How long do you let your oil drain during a change?

[John Baio]

I was just wondering what the general thoughts are about draining your oil, ie how long you let it drain? I usually wait a few minutes until it becomes a very slow, light trickle, then I plug it back up and get on with it. I generally spend the draining time cleaning tools and installing the oil filter.

 

[wavinwayne]

I wait until it slows to a drop every second or two, then I put the plug back in. I don't worry about trying to get every little bit of old oil out.

 

[thooks]

I let it drain about 30 minutes, while I go back inside, drink a beer(s) and use the batteries in the TV remote.

 

[jmacmaster]

I wait until there's at least a minute between drips. In the meantime, I putz around the garage (which I change the oil in) doing other things. I'm in no hurry.

 

[Kestas]

I do other business on the car or in the garage (or have dinner), then go back and complete the job. I try to let it drain at least 15 minutes. Like wavinwayne, I don't obsess over trying to get every last bit out.

 

[sxg6]

5-10 minutes. its usually a slow drip by then. this is with 5w-20 btw.

 

[GreeCguy]

My neighbor lets his drain over night. I would always be worried that someone would jump in the car to go shopping, (wife or daughter) and car would be toast. I let mine drain about 15 minutes.

 

[IslaVistaMan]

Overnight here. Depending on the engine and the orientation of the vehicle (level ground, etc.), you can sometimes get quite a bit more oil out of it. Best to fill the oil filter with fresh oil before re-installing, too....

 

[brianl703]

Until I get everything cleaned up and the funnel placed for pouring the used oil. I want it done and outta there. Overnight? Hah, if I wanted to WAIT for it I'd take it somewhere to get it done.

 

[KJA426]

I wait until it's a slow drip then I put the plug back in. I also wait until I put the new oil filter on because sometimes the new filter going on causes a slosh of old oil to come out of the drain hole.

 

[wn1998]

I wait as long as it takes me to take the filter off and install the new one. I would think this is about 5-10 mins tops.

 

[brianl703]

I replace the filter first..eliminates the potential splash if it falls into a full drain pan.

 

[Quattro Pete]

About 2 hours.

 

[ccs2k1]

30 minutes or so. Long enough to replace the filter, check other fluids and just plain feel good about the job itself.

 

[SWS]

At least 1 hour.

 

[PandaBear]

as soon as it start dripping instead of pouring, I tighten the bolt and pour the new oil in. Lots of stuff left? Sure, but then again, if I spend twice as much time changing oil, might as well changing it twice as often right? On $3 filters and $0.49/qt oil, time is the majority of the cost.

 

[surfstar]

15 mins or so. I get under the car, pull the plug then (on level ground) when it slows to drips, I jack the car up a good ways and the oil comes out in a thin stream again, when that slows to a drip, I lower the car back down and finish 'er up. Don't worry, I'm not under the car when only the jack is supporting it.

 

[otis24]

Thanks for posting. I've been wondering this myself. I wait till my slows to a drip, then plug and fill.

 

[C.S.]

Till the vacuum pump pulls air.

 

[Blue_Goose]

Till I get just a few drips falling...noticed that when I take the filter off(and get a bath on my arm)that the draining picks up again to a steady trickle for a few minutes...must be releasing some sort of vacum Goose