A Lamborghini Countach oil change turns out to be… not so bad?

If there are two words not commonly associated with Italian supercar ownership, they’re simple and affordable. When owners and enthusiasts talk about keeping cars like the Lamborghini Countach on the road, big shop bills are often part of the conversation. After watching this DIY oil change on a 1985 Euro-spec Countach, however, I’m not so convinced vintage Lamborghini ownership is so bad.

Heidi and Franny’s Garage on YouTube outlines the oil change procedure, and it’s actually easier than most domestic cars I have worked on recently (including my Corvair). The process is no different than any other oil change. Drain, change filter, refill the oil. What is surprising though is the unencumbered access, both to the drain plug and oil filter. There was no requirement to remove access panels or special tools for removing the drain plug. Honestly if someone unfamiliar with the underside of a Lamborghini was doing this job without seeing anything above the floor, you could probably convince them this was a Chevrolet Impala.

Before you go shopping for a Countach, the inevitable reality check comes when the owner fills the sump of the engine with 17.5 liters of oil. In units more familiar to Americans, that would be 4.6 gallons, or 18.5 quarts. An average American V-8 packs 5-6 quarts, so more than triple that is… absurd. There is an explanation for the bulk storage, however. The transmission and engine share the sump, and the oil works double duty as lubricant and cooling for both the engine and manual transmission.

In the video, the owner casually mentions that an air filter change is 8-9 hours of work, so maybe I won’t be so quick to say a Countach is a breeze to work on yourself. All cars have their quirks—what is your car’s most frustrating repair or maintenance process? Tell us in the Hagerty Forums below.