[Adarondax]

I have a friend with a Fisker Karma. It's time for an oil change. The Fisker dealer has closed. Because the Karma has a GM engine, we checked with the local Chevy dealer. They are afraid to touch the car because they have no info on what oil, filter, capacities, etc are needed. What are other Karma owners doing? Is an oil change a simple thing? Anybody have "how to" routine maintenance info? Thanks.

 

[doug]

See this thread: http://www.fiskerbuzz.com/forums/13-fisker-karma/4649-oil-change-questions.html

 

[Adarondax]

Thanks. I had seen the thread. It looks like the Karma takes 5 quarts of Mobil 1 SAE 5W/30 and NAPA sells the appropriate oil filter which is not a spin-on cartridge. A 32mm socket is needed to remove the oil filter cover. So we've got the parts figured out. How does one change the oil - i.e. where are the drain plug and oil filter cover?

 

[smoothoperator]

simple to change the oil exactly the same as LNF. There are youtube instructions online

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jLp0gBBEVY

 

[Adarondax]

Thanks. That explains it.

 

[txam99]

I've had the same issue, my dealer is still in business, but no longer a Fisker Dealer (Ferrari, Maserati), they gave me some lame excuse that "it takes a special tool that they no longer have".....translated, "we don't want to touch your car, yeah, the same one we sold you and use to service for you". I found an independent shop that services European cars (they work mainly on vw, porsche, and bmw) and they gladly changed it for me and have working knowledge of the car. You can do it yourself, but no easy task to get under it and the filter is in that cartridge which can be tricky to pull out/get to. Best bet is to find a really good independent mechanic that "ain't scared"! My oil change was $100 bucks, but well worth it, it's only once a year (that is if you rarely run the ICE like I do).

 

[Harleyguy]

It's a GM f... Ing motor what the **** is wrong with these people

 

[txam99]

Your tellin me Harleyguy & the service manager had the balls to tell me if i could find/buy the tool & bring it in with the car, they would change it for me, but they weren't going to spend the money on the "tool" "for just one oil change" since they no longer had it since they were no longer a Fisker dealer....we've bought several cars from them over the years, needless to say we will NEVER go back. I know my way around cars, i knew it was just a GM 4 banger in there, i've changed my own oil in my younger days a hundred times & when i pressed him on what tool he was talking about, he dodged me. Spend a hundred grand in there & they wont so much as change the oil, i dont see how they stay in business with their other brands, the place always looks like a ghost town

 

[Roberta'sKarma]

So what's the "special tool" they are talking about - the shortie 32mm socket??? I just know I'm going to run into tha same BS out here in the islands. I'm not shy about doing it myself as long as that's as "special" as it gets.

I rarely use the gas engine - so can I go with the once/year timeline?

 

[Harleyguy]

Yes it's a short socket not a big deal its a little tighter to get the filter out since the motor is inline when GM uses it they have it transverse . The drain plug is a GM plug you don't need to change it ,You could buy a new oring for the plug . New filter and 5 quarts of oil and your done .

 

[Roberta'sKarma]

Thanks Harley - BTW, the gas lid issue is not over. I expect in the next week or so to have it in to the local dealer and if (read:when) they try to "eyeball" the paint and FAIL - I'm going to insist they come to you. Thanks for the help!!

 

[txam99]

Every 5,000 miles of the ice actually running or every 12 months, whatever comes first & you'll be fine

 

[Harleyguy]

Thanks Harley - BTW, the gas lid issue is not over. I expect in the next week or so to have it in to the local dealer and if (read:when) they try to "eyeball" the paint and FAIL - I'm going to insist they come to you. Thanks for the help!!

I understand your fustration I tried to explain to them what they were facing and didn't want to listen .Sorry it's taking so long to fix your car

 

[Nin ja]

Every 5,000 miles of the ice actually running or every 12 months, whatever comes first & you'll be fine

Do you have to change it after a year ? Does the oil get old or the filter goes bad or something?

 

[ct-fiskerbuzz]

Do you have to change it after a year ? Does the oil get old or the filter goes bad or something?

All oil oxidizes once exposed to fresh air. Heat makes it go faster, and anti-oxidants and detergents added by the manufacturer makes it go slower, but eventually, it "burns". (Actually lighting oil on fire makes it go really fast but the same chemical reaction occurs in super-slow-motion even at ordinary air temperatures. I have no idea how long it really takes, especially with synthetic oils like Mobil-1.)

Chris