your oil change temperature?

[Rand]

I change it hot if possible but I let it sit for 5-10min so the exhaust isnt going to melt me if i brush up against it (on applicable vehicles)

oh and who the heck though of 45degree angle drain plugs.. when my subaru is up on ramps it goes 3ft sideways...

 

[GMorg]

One of the nice things about Fumoto valves is that you can drain as hot as you want and never lose a drop from the pan. They don't help for the filter though.

 

[djb]

It doesn't matter if it's hot or cold. Warm oil flows more freely, but it only saves a few seconds.

If you disassemble an engine you'll find that there is quite a bit of oil retained in the assemblies (casting pockets, lifters, oil coolers, valve timing adjusters, chain tensioners, etc), so getting the last few drops out is pointless.

 

[GMorg]

Contaminants are more soluble in hot oil. Recently mixed oil has fewer non-soluble contaminants that are settled. Hot, mixed oil removes more contaminants during an oil change than cold, settled oil will remove. The quantity and type of contaminants will determine if the temperature really matters. It never occurred to me that someone would consider the difference in drain time.

 

[GSCJR]

What SLCraig said but, I wouldn't jack up the car unless I had to. Just my 2c.

 

[[email protected]]

Ive always changed when the oil was hot. Remember, when the oil is hot it helps get it out of the drain pan and back into a container to bring it in for recycling. Otherwise, you'll be sitting there all day waiting with thick drippy droppy oil. Aint nobody got time for that!

And I know its OCD, maybe not even necessary but given that Im a super cheapask, I let my cars drain overnight and refill the next morning. I figure if Im going to dump 5 quarts of clean synthetic oil in there, I might as well make sure I did everything I could to get all of the dirty oil out first. I realize there are nooks and crannies in the engine where oil does not drain from and thats fine..I feel better with my method. Plus it keeps me from going out and buying more oil (OPEC is going to confiscate my garage soon)...lol

 

[aualtima3.5]

How do you guys do it hot? Just too much risk to get burned. I do "warm," which is basically the time I spend shuffling the car onto ramps or from moving it to the place I want to change it in the garage/driveway. Maybe 3-5 mins max. Its warm, but isn't gonna burn me.

I changed it hot once and burned the [censored] out of my hand. It is so thin it seeps around the threads. The filter is blazing hot, too.

 

[fdcg27]

Drain the oil when you get home from work or after weekend shopping.
It'll be fully warmed and it'll drain quickly.
You'll get scalded?
Not if you exercise some caution in removing the plug.
I usually do the plug first and the filter second.
This allows a little cooling time for the filter.

 

[[email protected]]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
I usually do the plug first and the filter second.
This allows a little cooling time for the filter.


Same here, never had a problem. You dont hold your hand in hot stream of oil! Loosen the plug and very quickly get your hand out of the way. 8/10 times I dont even get oil on my hand....

 

[SuzukiOldTimer]

I'm a COOL Oil type of guy.

I put the car on my ramps in the evening and then change my oil the next morning. It has all night to drain down into the pan.

My Oil Change Tools. Yes, the ramps are made of Concrete and weigh in at about 300# each. They set 4" into the ground so they can't slip and they are too heavy for someone to steal.

I actually like changing my own oil. Then I know it's done right and the plug and filter are torqued to spec. I hate leakers!

Old Timer

My new Kia Soul, the easiest oil filter to change, of any car I've ever owned.

It's sticking right out there, like a red nose on a wineo.

 

[antiqueshell]

If the vehicle was driven before it was parked and was brought up to operating temps for a short period of time, there is no reason NOT to drain when the vehicle has sat to the point of being cool or even cold. It certainly is a lot nicer knowing you won't be burned by hot oil, and because it is a bit more viscous when cold it doesn't drip or run as quickly when removing the oil filter either.

 

[SteveSRT8]

There just may be a reason that many mfgrs spec HOT for oil changes.

 

[Sonataman]

When the oil temp gauge says about 110f after a drive.

 

[gregoron]

I change it hot, but it gets warm by the time I get the car on jack stands and get my tools out. I open the oil cap, then the plug. After most of the oil comes out, I'll remove the filter and let it sit for a while. It helps to get that filter out as soon as you can so it frees up the oil from the cylinder head and valve train because of the anti-drain back valve built in to the filter.

 

[jdawg89]

I usually drive it as fast as I dare for about a mile up to my buddies garage. Then I get it on the ramps pull the plug and let it drain for about 3-4 cold ones then pull the filter and put new filter on put plug back in and refill

 

[bro]

Originally Posted By: Jaxon
So guy's my seaching skills kinda sucks.
vehical has not run in a week, so I'm guessing
90% plus oil is in the pan.
Should I heat her up, or change it cold.
Info. New to me 2007 Buick Rendezvous
145,000 KM
3.5 Letre engine
Pennzoil conventional and Mobil 1 oil filter.
no info on maintains from pervious owner.

Later,
Jaxon..



You should change it when it is cold. My reasoning is as follows. All of the oil that can possibly drain into the oil pan has already done so from the last time you drove it. You should let it drain for a bit to time - I usually let it drain for 30 minutes.

 

[Bamaro]

Drain it hot, go do something else for awhile. Come back later and remove/replace filter and refill.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: MolaKule
Really hot oil running down to your elbow is no fun.

Don't be a baby, Mola.

With the cabs, I did the changes at shift changeover. They were running all day, came into the garage, got lifted, and I changed the oil while the car was being cleaned. That being said, from the feel of my hand, the oil in the G gets substantially warmer than that in a Chev 305 or a Ford 302.