Your technique for not getting messy

[zerosoma]

I think everyone goes about doing oil changes differently in some way or another.

I have started bringing two towels...one that I know will get oily from spillage, bottle wiping, hand wiping, etc. The other which I hope won't get TOO dirty allows me to wipe sweat off my face and clean my glasses. I realized that an oily towel won't do anything for that! haha! I also bring a plastic sack for the oil bottles and filter box/filter, my tools and products (obviously), ramps, chocks, and a flashlight. I also use what's called an Oil Zap pad which works wonders when draining oil and sopping up the oil that drains onto it!


What items do you use when you do your oil change and how do you keep from getting messy?

 

[JHZR2]

latex gloves are the main thing... but in the hot weather I often do without because take them off once, youre wet and they are shot...

My grandfather always put down old newspaper in spots where the oil may drip.

 

[dubie2003]

I simply take my time and use 6 paper towels. To clean prior to removal. To wipe the plug/filter and then to wipe excess drips before mounting new filter or plug.

 

[otis24]

Number one, Fumoto valve. Number two, get it changed at the dealership where I work. I pay for the oil and filter only (cost plus 10 percent). So the cost is the same whether I change it myself, or Bob, our lube tech changes it. If Bob changes it, it gets washed and vacuumed too at no cost to me. Plus tire pressures checked and other things checked over as well. Cost is about $18 with Motorcraft oil and filter. Not too shabby! Best of all, no mess! Plus no stock piling oil or waiting for sales.

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: otis24
Number one, Fumoto valve. Number two, get it changed at the dealership where I work. I pay for the oil and filter only (cost plus 10 percent). So the cost is the same whether I change it myself, or Bob, our lube tech changes it. If Bob changes it, it gets washed and vacuumed too at no cost to me. Plus tire pressures checked and other things checked over as well. Cost is about $18 with Motorcraft oil and filter. Not too shabby! Best of all, no mess! Plus no stock piling oil or waiting for sales.


the stockpiling is fun but you are lucky to have that.

 

[mongo161]

I use an old shower curtain on the ground.

Then I layer a couple of nice large "Opened and Flattened" cardboard boxes to cover the area under each vehicle that I'm changing the oil on to sop up any spills.

I have a good stash of empty "Arizona Iced Tea" Jugs to pour the old used oil into with a large funnel and then a sturdy screw on cap to keep it contained. Of course there is more cardboard under the container and area with my tools, supplies and rags.

The Cardboard is reusable, so I just fold it up and store it away. The old shower curtain, as well as the cardboard, keeps the cold ground moisture, especially during winter OCI's, from chilling my bones and joints.

So when someone, in the hood, gets a large appliance delivery....I'm on the lookout for the empty box. I just slice down the sides, lengthwise with a utility knife, fold it up and keep it for the sole purpose of a absorbent "drop cloth" with insulating properties.

A couple of layers of cardboard is a lot better than nothing between you and the ground.....especially in winter. I also use a pre-cut cardboard box to put my drain pan into when the wind is blowing hard. It keeps the draining oil contained inside the box instead of all over the neighborhood.

 

[Jocephus]

I wear mechanix gloves, clear eye protection and wear a headlamp in addition to a drop light.

I also use one of the Oil Zap pad, which is great and really works well and is large enough to do both front and rear diffs and tranny if needed all at once if I plan on a fun afternoon.

I line out shop towels both under the vehicle and under the hood and lay out all the parts I'm gonna use ahead of time.

Then I run a ballgame on the radio, crack open a cold one, and take my time...that's the key.

 

[DragRace]

Latex gloves,and lotsa paper towels to keep myself and everything else clean.

 

[Lead Shoes]

I just put on some old clothes and roll up my sleeves, getting dirty is part of the fun with working on cars and doesn't really bother me.

 

[ag_ghost]

Newspapers under the oil pan. Do the oil first, pour it into empty plastic one gallone milk/water jugs, which our city takes from the curb.

Then put the pan back, on the newspaper of course, remove the filter, place the pan back under the drain plug to let the rest of it drip out while I mount the new filter.

Take care when pouring the hot oil through the funnel into the 1 gallon plastic jugs.

Any spills I just try to wipe up quickly.

 

[Kuato]

Our Jeeps have an angled oil plug, so gripping it from the high side allows you to avoid the initial gush.

But still have the shop rag handy...just in case.

 

[HTSS_TR]

There is no mess, no more than few drops of oil, changing oil and filter for the MB E430.

First, unscrew the cartridge filter holder cap on top of the engine, let it rest on top of the main filter holder for the oil dip down into the holder.

Connect the hoses of the Mityvac 7201 to vacuum the oil through the dipstick tube. While the Mityvac does it magic, put the filter holder on old news paper to replace 4 gaskets and filter.

When the Mityvac done it magic, pour 8 quarts of oil into the larger 3.5-4" filter holder (no funnel is needed), screw on the filter holder cap.

Pump old oil from the Mityvac into a large 2.5-3 gallons detergent jug for recycle.

One half or 1 paper towel to clean up any drop of oil on garage floor.

There is a mess changing spin on filter for S2000 and LS400, always some oil coming out of the filter so old news paper is placed under the filter.

 

[Chevys_n_Hawgs]

Use a plastic bag (or 2 or 3) from the grocery store, when you're spinning off your filter. Use it sort of like a "filter glove". I know some application it may be tough, and not always practical. You can catch the filter, as well as some oil in it, tie it closed, and the mess is contained.

 

[GumbyJarvis]

I get dirty, ah well.
I do oil changes and other dirty jobs at home in the morning, Ill wake up, have breakfast, and do them, then afterwards take a shower, best way to do it. Though I know exactly where to position the drain pan on my truck and how not to spill oil doing it (Though its a blessing my truck is pretty open, so I can see where people spill oil doing them)

Dads car on the other hand gets boxes under it to sop up anything.

Why wear gloves? I like the smell of awesome orange, gojo, or lava soap. LOL

 

[garlicbreadman]

-big cardboard under car
-hold my 5 quart drain pan against drain hole to avoid splashing
-twist the drain plug out from above to avoid oil running down my gloves
-change my oil COLD. I have a horizontal sitting oil filter so it's empty when the car is stone cold. I drain MORE and FASTER when my car is cold. If i do a warm drain, fluid will take forever to stream down from the entire engine.


i dont get a drop of oil anywhere anymore lol

 

[Vstrom]

I don't think the cold oil change is good. When the oil is warm and freshly circulated contaminants are suspended in it. If it sits until cold some may settle out and not be removed.


Some mentioned latex gloves- I wear nitrile gloves if I wear any, a lot tougher than latex.

 

[wirelessF]

I just did the first oil change on my new to me 02 silverado 1500 and the drain bolt was 90 degrees! The oil stream shot down the driveway until I was able to move the pan. A few seconds later the stream slowed down and it missed the pan, spilling more oil down the driveway. Removal of the filter wasn't helpful either.

Any huge tips here?

Looking at the bottom again, the drain and filter should switch sides.

 

[Garak]

Something must be terribly wrong. I had a completely uneventful oil change from a "mess" perspective on the G37 tonight, and I usually do messy oil changes on everything I touch. There were only a couple tiny stray droplets on the ground, and afterwards, my hands were almost as clean as when I went into the garage.

Fate must be taking it easy on me after the experience I had when I originally bought it. I made a large mess trying to pour the six litres plus with which the dealer had overfilled it into a spare five litre jug I had.

@wirelessF: Some people hate them; I love them. Google the Fumoto valve. For an application with sufficient room and clearance (a pickup likely fits that mold), you can get one with a part number suffix of N. You can use a piece of hose to direct the fluid drain wherever you like (i.e. into the pan).

 

[Shannow]

Drain pan, metrinch socket, and filter wrench.

Unscrew drain plug, 'till a few threads are still holding. grab plug with fingers, and unscrew remainder, still holding pressure on the threads, give an extra turn to ensure that they are free. Check pan position, then swiftly pull the plug away, wipe down, and put somewhere safe. Drain oil, reposition pan so that the drip under the drain hole is just caught, and pan is under filter. Remove filter.

2 fingers and a thumb is about as oily as it gets.

 

[demarpaint]

A nice big sheet of cardboard, a big drain pan, rags, and gloves. My hands stay as clean as they were before I start, the garage floor or driveway remains spotless.