How to remove oil filter without oil spilling?

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Originally Posted By: chevys10
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: chevys10
Loosen filter a turn or two but before oil starts to come out. Cut 2 liter bottle in half and take one half and surround oil filter hopefully getting the plastic above the mount. Turn the rest of the way off by hand and hopefully catch any additional oil that spills out when filter falls into half plastic bottle.

I'm pretty sure the OP is talking about a filter that has the threads at the bottom, not at the top, so I'm not sure how your solution would work for him.


Then none of the solutions will work will they? If he unscrews the filter then the oil trapped inside immediately drains out. If he drills teh holes it leaks onto the block, not on the floor.

Not sure of the exact layout of the OP's car's oil filter and how it attaches to the engine, but if there is a way to tightly strap a deep rubber or plastic collar just below the filter, then this could help minimize the spill. You could then suck out the oil that got trapped by the collar with an oil extractor or turkey baster or something similar.

Either that, or just flip the car upside down.
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Originally Posted By: LucasDK

2. Punch a hole in the oil filter close to the top of the filter trying to depressurerize the filter. This method also does not solve the problem.


This method has ALWAYS worked for me. I punch a hole in the top of the filter. You need to do this when the oil is hot, and let the filter drain for an hour or so.

Learned this years ago when I had a Mazda RX-7 that has a vertical filter mounted with base down. Same now on my '05 Tacoma V6 ... works every time, not one drop of oil spilled when the filter is removed.
 
Originally Posted By: chevys10
Originally Posted By: Doog
Originally Posted By: Astro14
None of those work on my MB 300E, which has the filter mounted threads down on the top of the block...There's no room to punch holes, wrap baggies or place funnels, I just suffer the leak and have a drain pan under it...


Drill a 1/4" hole in the top with a cordless drill. Insert tube from fluid extractor all the way down. Suck out 90% of the oil.


Wouldn't the flakes of metal from the drill possibly go down center tube and into engine? Unless you drilled on the side...


No, all the flakes would be between the media and the can. The center tube is not open to the outside of the media unless the bypass valve is opened up ... which is shouldn't be in this case.

I just use a sharp, thin punch to pop a hole in the top of the can to drain the guts of the filter. No need to suck the oil out with a tube ... just let the filter sit for a good amount of time to drain it.
 
You could punch a hole at the bottom and let it drip.

I use a different method, since oil always leaks when I unscrew the filter, I have a thick rubber glove, where I roll up the cuff a little, and use this with an oil pan underneath and a paper towel handy to wipe oil off the glove. Keeps me clean.
 
For the OP: Get a remote filter kit and mount it screw end up.



Originally Posted By: larryinnewyork
My 2002 Ford Ranger has an oil filter mounted at 45 degrees.

When I begin to loosen it, oil pours out.

What Ford did was attach a FUNNEL just below the filter.

The oil will go thru the funnel and into a container I have on the floor.

Works real good and I always liked that idea.


Must be a V6. My 4-banger 2001 Ranger is vertical mount (screw end up thankfully). My son's Chevy S-10 has that funnel.
 
Originally Posted By: larryinnewyork

What Ford did was attach a FUNNEL just below the filter.

The oil will go thru the funnel and into a container I have on the floor.

Works real good and I always liked that idea.


The 08 Ram 4.7 has a "chute" of sorts below the filter which does the same thing. But me, hating oil residue, I always wipe down the chute after an oil change.

I think oil changes are just inherently a little messy with most vehicles, even with a base-up oil filter, there's going to be a little oil in the block that escapes. Gotta just suck it up and deal with the mess.
 
You guys are all barking up the wrong tree. The reason you get spillage is because you're pulling the filter off too soon: there's oil still left in the center pipe.
The answer is to simply let the car sit long enough that the oil has drained out of that pipe and back into the pan. This takes about an hour (maybe less, maybe more, on some models).

So, to prevent a messy filter-change, just let the car sit for about an hour, then spin the filter off. Been doing this for years.
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: user52165
http://www.eastwood.com/no-mess-oil-filter-wrenches.html

How does this help if the OP's filter is positioned the other way around (threads down)?

p13949b.jpg



It doesn't help at all in that case.

I've got a filter orientation just like this on a car. Just loosen and let it drain down the sides of the filter until it stops ... don't monkey fist it and get your hands all dirty. Wear a rubber glove, or wipe the can down before unscrewing all the way ... it's easy to change a filter like this if you're careful.
 
Oil changes are supposed to be messy. Aren't most of the worthwhile things in life like that?
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete

How does this help if the OP's filter is positioned the other way around (threads down)?

If his filter is threads UP, then just drive a punch through the end of the filter until the bypass valve is penetrated. The center pipe should then drain and the mess be averted.

If the filter is threads DOWN, then just wait an hour, like I said before.
 
Originally Posted By: Tegger
If the filter is threads DOWN, then just wait an hour, like I said before.


That's never worked for the two vehicles I have/had that have base down filters - even if the car sat all night long. I always need to punch a hole in the top for them to drain.
 
Originally Posted By: chevys10
Originally Posted By: Doog
Originally Posted By: larryinnewyork
My 2002 Ford Ranger has an oil filter mounted at 45 degrees.

When I begin to loosen it, oil pours out.

What Ford did was attach a FUNNEL just below the filter.

The oil will go thru the funnel and into a container I have on the floor.

Works real good and I always liked that idea.


Toyota 4Runner 4.0L V6 has the same set up. Easy.
thumbsup2.gif



I actually bought an angle adapter for my Ranger sold by Ford to switch the 45 to a vertical mount..seemed easier.


Would you have a p/n for that adapter?
 
My Toyota has a side mounted filter to the block without much clearance around the filter for a catch device. The oil in the filter center is what spills, the oil on the outside of the media doesn't really spill since the anti-drain back keeps that oil in the filter, I just tip the filter up once it comes off the threads. If I stuff rags around the filter it can soak up much of the oil, but still is a mess. The only way to get the offending oil would require a siphon down the center tube, too much of a hassle. Maybe turning over the engine might cause the oil pump to pull out this excess oil?
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Tegger
You guys are all barking up the wrong tree. The reason you get spillage is because you're pulling the filter off too soon: there's oil still left in the center pipe.
The answer is to simply let the car sit long enough that the oil has drained out of that pipe and back into the pan. This takes about an hour (maybe less, maybe more, on some models).

So, to prevent a messy filter-change, just let the car sit for about an hour, then spin the filter off. Been doing this for years.


Almost every source advises to change oil while it is warm.

Wait one hour..........?



With a Fumoto valve being the nipple type and hose, an ice pick, and plastic bag, I have got down to no mess, not a drop. Took years of practice and various methods, but it can be done.

I jam a long tranny funnel under the filter to drain after being poked. Do filter first. While it drains, I change the oil. Done in less than 10 minutes. I use 2 pans.
 
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