I would put a wheel chuck behind the back wheel of the vehicle too. My SUV is high enough I could just drive it onto ramps, which is a bit safer... Good points
No more enjoyment changing my own oil..
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Patman
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Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
I've done the draining with the Fumoto in a subaru and took it off after all of the oil had stopped.
Less than a ounce came out. I would not WEAKEN the soft brass valve anymore. As far as it sticks out, it needs every amount of strength it can get.
Don't worry about a slight possible amount of oil left in the pan, there is tons more left in the engine.
I agree! You should see what a lot of the C5 Corvette guys do. Because the drain plug is at the front of the oil pan, if you've got the car up on ramps there ends up being 4oz of oil trapped in the back of the pan. A lot of guys will jack up the rear so it ends up being higher than the front, to get that last bit out. I keep telling them that a ton more oil is trapped in the engine anyhow, plus the fact that most of these guys still drain their oil at 3000 miles, so the oil isn't even close to dirty either! But they still go to all this trouble for basically no gain whatsoever. You just simply don't need to get every last ounce of oil out of the engine at oil change time.
I've done the draining with the Fumoto in a subaru and took it off after all of the oil had stopped.
Less than a ounce came out. I would not WEAKEN the soft brass valve anymore. As far as it sticks out, it needs every amount of strength it can get.
Don't worry about a slight possible amount of oil left in the pan, there is tons more left in the engine.
I agree! You should see what a lot of the C5 Corvette guys do. Because the drain plug is at the front of the oil pan, if you've got the car up on ramps there ends up being 4oz of oil trapped in the back of the pan. A lot of guys will jack up the rear so it ends up being higher than the front, to get that last bit out. I keep telling them that a ton more oil is trapped in the engine anyhow, plus the fact that most of these guys still drain their oil at 3000 miles, so the oil isn't even close to dirty either! But they still go to all this trouble for basically no gain whatsoever. You just simply don't need to get every last ounce of oil out of the engine at oil change time.
I like the guys that pour some fresh oil in with the plug still off to "Flush" some more of the old oil out, as if this really does much better...
When I came back from Nam, and picked up a used Saab 95 wagon, I watched the young tech drain my transmission instead of the oil pan. At that point, I decided I could probably do as well.
Cycle forward a couple of years. I had a car, my wife had a car. Oil changes every 4 months or so. Forward a bit more. I discovered AMSOIL. Once a year oil change. 3 daughters with cars, making total of 6 (including a van I picked up along the way).
Not fun crawling under the cars, even though that was over 30 years ago and I was somewhat spryer. 6 trips under a year was a winner. Oh yeah, I did have to chanfe filters every 6 months (dark ages).
Cycle forward a couple of years. I had a car, my wife had a car. Oil changes every 4 months or so. Forward a bit more. I discovered AMSOIL. Once a year oil change. 3 daughters with cars, making total of 6 (including a van I picked up along the way).
Not fun crawling under the cars, even though that was over 30 years ago and I was somewhat spryer. 6 trips under a year was a winner. Oh yeah, I did have to chanfe filters every 6 months (dark ages).
That last little bit of oil doesn't matter. If half a quart were left in an engine with a 5 quart capacity, that would make the new oil/residue mix roughly equal to what all new oil would be like in 500 miles. The point being 90 percent of the time the oil is dirtier than what the little bit of residue will do at the beginning of the OCI, and yet people worry about that little bit of residue. Now if you just had 500 ppm iron, then I would say a couple of full flushes with fresh oil may be in order.
Originally Posted By: mva
For those that change their own oil - do you check your PCV valve each oil change? If you don't, how often does it get checked?
Running with a plugged PCV has potential to sludge up your engine. In my opinion this is a common DIYer mistake that is much worse than running bulk 10W30 for an OCI.
Jiffy lube, Walmart, Dealer, etc typically check the PCV, air filter, all fluid level, rotate tires. There is more to an oil change than changing the oil.
I change mine around 60-65k. Never check it until its time to change.
Spark plugs normally around 90k though I have close to 120k on my current plugs.
Bill
For those that change their own oil - do you check your PCV valve each oil change? If you don't, how often does it get checked?
Running with a plugged PCV has potential to sludge up your engine. In my opinion this is a common DIYer mistake that is much worse than running bulk 10W30 for an OCI.
Jiffy lube, Walmart, Dealer, etc typically check the PCV, air filter, all fluid level, rotate tires. There is more to an oil change than changing the oil.
I change mine around 60-65k. Never check it until its time to change.
Spark plugs normally around 90k though I have close to 120k on my current plugs.
Bill
Originally Posted By: mva
Jiffy lube, Walmart, Dealer, etc typically check the PCV, air filter, all fluid level, rotate tires. There is more to an oil change than changing the oil.
Really, if you believe these places actually check all those points, then you either live in the greatest fantasy land of all where all the mechanics are trustworthy and efficient, or you're putting way too much faith in what these places tell you. Here, Wal-mart is more likely to put your drain pan plug on without filling up on oil and send you off with no oil in your crankcase.
As for the PCV valve, has anyone ever had one go bad that warrants checking every oil change? Usually I replace them at about every 100-150 thousand miles just for PM. Never had one fail before. Checking the air filter takes all of 30 seconds on most cars.
Fluid levels- I had an Iffy Lube years back charge me for 2qts transmission fluid because they checked it while it was cold. Once I warmed the car up they saw that it was overfilled, but told me that two quarts wasn't going to hurt anything! I made them pump the two quarts back out and never looked back.
On most quick lube places I've seen, they have a check-box for differential fluid level always checked off. If you believe that your differential fluid ever gets checked then you're seriously naive.
As a DIY-er I just see no need to take my car somewhere and compromise the quality of work that goes into it when I can do it myself. Putting your faith into most of these types of places may make you sorry down the road.
Jiffy lube, Walmart, Dealer, etc typically check the PCV, air filter, all fluid level, rotate tires. There is more to an oil change than changing the oil.
Really, if you believe these places actually check all those points, then you either live in the greatest fantasy land of all where all the mechanics are trustworthy and efficient, or you're putting way too much faith in what these places tell you. Here, Wal-mart is more likely to put your drain pan plug on without filling up on oil and send you off with no oil in your crankcase.
As for the PCV valve, has anyone ever had one go bad that warrants checking every oil change? Usually I replace them at about every 100-150 thousand miles just for PM. Never had one fail before. Checking the air filter takes all of 30 seconds on most cars.
Fluid levels- I had an Iffy Lube years back charge me for 2qts transmission fluid because they checked it while it was cold. Once I warmed the car up they saw that it was overfilled, but told me that two quarts wasn't going to hurt anything! I made them pump the two quarts back out and never looked back.
On most quick lube places I've seen, they have a check-box for differential fluid level always checked off. If you believe that your differential fluid ever gets checked then you're seriously naive.
As a DIY-er I just see no need to take my car somewhere and compromise the quality of work that goes into it when I can do it myself. Putting your faith into most of these types of places may make you sorry down the road.
Originally Posted By: Patman
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
I've done the draining with the Fumoto in a subaru and took it off after all of the oil had stopped.
Less than a ounce came out. I would not WEAKEN the soft brass valve anymore. As far as it sticks out, it needs every amount of strength it can get.
Don't worry about a slight possible amount of oil left in the pan, there is tons more left in the engine.
I agree! You should see what a lot of the C5 Corvette guys do. Because the drain plug is at the front of the oil pan, if you've got the car up on ramps there ends up being 4oz of oil trapped in the back of the pan. A lot of guys will jack up the rear so it ends up being higher than the front, to get that last bit out. I keep telling them that a ton more oil is trapped in the engine anyhow, plus the fact that most of these guys still drain their oil at 3000 miles, so the oil isn't even close to dirty either! But they still go to all this trouble for basically no gain whatsoever. You just simply don't need to get every last ounce of oil out of the engine at oil change time.
Interesting coming from the man who invented the Patman Flush
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
I've done the draining with the Fumoto in a subaru and took it off after all of the oil had stopped.
Less than a ounce came out. I would not WEAKEN the soft brass valve anymore. As far as it sticks out, it needs every amount of strength it can get.
Don't worry about a slight possible amount of oil left in the pan, there is tons more left in the engine.
I agree! You should see what a lot of the C5 Corvette guys do. Because the drain plug is at the front of the oil pan, if you've got the car up on ramps there ends up being 4oz of oil trapped in the back of the pan. A lot of guys will jack up the rear so it ends up being higher than the front, to get that last bit out. I keep telling them that a ton more oil is trapped in the engine anyhow, plus the fact that most of these guys still drain their oil at 3000 miles, so the oil isn't even close to dirty either! But they still go to all this trouble for basically no gain whatsoever. You just simply don't need to get every last ounce of oil out of the engine at oil change time.
Interesting coming from the man who invented the Patman Flush
I thought I lost my zest, after the oil filter o-ring ripped in the ladies ecotec, and caused a bit of a spill in the garage upon startup.
A few curse words, and a call to the dealer for a new cap/filter solved that.
Now, at least I'm smart enough to change oil in late fall, so that I don't have to do it again until its reasonably warm outside.
A few curse words, and a call to the dealer for a new cap/filter solved that.
Now, at least I'm smart enough to change oil in late fall, so that I don't have to do it again until its reasonably warm outside.
Doesn't check-engine light up when PCV valve failed with OBD II ?
That what my mechanic said when I want to change PCV valve for 200k miles '94 LS400 with original PCV valve. He did not think that changing PCV valve is necessary unless it failed and OBD II code would identify it was the source of failure.
He removed the original PCV valve and blow it by mouth, the air did come out the other end and he put it back.
He removed the original PCV valve and blow it by mouth, the air did come out the other end and he put it back.
I cracked open the original PCV valve of our old 1998 Civic when it had 140K miles and the factory PCV valve was just oily, no sludge.
If I knew that, I would have left it on.
If I knew that, I would have left it on.
Normally the PCV valve will not plug as long as you don't do short trips or extended OCI. Some vehicles are more sensitive than others.
I do most of my own maintenance and I consider myself pretty handy. I have successfully done head gasket changes, timing belt changes, CV joints, clutch jobs, brakes, O2 sensors, etc. But, I have occasionally gotten lazy and had my oil changed at Walmart or Mr Lube. On 2 occasions they have identified a plugged PCV.
I know of people that change their own oil that don't know what a PCV valve is, were it is located or how to check it. Also, if it is working there is no point in changing it out. The PCV hose can also plug so that needs to be checked too.
The check engine light will not come on when it fails.
I do most of my own maintenance and I consider myself pretty handy. I have successfully done head gasket changes, timing belt changes, CV joints, clutch jobs, brakes, O2 sensors, etc. But, I have occasionally gotten lazy and had my oil changed at Walmart or Mr Lube. On 2 occasions they have identified a plugged PCV.
I know of people that change their own oil that don't know what a PCV valve is, were it is located or how to check it. Also, if it is working there is no point in changing it out. The PCV hose can also plug so that needs to be checked too.
The check engine light will not come on when it fails.
Originally Posted By: strombony
Just noticed a post where someone was excited about changing their oil since it was almost due. I've been doing it now for 15 years, not sure about anyone else, but I'm tired of it.
Anyone else there yet? LOL...
I'm almost ready to let Jiffy Lube do it... However, I'd probably bring my own filter. Would cost me $10.00 more than when I do it myself, but $10.00 for less hastle....Just not sure yet.
Anyone else where I'm at yet?
I will never get to that point. Not after watching what I watched those bastiges do to my car. A few years back I had a cast on my hand and wrist and I didn't want to take a chance of getting used motor oil on my cast, so I took my car to JL for an oil change. At the time I was using M1 full syn so I took my own oil and filter. I knew from experience that my car took exactly 5 qts to fill it to the full line on the dipstick when changing the oil and filter. I watched through the window as the guy up top poured a qt of new oil into the engine while the guy underneath still had the drain plug removed. I didn't say anything about it because I wanted to see if they'd try to blow smoke up my butt, or just not say anything at all about it. Sure enough the Bozo tried to [censored] me by saying I didn't bring enough oil with me and I'd have to add another qt. I then told him I watched him dump the oil out the drain hole and he owed me $5 for that qt of oil. For his embarrassment he took $5 off my bill and gave me coupon for a free service. I gave the coupon away and I'll never use one of these places again EVEN IF I END UP IN A WHEELCHAIR!
Just noticed a post where someone was excited about changing their oil since it was almost due. I've been doing it now for 15 years, not sure about anyone else, but I'm tired of it.
Anyone else there yet? LOL...
I'm almost ready to let Jiffy Lube do it... However, I'd probably bring my own filter. Would cost me $10.00 more than when I do it myself, but $10.00 for less hastle....Just not sure yet.
Anyone else where I'm at yet?
I will never get to that point. Not after watching what I watched those bastiges do to my car. A few years back I had a cast on my hand and wrist and I didn't want to take a chance of getting used motor oil on my cast, so I took my car to JL for an oil change. At the time I was using M1 full syn so I took my own oil and filter. I knew from experience that my car took exactly 5 qts to fill it to the full line on the dipstick when changing the oil and filter. I watched through the window as the guy up top poured a qt of new oil into the engine while the guy underneath still had the drain plug removed. I didn't say anything about it because I wanted to see if they'd try to blow smoke up my butt, or just not say anything at all about it. Sure enough the Bozo tried to [censored] me by saying I didn't bring enough oil with me and I'd have to add another qt. I then told him I watched him dump the oil out the drain hole and he owed me $5 for that qt of oil. For his embarrassment he took $5 off my bill and gave me coupon for a free service. I gave the coupon away and I'll never use one of these places again EVEN IF I END UP IN A WHEELCHAIR!
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