Sorry if this topic is in the wrong section.
Anyone has a no-mess oil change technique that they would like to share? The last time I did this, there was mess all over the place.
I'm planning on using a funnel and hold it directly to the drain plug and let it drain into the 5 quarts container. I'm not sure if there are any unforeseeable consequences so I thought I would ask the forums first.
oil change technique
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Originally Posted By: AndrewL
Sorry if this topic is in the wrong section.
Anyone has a no-mess oil change technique that they would like to share? The last time I did this, there was mess all over the place.
I'm planning on using a funnel and hold it directly to the drain plug and let it drain into the 5 quarts container. I'm not sure if there are any unforeseeable consequences so I thought I would ask the forums first.
I tried the funnel method once and the oil gushing out overflowed and made a mess. I just put a large cake pan under so the oil can splash around and still stay in the pan.
John
I tried the funnel mess too and all I got was oil shooting out from the top of the gunnel all over the place.
Personally I just use a big drain pan and use my best guestimation of where it will land when I pull the plug.
oh wow, I'm glad I asked this before trying it out. Thank guys.
I do have a blitz drain pan but it's SO terrible. The thing leaks everywhere and has about about 1 star rating on Amazon, felt like I've wasted about $6.
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Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
A simple, open pan of adequate diameter and capacity works best to avoid splashes.
The oil will gush out for some distance from the drain hole, so allow for that.
The pan should be positioned such that there is barely any open pan under the plug, since the oil will be propelled out a bit.
The funnel sounds like a great way to get your hand scalded, and would likely only increase the mess.
You want to be out of the way of hot draining oil.
Oil changing is a minor skill.
After a couple of misadventures, you'll be able to so it with no mess at all.
I actually have a couple of the Blitz ones that are covered. I also have a couple of the transport type containers that I pour the oil in to take it in to dispose of it.
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
I also have a couple of the transport type containers that I pour the oil in to take it in to dispose of it.
Originally Posted By: AndrewL
Anyone has a no-mess oil change technique that they would like to share?
I have 3 big oil drain pans with a spout on it. They work great, with caps to keep oil from sloshing out when moving around.
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I always use a one gallon plastic bag and put it over the oil filter when I remove and it catches the oil. I also put that blitz pan underneath to catch any oil if I accidently drop the filter or something.Just make sure that if you have one of those cap filter type wrenches that you get the filter loose enough before you put the bag on otherwise it will put tiny holes in the bag and cause it to leak.
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Originally Posted By: Towncivilian
The Disposoil? They are very cheap at Wal-Mart (~$4?) and effective enough. Mine got rather nasty after enough use and I just bought another. Once this one wears out, I think I'll switch to a 5-gallon bucket with matching lid for more capacity.
My method for a mess-free oil change is as follows:
The first thing I do is remove the old oil filter. This way, if I drop the filter into the catch pan, it doesn't splash oil everywhere. THEN I drain the oil out. As soon as the oil is done draining, I put the drain plug back in to stop the dripping and I immediately empty the pan into a sealed container. The less time I have an open pan full of oil the better. Then I tighten the drain plug and install the new filter, and finally I refill with fresh oil. I always have lots of cardboard underneath the car too, and keep lots of rags handy.
I use an open pan sitting on a large metal tray (18" x 30") with a 1" lip. I still sometimes manage to spill a few drops.
LiquiVac + top loading cartridge filter FT(zero mess)W
(still working on getting all 8 of the fresh quarts in without fumbling at least one)
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If you don't go the extractor route, you need something like a Fumoto valve. I ike the 1 gallon bag for the filter idea.
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I have a Pela 6000 oil extractor. I use it down the dipstick tube to pull out most of the oil until the extractor can't get anymore out. I then pull the drain plug and instead of Niagra Falls coming out a much less motivated stream comes out which is easy to get with the catch pan. On both the VW and the Subaru the extractor seems to leave about half a quart or less that needs to come out the drain plug hole, but it comes out nice. However, after having had the 6000 for a few yrs now I strongly recommended buying a slightly higher quality extractor. I also did my garage floor a few yrs ago with an Epoxy paint coating-- makes any spills easy to wipe up.
One of the best fluid extractor for less than $100 is Mityvac 7201. Its capacity is more than 8.5 quarts, enough to get all oil from a MB engine.
As mentioned above, with cartridge filter on top of the engine changing oil with a fluid extractor is so easy and mess free.
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