RANT! Oil Change

[the_professional]

Well I'm not sure if the weather has anything to do with it, but I just completed the worst oil change ever.


It was about 32 degrees on a windy day, and I had the worst oil change ever.
I bought a 5 Quart Castrol GTX 5W-30 jug because it was on sale, I am used to the individual quart bottles. Well I thought I might as well switch her over to lighter oil and give her a decent filter to help her start easier with the cold days here. The old oil had about 2,000 miles on it but a lot of it was idling with stop and go traffic. The oil came out black. So 'upgraded' from a regular Purolator Premium to Purolator Pure One filter too.

Well, it started out alright, the wind though started whipping the dripping oil around and made a mess, what ever I thought. I was really rushing this oil change, and I never had this problem although it was referenced on here about Oil coming out of the filter as you take it off, and Oil dripped all over the place. Finally I put on the new filter and drain plug, and started pouring oil in the block with a funnel. & I came to the conclusion that the 5 Quart Jugs are really inconvient. Oil spilled on my valve cover and created a 'puddle' around one of my spark plugs. I wiped what I could off, but oil seeped under the rubber boot of the spark plug wire. All the while I think my hood struts are giving out as the wind easily pushed down my hood.

& I also did a little sea foam brushing of the butterfly valve. She started fine. But I never made a mess with an oil change before, and I am worried about the oil under the spark plug boot. Should I Worry?

Usually Oil Changes are fun but this one was different, it was cold, I forgot my beer, and it was a mess.

[Chris Crash]

That used to happen to me al lthe time.

Thats why I bought a 50 cent filler at walmart!

The oil under the wire boot shouldn't be an issue...I would assume it just burns off. It might smell funny for a while though. I've gotten puddles like you were talking about and it's never been an issue for me.

[the_professional]

Thanks!
I guess I just have to wait for it to burn off.

But you have given me peace of mind.

[hill8570]

Oil under the boot...no big. Just wipe up what you can -- stuff some paper towels down around the spark plug, let 'em sit a minute or so, then pull them out. If you leave a small bit, the rest will smoke off.

Your post brought back memories of my last change on my wife's 2008 Cam. Since there's damn near zero clearance under that rig, I had it up on short jackstands to do the change. I hadn't paid much attention to placing the stands (other than getting them on a frame member), and the passenger side one was right where I wanted to place the drain pan. Being basically lazy, instead of jacking back up and resetting the stands, I figured I could just unbolt the drain bolt a bit less than all the way, and let it drip fast instead of pour out. No such luck -- drain plug popped out, and I got a good quart of dirty oil on the floor of the garage before I could get the drain pan repositioned. Geez, what a mess...right up there with the time I used the wrong oil filter on my first rig (gasket in wrong place), and spewed half the oil change on the driveway when I pressure tested the change.

To paraphrase the old pilot's saying, "any DIY job you can drive away from is a good job"

[ricamryman]

That is why I gladly pay to do it!......(LOL)

[the_professional]

Originally Posted by hill8570

Oil under the boot...no big. Just wipe up what you can -- stuff some paper towels down around the spark plug, let 'em sit a minute or so, then pull them out. If you leave a small bit, the rest will smoke off.

Your post brought back memories of my last change on my wife's 2008 Cam. Since there's damn near zero clearance under that rig, I had it up on short jackstands to do the change. I hadn't paid much attention to placing the stands (other than getting them on a frame member), and the passenger side one was right where I wanted to place the drain pan. Being basically lazy, instead of jacking back up and resetting the stands, I figured I could just unbolt the drain bolt a bit less than all the way, and let it drip fast instead of pour out. No such luck -- drain plug popped out, and I got a good quart of dirty oil on the floor of the garage before I could get the drain pan repositioned. Geez, what a mess...right up there with the time I used the wrong oil filter on my first rig (gasket in wrong place), and spewed half the oil change on the driveway when I pressure tested the change.

To paraphrase the old pilot's saying, "any DIY job you can drive away from is a good job"

I love the quote.
Thanks, yeah I had a couple of napkins absorbing the oil under the spark plug boot. I'm at work but, I could really go for a beer. Just that oil changed pissed me off.

ricamryman, your right, but I don't mind the crap once its over, and I know I will treat my car better than someone else doing it cause I love my car too much. & I get more money in my pocket.

[ricamryman]

Originally Posted by the_professional

I love the quote.
Thanks, yeah I had a couple of napkins absorbing the oil under the spark plug boot. I'm at work but, I could really go for a beer. Just that oil changed pissed me off.

ricamryman, your right, but I don't mind the crap once its over, and I know I will treat my car better than someone else doing it cause I love my car too much. & I get more money in my pocket.

Yeah, I understand, but you made one hullava mess!!! I only pay $14.00 for a oil change since I bring my own filter & Castrol Edge!.....(LOL)...

[the_professional]

lol, nice.
I am never going to rush an oil change again.
Of all the times I did it, i guess one oil change had to suck.

But atleast I got it done in 20 minutes rather than the hour I usually take bull shitting with friends and going thru some beer, and inspecting the rest of the rig.

[Retrospekt]

Next time place a hefty piece of cardboard blocking the side of the car where the wind is coming from. I do that when I do my changes and it helps a lot. Or just borrow a friends garage.

[RningOnFumes]

lol.

I know hindsight is a bitch but..

You could have done this earlier in the season..you know, when it wasn't as cold?

Where would you get the oil and filter? Well I usually buy nearer to the time for a change but the autoparts stores often do great deals for gallon jugs/ 5 -1quart bottles plus filter so you can stock up, or at least buy at your leisure before a change.

Good job in the freezing cold though, lol I can understand the rush. Well, I can't, but as a Socal resident, I'm sure I couldn't do it as well, fast.

[Jimnist]

For a second, i thought i was going to read a thread about the dreaded 'double seal' on the oil filter.

Bit of oil on the plug and lead isn't bad. Just clean it up properly. I had a leaking tube seals(on the bottom at the threads) in cyl #4 and that caused it to ping when going up hills. So don't be alarmed if you hear it ping. Then again, it was pretty much covered in oil at the bottom, so....'she'll be right' xD

[fenixus]

heh, I wouldn't dare to change oil nowadays ... not in such weather ... brrrr, even re-torquing the wheel lug nuts was a pain (did it last night, brrrr).

wind is worst enemy when working on car, cold is not that bad (if not windy)... I wanted to avoid oil change in winter for my toyota, so i am running synthetic, will do 5k miles on it until Spring. although 4-banger is easy, oil filter on top comes out almost dry if car is cold, also reaching drain bolt is easy even with out jacking car up (unless you lowered it).

although I will have to change oil in my old V6 '92 Buick in Jan/FEB '10 brrrrr ... that's real messy even at summer, whenever I remove oil filter I have major oil spillage (almost unavoidable) everywhere ... and it requires jacking up to remove that damn oil filter (located by passenger wheel)... PITA.

[eddie926]

Just changed the oil on my V6 the other day, right before it got cold here. Every time I change it, I cuss the orientation of the filter. No matter what I've tried, I can NOT get that filter off without dumping oil all over. I pretty much have to degrease that area of my engine after every oil change.

I've got a Toyota Sequoia too, and you can take that filter off without getting a single drop on anything. Too bad they couldn't have worked that feature into the 1MZ.

[the_professional]

Originally Posted by Retrospekt

Next time place a hefty piece of cardboard blocking the side of the car where the wind is coming from. I do that when I do my changes and it helps a lot. Or just borrow a friends garage.

Thanks, I didnt really think about the cardboard, prolly would of blown away.

Originally Posted by RningOnFumes

lol.

I know hindsight is a bitch but..

You could have done this earlier in the season..you know, when it wasn't as cold?

Where would you get the oil and filter? Well I usually buy nearer to the time for a change but the autoparts stores often do great deals for gallon jugs/ 5 -1quart bottles plus filter so you can stock up, or at least buy at your leisure before a change.

Good job in the freezing cold though, lol I can understand the rush. Well, I can't, but as a Socal resident, I'm sure I couldn't do it as well, fast.

So true, I have the habit of doing shit on my car with the worst weather. The oil was on sale, and I wanted something easier flowing, so I thought might as well get it done now in 30 minutes. The jug was on sale and I had to get it, I am going to go back to 1 Qt bottles. The problem was I aimed it well into the funnel, but it flowed so shitty and would take forever to get in the block, so with it being practically full, I pulled up when the funnel was full, and bam the oil dribble down the bottle onto the valve cover.

Originally Posted by Jimnist

For a second, i thought i was going to read a thread about the dreaded 'double seal' on the oil filter.

Bit of oil on the plug and lead isn't bad. Just clean it up properly. I had a leaking tube seals(on the bottom at the threads) in cyl #4 and that caused it to ping when going up hills. So don't be alarmed if you hear it ping. Then again, it was pretty much covered in oil at the bottom, so....'she'll be right' xD

Thanks! Yeah, I haven't even smelled the oil burning yet, and she's running normal no issues. No double seal though, always lube the filter.

Originally Posted by fenixus

heh, I wouldn't dare to change oil nowadays ... not in such weather ... brrrr, even re-torquing the wheel lug nuts was a pain (did it last night, brrrr).

wind is worst enemy when working on car, cold is not that bad (if not windy)... I wanted to avoid oil change in winter for my toyota, so i am running synthetic, will do 5k miles on it until Spring. although 4-banger is easy, oil filter on top comes out almost dry if car is cold, also reaching drain bolt is easy even with out jacking car up (unless you lowered it).

although I will have to change oil in my old V6 '92 Buick in Jan/FEB '10 brrrrr ... that's real messy even at summer, whenever I remove oil filter I have major oil spillage (almost unavoidable) everywhere ... and it requires jacking up to remove that damn oil filter (located by passenger wheel)... PITA.

Yeah, I jack her up on a stock suspension, I find it easier to take off the drain bolt and position the oil pan. Doesn't bother me, this time around I didn't worry about jack stands as I wasn't really under the car other than the minute or so with the drain bolt. I've gotta re-torque the lug nuts. I feel you, the oil change on the old Impala's V8 isnt bad, I just get bored throwing bottle after bottle of oil into her.

[flyeri]

Here is a trick for the upside down 4cyl filter. After you remove the drain plug take a punch or screw driver and with a hammer make two holes in the top of the filter, one in the center and one out towards the edge. If you leave it 15 min or so you will be able to take the filter off with out spilling a drop. I usually stuff a paper towel near the bottom and hardly ever get any oil on anything even if I only let it drain for 5 min.