Oilpan Drainplug Removal Tool

[Carlostrece]

I just purchased an oil drainplug removal tool to keep fingers cleaner and avoid potential burns.

Obviously wearing rubber gloves is a good idea. In addition, I purchased this tool. Some of you may already own this tool or at least be aware it's available. I recently learned (from a BITOG member) that it exists.

 

[dishdude]

Never knew such a thing existed.

 

[The Critic]

You can also just use a magnetic socket.

 

[BrendanC]

never have i ever wished i had one of those

 

[JeffKeryk]

You can also break torque on the filter, stick this to the bottom and spin it off. I keep forgetting to use mine...

 

[D60]

I got one for a specific reason but have never found it useful. Tried it a couple times and never liked it

 

[fdcg27]

That looks to be a pretty useless bit of kit from the Rube Goldberg school of design.

 

[Carlostrece]

You can also just use a magnetic socket.

That's a great idea too. If I owned a manetic socket it'd be worth trying.

 

[Carlostrece]

never have i ever wished i had one of those

When I was younger and healthy enough to change my own oil, I used to just bare finger hot potatoe it and accepted it as an inevitable part of changing oil. Later I started wearing thick rubber gloves (called chemical gloves) and that helped a lot.

Chemical gloves are thick enough to provide a lot of protection from heat. Then next best thing is dish gloves. Automotive maintenance nitrile gloves are thinner and less protective.

Now I'm older and too handicapped to change my oil. So now I do the research and buy the supplies and tools. My younger cousin turns the wrenches now.

He wears automotive nitrile gloves and complains about not wanting to burn his fingers. So then he wants to let engine sit and cool 30 min or longer before draining. Too long IMO. I personally think the sooner it's drained after driving the better for removing contaminents, but I understand there are safety considerations.

I used to do it barehanded 5-10 min after driving with some discomfort, but no injuries. It's a struggle to get him to do it 30 min after driving even with nitrile gloves.

So I bought this tool for him. Now he can safely drain my oil sooner after driving (while oil is hot, thin, and contaminents are suspended in oil). He should no longer have fears of hot oil getting on his gloves because this tool has 12+ inches reach.

I appreciate him, but I think most of his complaints were phobia of getting burned, not actually getting burned.

This tool should keep him safe, make him happy, and allow him to drain the oil sooner after driving.

 

[Kira]

Big, strong magnet I see. Probably stronger than on the ones sold in the '70's.

 

[Carlostrece]

That looks to be a pretty useless bit of kit from the Rube Goldberg school of design.

I think its level of utility depends on how soon after driving you remove drain plug (how hot the oil is), what type gloves you wear, how sensitive you are, and whether you drop the hot plug or try to hold onto it.

My cousin has a wierd OCD obsession with not dropping the drainplug in the drain pan. I have no idea why he cares about that, but it's a big factor in his fear of getting burned because he holds on to the plug and some oil gets on his glove too. So he fears those things being hot - unless he let's the car sit and cool too long before draining.

It's a whole wierd thing with him. I'm hoping this tool will resolve it.

When I used to barehand it during plug removal 5-10 min after driving, I didn't get burned much because I immediately dropped the hot plug and got my hand out of the way of the hot oil. So I didn't need a special tool. I did benefit from gloves though, when I finally started wearing them. After I started wearing gloves I never got burned

My cousin has slow reaction time and an OCD obsession with not dropping the plug even if it's burning him. So I think this tool will (hopefully) benefit him greatly.

It'll also benefit me because now I can ask him to drain oil sooner after driving instead of 30+ min after driving. In theory draining sooner will remove more contaminents. And I won't feel like a jerk for asking him to drain it sooner after driving.

 

[Capt W]

Great tool for any DIY ladies out there. Will definitely keep those nails clean. Perhaps they'll offer a full-body HAZMAT style suit to stay clean while changing those oil filters. A person could get splashed and suffer a very nasty stain on their North Face working-on-the-car shirt.

 

[cpayne5]

I've got one. It works well and does exactly what it's designed to do. I've used it a handful of times after owning it for 15 years.

 

[Nukeman7]

I previously posted about the Craftsman one I purchased a few years ago. Just used it again yesterday and the magnet is still amazingly strong. Works on all steel/iron plugs unless the threads are badly galled.

 

[Leo99]

I usually drop the plug in the drain pan and cover my hand in oil. I have a magnetic retrieval tool to fish out the plug.

 

[wtd]

I have one and like it and use it on every oil change.

 

[Rick505]

AND, it appears you can pull off the magnetic part and have a 1/4" drive tool.

 

[BobsArmory]

Red Solo cup works wonders for spinning off a hot oil filter. All the leaking oil stays in the cup & none on your hands.

 

[BobsArmory]

Sorry for such a big Pic!

 

[Elkins45]

I think the idea of this tool is that you’re supposed to use it to turn the drain plug out the last 2-3 turns so that it doesn’t drop into the drain pan. In practice it’s probably also pretty good for fishing one out.