change it hot or cold?

[sasilverbullet]

I've heard various tales of cold vs. hot.

I prefer to change it with the engine not started - I seem to get about 1/2 qt more oil in the pan than when it's been warmed up. Plus it's a lot easier to not burn myself on a cool engine.

What do you'all do? Change it hot or cold? Which do you think is better and why?

 

[renegade_987]

Mine is normally changed after about driving about 1/2 mile from Walmart to buy the oil, so the engine doesn't get very hot.

 

[oilboy123]

I try do it while it's at least warm. Like you I can think of funner things than getting scalded. But when I worked in shops before I had no choice......

 

[hhu168]

Warm. Best time is 30 -- 60 minutes after a long drive. Worst time is right after a short drive.

 

[INMY01TA]

warm.

 

[2oldtommy]

+1 on hhu168 above. Also it's a great help if you have some Rhino ramps to create the angle to drain the last few ozs. from the bottom of the pan.( Not helpful if the drain plug faces the front).FWIW-Oldtommy

 

[Gene K]

I like the car to have been recently driven and the oil warm. You do have to allow time for the top-end to drain.

From a technical standpoint 200F might be better but from a practical standpoint 140F is a lot easier to deal with.

 

[hate2work]

Originally Posted By: hhu168
Warm. Best time is 30 -- 60 minutes after a long drive. Worst time is right after a short drive.


This^^

 

[demarpaint]

Warm, the oil flows better than when it's cold, especially during the winter time. I take about a 20 minute ride, drive up the ramps, and by the time I get all the things together for the oil change, and prefill the filter, the engine and oil is safe enough to work on w/o getting burnt. I also wear latex gloves, I've grown tired of having oil on my hands, they also help a little to protect from cuts and burns.

 

[wallyuwl]

Originally Posted By: hhu168
Warm. Best time is 30 -- 60 minutes after a long drive. Worst time is right after a short drive.


What's the rationale for after a short drive being the worst time?

I normally do it about a half hour after driving it enough to be close to, or at, full temp.

 

[rslifkin]

I usually change it hot, and if it's not already warm when I'm ready to change it, I'll take it for a 4-5 mile drive to warm things up a bit. I usually let it sit for 15 - 20 minutes or so, then drain it, and let it drain for a good 20 minutes or a little more if it's still dripping oil out. By then, the filter and other hot stuff around it has cooled enough to remove it safely.

 

[chubbs1]

If my car has been sitting for more than 24hrs, and I don't have to move it, I change it cold. It becomes more of an issue if you are doing a used oil analysis. You would definitely want to take a nice 30-45 minute drive (highway if possible) then park where you are doing the change so you don't have to start the car again, then drain.

 

[cmf]

I generally change it cold. Not because I get more, but because I wake up on the weekend and think "hey I need to change the oil". The cars I change oil for are 5w20 or 5w30 which are both pretty thin so it drains fine cold (I also live in Florida so it's never that cold).

The only time I really feel the need to run a car is if I'm changing oil for someone who I know doesn't take care of their car and I want to try and get all the gunk that settles on the pan back into suspension.

 

[ARB1977]

Warm for sure. It's not the oil im concerned about its the filter which is like a hot potato.

 

[FiremarshalRob]

The hotter the better for me. It only burns for a few seconds when you have to dip your hand down in the oil drain container to grab the drain plug you dropped.

Rob

 

[Jakegday]

i say cold. when i check my oil in the morning before i start my car, its always much darker then it is after its warmed up. i wanna drain that dark stuff out, as opposed to be being circulated throughout the engine when i change the oil

 

[Ken2]

Hot. Less of the oil sticks to engine parts and more flows out. If there is any crud in circulation, it'll still be in circulation and carried instead of sitting on a flat spot inside the engine.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

I have always just done mine hot. Its a habit for me. i figure the oil flows better hot and it puts all the gunk in suspension of the oil for me. Usualy I dont burn myself but if the designers of the car did something stupid like put the oil filter next to the exhuast manifold or something I have some welding gloves that work great for that.

Also I kinda want some of those gearwrench magnetic nurled oil plug sockets they look trick. But till then break it lose with a ratchet or wrench then a thumbwheel works pretty well.

Thanks
Sean Scott

 

[geissjr]

Hot....

 

[Kuato]

Hot, 15-30 mins after a good warmup.