Quickie or Longie

[JerryBob]

• Open filler cap
• Crawl under (no ramps)
• Thoroughly wipe down drainbolt
• Crack and drain
• Throw drainbolt into paint thinner cheese container
• Loosen filter and drop enclosed in a 2 liter coke bottle that is cut-off
• Take a break, find a new crush washer, pick up trash that has blown around.
• Clean threads of drainbolt with paper towel and fingernail.
• Mount new filter, drain bolt, and remove all the draining paraphenalia
• Fill and start for about 5 min.

I don't necessarily check the dipstick. It is impossible that all of the old oil somehow didn't drain. And I can count 6 quarts going in. But I usually check it within a day or two.

I also don't prime my filter. I also often forget to put new oil on the gasket. But I've never had a problem, and I always check the mounting flange and wipe it down with a paper towel.

 

[CHARLIEBRONSON21]

The fusion I usually take about 25 minutes. Most of it is using the drill to remove the bolts so I can look for any possible leaks forming. None yet

then getting the change taken care of. I've done a change on an impala in less than 5 minutes so I can do it fast and correct but I just take my time to relax and get it done.

 

[Eddie]

I am similar to GreeCguy. I consider it "MY Meditation Time" I lay under looking at all the stuff for about another 10 minutes or more. Haven't fallen asleep yet but, any time now)Ed

 

[Rick in PA]

Winter - quickish. Spring, summer, fall - more leisurely.

Warm-up the engine, then ramps & cardboard.
Put a CD in the car radio and turn it up just a bit, so I can hear it.

I've got a nice drain pan with a huge screw-on lid. Very nice, I don't have to clean it out at the end, just drain it and screw the lid back on. Too bad Rubbermaid doesn't make them anymore.

While draining:
Check all the fluid levels and top up as necessary.
Check the tire pressures and adjust as necessary. Spring & fall I do the spare too.
Lube the various hinges.
Put a little shot of grease in any zerk fittings.

Sometimes I'll see something that needs attention. During my last oil change I discovered a plastic gas line that was rubbing, so I put a short piece of rubber fuel hose over it to cushion that spot. As Roseanne Roseannadanna would say "It's always something."

While the new oil is draining into the crankcase I'll punch a couple of holes in the old filter and empty it into the drain pan. I hate to send any more oil to the landfill than necessary.

After the new oil has drained into the crankcase, I'll pour the old oil from the drain pan into the container and mark it "old used".

Clean everything up & put it away.
Mark yet another oil change in the Vehicle Service Log.
Ah, it's a nice little ritual.

 

[andyd]

With the daughter's Corolla, I can do an oil change in 15 minutes. I spend much longer under the hood of my own cars because they often have things going on. If the OC is part of a larger project. I would let it drain over night. If I let them drain a long while the oil light would take awhile to go out. I once drained the transmission on my car for 6 months. I had the hoses off the radiator and loosened from the frame. ATF started running out so I stuck a pan under it. When I was done base lining the car, it took 7 qts of ATF to fill it.

It is a matter of personal choice. How much more oil drips out overnight? Enough to empty the gallery the pressure switch is in. How much is that? another cup or so? Out of a 4 or 5 liter sump? Life is short, and so is my memory these days. So I plow through the change so I can forget about it safely

 

[GreeCguy]

I'll admit I'm a little weird about cleaning out my drain pan. For a while, I even had a drain pan that was "sealed" (the top had a little plug you removed so the oil would flow inside. When done, you replaced the plug and there was no need to pour used oil into jugs. I didn't like it as I couldn't clean the pan with paper towels).

Keep in mind I save my used oil to use in the ever famous "Luv" machine and in "D the Mighty," (my 1950 Case Model "D" tractor).