oil change mistake

[LBrown59]

I did the same thing on my new, to me an 06 vette last year. I caught it fast but it scared the crap out of me. It didn't hurt anything though.
I have been changing oil myself for more than 45 years and never seen that happen.

It's a good idea to always run motor for 5 minutes & check drain plug and oil filter for leaks after adding the oil.

 

[Bird]

It's a good idea to always run motor for 5 minutes & check drain plug and oil filter for leaks after adding the oil.

Yep, I probably don't go a full 5 minutes, but I start the engine and immediately start watching underneath to see if there's any leaks, and I watch long enough to be sure the oil has circulated and the oil pressure is up to normal; been doing that ever since I was 16 and working in my dad's service stations.

 

[deerefan]

It's a good idea to always run motor for 5 minutes & check drain plug and oil filter for leaks after adding the oil.

I usually do this, but in my haste to beat the rapidly diminishing day light, I did not. Hence, the mistake. At first, I was mad at Motorcraft for making a bad filter. I used to use mobil 1 but they have gotten pricey. When I found the mistake, I apologized to the motorcraft gods and called myself a few names. In all my years of changing oil, this is the first time something of this nature has happened.

 

[om21braz]

Real easy to commit the same mistake on a Dodge pickup with the Cummins too. Good to hear no permanent damage is present.

 

[EE_Bota]

I am not likely to do the gasket thing, since for some reason, it is my habit to try to get the oil film I need for the new gasket by wiping it off of the old gasket.

Now, I DID leave the drain plug out once, and that made a heck of a mess. I don't have a strategy for that, either. I hope it was a one shot deal, the first time and the last.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. you likely had flow.. but very little pressure.. or at least less pressure than the OP switch wanted. could be 6-16 psi.. if you were at idle you were likely ok as as low as 6 psi per 1000 rpm likely would prevent damage... not to mention there was an oil film on the bearings and journals already.

remember after a rebuild you are running on a thin smear of grease ( assembly lube ) for a few seconds till oil pressure comes up.

if it is really, really bothering you, to the tune of about 30$.. do another oil change and catch some oil for a UOA, and look for wear metals.. that and the cost of the oil change.. walmart oil change plus the uoa should eat about 30$

soundguy

 

[MoKelly]

She was not happy about having to crawl under that truck that night and drain that oil out.

Your daughter checks oil in the truck? Wow. I think that is great. My wife doesn't know oil exists.

MoKelly

 

[Bird]

Your daughter checks oil in the truck? Wow. I think that is great. My wife doesn't know oil exists.

MoKelly

We have 2 daughters, but before I'd let them get their drivers licenses when they were teenagers, I not only taught them to check under the hood and tire pressure, but required them to "demonstrate" changing a tire. They had to actually get the spare out, get the jack, lug wrench, etc. and change a tire.:laughing: Wife is a different matter.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Worst I have done (so far) is to not put the washer back with the drain plug. I finished up and was moving the old oil from the drain pan to containers and found the washer. Not fun but I only have done it once.

MoKelly

My buddy had this kind of happen but his washer/gasket was leaking. He tried to tighten it but did not work. We have a friend who is dumb as shasta and he came over to his house when he was about to drain the oil and put the new washer/gasket he got for it on then pour the oil back in. He said don't drain it. He went and got his shop vac, a wet rag, and a wrench. He took off the oil fill, took the wet rag and wrapped it around it, stuck the shop vac hose in and made a seal then turned on the shop vac. He then told the truck owner to hold it and he would be right back. He climbed under with a wrench, a paper towel, and the new washer gasket. Pulled the plug, wiped it down, put the new washer/gasket on, tightened it up and shut off the shop vac. Did not lose a drop.

He it is we though he was dumb but he showed us. Said it was a trick he learned working at a Jiffy Lube place. Moral of the story, sometimes a idiot can teach me something. LOL.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yep, I probably don't go a full 5 minutes, but I start the engine and immediately start watching underneath to see if there's any leaks, and I watch long enough to be sure the oil has circulated and the oil pressure is up to normal; been doing that ever since I was 16 and working in my dad's service stations.

I do the same. I also back out of my barn once I see oil pressure so I can clean up. If there was a leak I would see it on my concrete floor.

Chris