It's quite difficult to see.

 

 
Figure 9.   Figure 10.

 

Opening the filter requires a lot of twisting. There are a lot of treads on the cover. Fortunately when you get it started it opens easily by hand. You may find the cover comes out without the filter. Go back in and then pull out the filter itself Figure 11.  I found it somewhat difficult to actually leverage it out.  In some case the filter may come out with the housing.  To get it out of the housing you need to twist it clockwise about 1/4 of a turn. Do not pry it out you will brake two clips that hold it in place in the housing. 

One final note. It is a good idea to line around the base of the filter housing paper towels to absorb any oil that will drip as you are removing the filter. The filter is in the "V" section of the V-10 engine. Dripping oil tends to stay there and will smell later. The paper can be removed when done.

 

 
Figure 11.    Figure 12.

 

Next we need to drain the oil. There are two drainage sites. The first shown in Figure 12 is on the underside of the square oil reservoir. Use the Allen socket shown in Figure 13.

 

 
 Figure 13.   Figure 14.

 

The second oil drainage location is on the bottom of the engine Figure 14. 
Nothing special here. Use the same socket as in mentioned above, Figure 15.  Figures 16 show the oil draining out. 
Be prepared to collect 10L of oil!  Be careful not to loose the copper washer on each drain plug!

 

 
Figure 15.   Figure 16.

 

Replace both drainage nuts. Tighten to 45Nm.

The new filter and its box is shown in Figure 17. The Lamborghini # is 07L115561C. Again you can get it from places like LamboStuff  or your local dealer I assume.

 
 
Figure 17.   Figure 18.

 

The filter fits only one way into the housing Fig 19. Make sure it is flush with the housing surface. Twist if necessary. 
Replace the housing O ring as well. It comes with the filter. Rub a little oil on it before putting the whole thing back into the car.

 

 
Figure 19.   Figure 20.

 

Figure 21 shows the partial insertion of the filter into the engine. It is a little tricky to get it in there, turn it 90 degrees and screw it down.
Real tight is not necessary. Use the tool described above for a final tighten. Reassemble everything above.

 

 
Figure 21.   Figure 22.

 

OIL TYPES
Whole web and forum discussions have been had on the type of oil to use.  I am a fan of Mobil 1. You can of course use the Agip oil that comes with your Lamborghini. However it is not that common here in the US. As to grades: Lamborghini suggests 5W40 for normal driving. 20W50 for a sports work-out and 0W30 for those of you that live in cold countries. I go with Mobil 1, 5W40 in winter and 15W50 in summer -- its hot here in summer!.

The procedure for filling is as follows: First fill with 6L of oil. Start the engine at low RPM's for 1 minute until the oil warning light switch goes off. Stop the engine. Check for leaks and then add another 4 to 4.5L of oil.  Start the engine. Let it warm up and check the oil level on the dipstick with the engine running.  Then take a short drive. Check for any oil leaks and keep an eye on your floor for a few days. Then you are done for the next 7000 miles.

A Custom Made Oil Filter Wrench For The Gallardo

Recently "azferrari" over on the lambopower forum described making a simple custom Gallardo specific custom wrench. It is shown here.  Jeff is now selling these at essentialy his cost.  With this wrench you can get to and remove the filter simply by disconnecting the tube in Figure 5. You do NOT have to remove all the stuff describe above.  The whole process now takes less than 5 minutes. It takes a little bit of manuvering to get the filter out and put back in, but with small hands you can get in there.

 

This page was last modified on 03/12/2014

This page was last modified on 09/06/2014