Suggestions for getting more oil out
- Thread starter Alcibiades
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That is not very smart.
Topic comes up occasionally, must be the largest group of nit pickers on the internet! Such as this is undeniable proof that automotive engineering is very nearly idiot proof! Engineers design oil pans so that they cannot be totally emptied to keep the oil pump primed. Someone mentioned this earlier in this thread. If you experience loss of oil pump prime you'll probably decide jiffy lube's the way for you to go in the future.
Bob
Bob
I know it was a rather anal retentive question to ask, and I'm not terribly worried about it.
Hadn't thought about the pump losing its prime. That would indeed make it not worth the effort. [Understatement.]
Someone mentioned the difficulty of the filter location on the CR-V. That was the original reason I started putting the front end on jack stands. You can easily reach through the passenger's side wheel well to get a good grip on the filter and spin on a new one, even though you can't see it at the same time.
Hadn't thought about the pump losing its prime. That would indeed make it not worth the effort. [Understatement.]
Someone mentioned the difficulty of the filter location on the CR-V. That was the original reason I started putting the front end on jack stands. You can easily reach through the passenger's side wheel well to get a good grip on the filter and spin on a new one, even though you can't see it at the same time.
That is the oil that lubes your engine on startup.
If you just have to get that last bit out just change your oil then run and change your oil again.
When I have access to a garage, I will let it sit and drain overnight. Otherwise, I just let it drain for about an hour and call it good enough.
Starting the car with no oil sounds like a REALLY bad idea to me...
Starting the car with no oil sounds like a REALLY bad idea to me...
Did everyone forget the claims that used oil has way better lubricating/antiwear properties than fresh oil?
In which case, you'd better leave that last quart of super-additive in there!
But in the end, whatever the case, it is usually not worth the trouble, unless your "used oil" is contaminated with things that were never meant to be in the crankcase, like antifreeze or flush.
But in the end, whatever the case, it is usually not worth the trouble, unless your "used oil" is contaminated with things that were never meant to be in the crankcase, like antifreeze or flush.
If you're really worried about contamination or that last little bit of oil, just change your next OCI sooner.
Couldn't fathom trying to jump up and down on my trucks to get that last little drop - just not necessary.
Couldn't fathom trying to jump up and down on my trucks to get that last little drop - just not necessary.
I think a more important matter is how to get more oil IN - specifically, how to get that last drop out of the bottle and into your engine. I like to heat the bottles on top of my space heater in the garage while I'm draining the old oil. It thins out the new oil a bit and seems to pour out easier and faster.
i pull the plug, let it drain while i change the filter, put plug back in.
Quote:
What tricks, if any, do you use to get more of the old oil out when you change it?
I've found with the CR-V that putting the front end up on jack stands and letting it drain for 3-4 hours gets all but about .5-.6 qt. of the total sump capacity out, and I'm looking for something comparable to do with the '93 Corolla. (The jack stand trick [rear end in this case] only helps minimally on it.)
Oil thinning products like the Amsoil engine flush help too, and I've done that once, but I don't want to use it very often, because I don't really need it to clean, and then I'm still faced with the problem of getting the remnants of the flush out, which even in a small amount can't be good to run for a whole OCI. (Amsoil guys, please do give your 2 cents on that issue. It seems like a reasonable concern, but maybe I'm wrong. How long does it take those remnants to evaporate?)
Is it advisable maybe to rig a portable tire filling tank up to a nozzle that fits over the oil fill hole, to blow the rest of the oil down to the drain hole? Would that have any effect at all, or maybe cause some kind of damage by blowing contaminants into the engine?
I suppose this is mostly academic, but, then, if there is a way to get more out without causing damage or too much inconvenience, why not do it?
I'll answer the question with a question. What is the point of getting every last drop of the old oil out? (Expecially when you are replacing the filter)
I've always just let the car drain for about 30 mins to an hour or so, and shoot some hoops in the driveway until the dripping's almost stopped. Then I remove the oil filter and wait until that's done draining, put in the drain plug, put on the new filter, put the oil in the engine and put the cap back on, and voila.
This thread is extreme. Any visitor will think that the BITOG bunch are nuts! I would like Terry's comments to see if it's really that important to remove the last 3-4 ozs. I let it drain for 10 mins. or so while I prepare the filter, then button it up and add oil. Do I dare ask how important it is to get the oil exactly to the full line? FWIW
Typically, automotive oil gets changed way earlier than it needs to anyhow, so tracing out the last 500mLs of oil is kinda anal. Right now I am running my Celica on 10,000 km oil changes, and changing the filter every 5,000 km. It is not the oil that is wearing out however, it is condensates like water and running rich putting gas in my oil that is the problem. The oil would likely go forever if I let it.
Steve S and Junior are right -- the effort wasted trying to get out every last drop will be repaid with additional engine wear during the first start after the oil change.
For most of us, the old oil we drain out is still good enough to do its job. Removing 80-90% of it is good enough, and 98-99% could actually do some damage.
Getting that last bit out is a mistaken kindness to your engine. Since you removed that oil filter, that little bit of oil above the OF flange that is available ASAP is not there when you start the car. The most wear happens at start up, So you want to be about you oil change quickly so that you don't "drip dry" all the moving parts in you engine. My .02
Okay, I've solved the riddle:
You put more oil in!
What did I win?
Dad had his car oiled at the local gas station back in the day. Guy had a swab on the end of a bent piece of wire he would stick in the drain hole and wipe more stuff off the bottom of the pan. Even as a kid I thought it was overkill, but those were the non-detergent days and I suppose he was just trying to be thorough. Guy was great and fixed our bike tires for free, now the local stations even charge for air, LOL.
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