Probably learned about that tool here on BOB many years ago. Use it every oil change.
Oilpan Drainplug Removal Tool
- Thread starter Carlostrece
- Start date
A pair of thin running gloves inside the nitrile glove makes you virtually bullet proof.
If you have a drain pan with a grate or similar, just let the drain plug drop and take it off the grate. It may be hot however.
Or Fumoto or Valvomax.
I have tried to use a box end wrench to fish for the oil drain plug in a plain drain pan. Now that's fun!! You get it after many tries.
Or Fumoto or Valvomax.
I have tried to use a box end wrench to fish for the oil drain plug in a plain drain pan. Now that's fun!! You get it after many tries.
Just buy and install one of these the next time you change your oil. You will never get a drop of oil on yourself, and it's the best money you'll ever spend.
https://www.amazon.com/ValvoMax-Oil...ocphy=9030351&hvtargid=pla-2281435178538&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/ValvoMax-Oil...ocphy=9030351&hvtargid=pla-2281435178538&th=1
Fifty bucks for a drain plug? Good grief! What's with this almost unhealthy aversion to getting a little oil on yourself? It wipes off, you know.
So many grandfathers are shaking their heads or turning over in their graves right now.
For many decades I changed oil w/o that tool. I bought one about four years ago and I must say it is a nice tool to have.
I've changed oil all my life in every vehicle I have ever owned. There is no way I would do it without installing a Valvomax. It's faster, cleaner, and easier.
Not to mention, not getting hot oil all over yourself. Or dropping drain plugs into pans, and having to fish them out..... All for less than the price of a single oil change at Monkey's Unlimited.
Carlostrece
$100 Site Donor 2025
If I was still changing my own oil, I'd just wear dish gloves and be fine without any special tools or special drainplugs. Back in the day, I bare handed it with no special tools, which was not a problem for me because I quickly let hot plug drop.
However, now I'm older and handicapped. My younger cousin now changes my oil and turns wrenches. He's as finicky as a cat about getting oil on his gloves or touching a hot plug even with gloves. Part of that is he's determined not to drop the plug even if it's hot.
Dish gloves are a lot thicker than nitrile mechanic gloves. Dish gloves give a lot more heat protection for fingers and go up forearm for more protection from oil.
In the short term, dish gloves are cheaper than a special tool, but in the long term the special tool is cheaper. By long term I mean 9+ years. So economically, dish gloves are more sensible, IMO.
I didn't think the economic part through before I bought the special tool in OP. Oh well. The most important thing is my cousin will still change my oil, and now he won't insist on waiting for engine to cool before changing it, and he won't complain about hot oil or hot plug.
So the special tool is a win for me, but dish gloves would have been a cheaper win.
However, now I'm older and handicapped. My younger cousin now changes my oil and turns wrenches. He's as finicky as a cat about getting oil on his gloves or touching a hot plug even with gloves. Part of that is he's determined not to drop the plug even if it's hot.
Dish gloves are a lot thicker than nitrile mechanic gloves. Dish gloves give a lot more heat protection for fingers and go up forearm for more protection from oil.
In the short term, dish gloves are cheaper than a special tool, but in the long term the special tool is cheaper. By long term I mean 9+ years. So economically, dish gloves are more sensible, IMO.
I didn't think the economic part through before I bought the special tool in OP. Oh well. The most important thing is my cousin will still change my oil, and now he won't insist on waiting for engine to cool before changing it, and he won't complain about hot oil or hot plug.
So the special tool is a win for me, but dish gloves would have been a cheaper win.
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It would be of more use to those of us on the ground/ramps vs a lift
I really should order me one
If you think the Valvomax is easy and clean, try the MityVac. Seriously.
What...the lift or the weird red can with the cleaner in it? (jk)
I would gladly pay fifty bucks to avoid this mess again (a light breeze picked up while the oil was draining and blew the stream everywhere). With the ValvoMax, you connect a hose, and direct the stream of oil directly into the container instead of taking this chance.
My grandfather was careful, methodical, and would absolutely approve.
I have one. I use it all the time.
It doesn’t work on the Tundra, shown above. Sadly.
It doesn’t get anywhere near the bottom of the sump.
Agreed. The MityVac works great on some engines and not at all on others. It failed me on a Subie, an '02 Silverado and the '06ish Corollas.
Of course, I'm my case, we cannot rule out user error!
I still like doing it the old way....Gives me a chance to look underneath...
I really like the Stahlbus that is on the Tundra now. I went with a Fumoto immediately after the disaster pictured above.
The Stahlbus is even better. The outer cap is on finger tight. It’s lower profile. And there is absolutely no dripping, no leaks. My gloves stay completely clean draining the oil. The Toyota filter is a bit different, but with the drain that’s included in the cartridge case, and a proper piece of hose, your gloves can stay clean doing the filter as well.
My only objection to the Fumoto was that it stuck out a bit too far on the bottom of a truck, and I worried a bit about potential damage.
https://www.stahlbus.com/products/en/oil-drain-valve/index.php
So, perhaps instead of getting a drain plug tool, get rid of the drain plug altogether.
Cleaner, easier, no burned fingers, nothing dropped.
The Stahlbus is even better. The outer cap is on finger tight. It’s lower profile. And there is absolutely no dripping, no leaks. My gloves stay completely clean draining the oil. The Toyota filter is a bit different, but with the drain that’s included in the cartridge case, and a proper piece of hose, your gloves can stay clean doing the filter as well.
My only objection to the Fumoto was that it stuck out a bit too far on the bottom of a truck, and I worried a bit about potential damage.
https://www.stahlbus.com/products/en/oil-drain-valve/index.php
So, perhaps instead of getting a drain plug tool, get rid of the drain plug altogether.
Cleaner, easier, no burned fingers, nothing dropped.
On my Tundra, I use a 5 gal bucket rather than a standard catch pan. The extra height avoids the sideways spray onto the passenger tire when the drain plug is removed (Tundra owners know about this) and helps to avoid the wind scenario above. That doesn't keep me from continuing to look at ValvoMax/Stahlbus. I just haven't been able to justify the expense yet.
Not directed at you @BobsArmory, just using your post as a kickoff for my statement.
Interesting forum fodder along with the freezer baggie trick, but now you have a dirty cup or baggie waste.
I offer that generating unnecessary waste is not good gentlemen. Multiply that times nearly One Billion yearly OCI in the U.S. alone.
I never had a problem unscrewing the Dp with slight inward pressure and yanking it away at the end of the first thread.
Also on base horizontal to base UP filter installations, I just partially unscrew the filter pull my hand away and let it shower the oil contained in the galleries and mains drills into the drain pan which happens to be an old rubbermaid wash pan.
My extra trash from and OCI at home is a 1/2 a paper towel, burnt or saved firestarter in the woodstove.
at work it's a red shop rag that gets used few more times then maybe rinsed and "cleaned" in the parts washer untill its got too many holes in it.
... and that ale or pilsner goes in a beer glass or mug, or rough it with that lager right out of the bottle or can !
It doesn't take a 20 MPH wind to make a mess like that either. My driveway sits smack between my house and my neighbors. It funnels the wind right through. Even with a mild breeze it will blow a small, drizzling stream all over.
The first thing I did was connect my Valvomax drain actuator to a longer hose that fits into my drain pan deep enough so it can't blow out.
I also bought a screw in funnel for my Toyota Camry, because the cam interferes with a conventional funnel. And you have to hold it with one hand, while you attempt to pour from a 5 quart jug with the other.... That is a solid cornerstone on which to build a messy disaster.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Funnels-...v2xQx57amSUgKR0GvyxagMgMd4ie6QA4aAsdOEALw_wcB
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