Oil changin question

Yes. Imagine it's like blood. Your heart pumps it all over right? Same thing when the motor is running. And after you change it, get a magnetic drain plug to suck all that BS to the bottom.

Although if you don't wait I'm sure your car will be fine.

Well the oilfilter would catch debris whats left in there, so change that aswell.

I found it works better to change it while the oil is still warm/hot. Drive the car for a bit - 15-20 min at operating temp. park it for an hour or so then change it. An hour is long enough for most of the oil to drain to the bottom and the 'last little bit' seems to come out of the oilban better when its still warm.

its a tradeoff...if you let it sit, all the oils on the bottom, but lots clings to even that part since its cold and thick. if its warm, it flows out more easily, but is distributed all over and takes just as long to get to the drain plug from the upper engine.

either way, just do what you like.

I'm in the 'drain hot' group here. Also I hate the oil leaking down my block, so I poke a small hole in the filter and let 'er drain about 10 min. I think you get more 'sediment' out that way than cold, since the sediment will settle on the bottom of the pan and stick, not draining with your cold oil...

i guess i would want all the debris to still be hanging within the oil so as it drains, everything comes out with the oil?

jasontoy said:

Would it make sense to let my corolla sit for 2 hours and let the setiment fall to the bottom before changing oil? My mechanic said to leave it overnight and change it first thing in the AM on a 70 degree day, allowing the oil to settle before changing.....j

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I'd look for a new mechanic. That's an old wives tale. Oil changes are suppose to be done while the engine is at least 150 degrees while the particles are suspended within the oil. This procedure is listed in all diesel manuals such as Cat, Detroit & Cummins which run 1 million miles between inframe overhauls and diesels are quite a bit dirtier than gas engines.

The Haynes manual says the engine should be at "normal operating temperature, which warm oil & sludge will flow out more easily." That's a bit too hot for me!

I usually drain the oil when it's hot because I don't really have a choice. I have to pay hourly rental fees for the bay at the auto shop to work on my car. I usually let it cool a bit by rotating the tires but that's about it.

i prefer warm...and to let some of the sediment to sit on the bottom. so maybe half an hour-1 hr after its at running temps. i also have a hard drive magnet just above the drain plug to catch ferrous bits at least.

I like to drain cold, doesnt burn my fingers... and why would I want to burn my fingers when I can drain cold