changing oil in cold engine

[Carlostrece]

Five pages and counting about changing oil hot or cold

and still no consensus nor progress towards one. I think we should makes bets on how many more pages this goes on. I bet 3 more pages.

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

Just drain it hot and leave the oil plug out overnight so that way you get the best of a hot then coil "FULL" oil drain. I have done that when I am not in a hurry but I always under fill as oil can expand when hot so I top off to exact proper level when hot but after sitting 15 min.

 

[TimeFlies]

Full cold, is not going to expand enough when hot, to blow out seals.

 

[kschachn]

Perhaps I’ll post links to 20 or so previous threads on this exact debate. Or maybe not.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Perhaps I’ll post links to 20 or so previous threads on this exact debate. Or maybe not.

No worries; another will be a long soon... Along with spark plug anti-seize.

 

[Hermann]

Cold oil drains, eating leftover Pizza, and revenge are all things that are best when cold.

 

[HowAboutThis]

I've always heard that an engine should be warm before the oil is changed. This seems counter intuitive. During the cooling process the oil has been able to completely drain into the pan. So why warm it up and let the oil settle again? BTW I use 5w20 despite what the manual reflects (0w20). I live in a warm climate.

If you own, say, a Toyota with 5K severe and 10K normal change recommendations, if you drain it cold you should reduce those to 4,900 and 9,900 miles so your engine doesn't explode.

But in all seriousness, I often change my oil when it's 40-90 degrees outside and the oil is as warm as the air temp + whatever engine heat is generated from starting, backing up, driving up ramps, and shutting off. 0W20 drains like water when it's 40 so I doubt it matters much unless you start changing in temps below freezing.

 

[nomas]

and still no consensus nor progress towards one. I think we should makes bets on how many more pages this goes on. I bet 3 more pages.

Consensus ? Are you forgetting where you are ?

 

[KrisZ]

The BITOG dilema

 

[Carlostrece]

The BITOG dilema

View attachment 309843

You need a 3rd button for change it warm. I vote hot because it's my car and I want the best result. My younger cousin votes warm because he changes my oil and doesn't like risking burnt fingers. He's so selfish!

 

[JeffKeryk]

You're supposed to change it?

 

[CleanSump]

You're supposed to change it?

Did you go to school with my stepdaughter?

 

[Carlostrece]

That's it? Earlier this week, on this page, I posted a bet that this thread would go on for 3 more pages. It's now 5 days later and it hasn't even gone 1 more page yet.

I'm glad no one took my bet.

 

[Patman]

Cold oil drains, eating leftover Pizza, and revenge are all things that are best when cold.

McDonald’s fries also taste good when cold

 

[supton]

Stone cold for me. 0W20 flows just fine at any temperature that I am willing to be outside in. But I usually only keep to 200k or so, so long term longevity isn’t one of my concerns.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

I like doing it cold myself. That way, you're not under a hot car and don't have to worry about hot oil spilling on you and unscrewing a hot oil filter

 

[TimeFlies]

Another benefit to a cold change, is the vehicle has sat for hours, and the oil has been draining to the pan for hours. So your getting out the maximum amount, unless you dissembled it. Otherwise it's only running down from the top end for a brief period in comparison, unless you are one of the very few who leaves the plug out for many hours.

 

[TimeFlies]

Changed the oil in a truck yesterday morning, cold, well shop temperature, but had sat there for at least 14 hours, so the oil had a long time to drain back down to the pan. Prior to being pulled into the shop, it had just completed a 9 hour trip, so was darn good and hot.