oil change mistake

[Diamondpilot]

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.

Why would you use old oil for this? I always open a container of oil and dip my finger in it to lube the new filter before I go under to do the change. Always new oil, never old dirty stuff. Its the first thing I do. I then slide under with 2 drain pans. Drain oil in one and in a much smaller one pull the filter then install the new on asap.

Chris

 

[EE_Bota]

Why would you use old oil for this? I always open a container of oil and dip my finger in it to lube the new filter before I go under to do the change. Always new oil, never old dirty stuff. Its the first thing I do. I then slide under with 2 drain pans. Drain oil in one and in a much smaller one pull the filter then install the new on asap.

Chris

Chris, we are talking around a drop of oil, so I don't think it is a problem, but I could do better. But, I thought I would ask, why do you install the new filter ASAP? There has to be a lesson there, so what is it?

 

[Bird]

For the amount of oil in question, it might not make any difference, but like Chris, I always used new oil on the new gasket; just doesn't seem right to use the dirty stuff.:laughing: But I only used one drain pan; used it to change the filter, then moved it to the drain plug.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Chris, we are talking around a drop of oil, so I don't think it is a problem, but I could do better. But, I thought I would ask, why do you install the new filter ASAP? There has to be a lesson there, so what is it?

Just efficiency. I do about 100 oil changes per year. I just do it while I am there. I have gotten to the point where I can change the oil in 15 minutes from start to finish. That includes putting all the tools away, pouring the used oil in the recycling jugs, ect.

Another thing I do is I numbered all my filter wrenches. I put that number on the oil change sticker plus the size of the drain plugs needed wrench. On things like mowers, tractors, and boats I write it on the filter itself along with the hours it was changed.

Chris

 

[dstig1]

The oil is just there to lube the gasket so it goes on better and doesn't stick coming off. You can use anything. I typically use the old oil as I can dip a finger in it from the drain pan that is right there. I put the filter on well before I open up the first new bottle of oil, so the old oil is much handier. And I ALWAYS check for the old gasket. Learned that one when the new filter wouldn't go on quite right for some reason many years ago...

I think the trick EEbota posted is a good one - use the oil on the old gasket. Makes you check that it came off with the filter. Wise move.

I take my time with car work. I screw things up enough as it is. I don't need to be hurrying to add more screw-ups to the pile...

 

[deerefan]

I bought 2 quarts of oil and a new filter this morning and put it on this evening. All went well but what I found amazing is the engine only had about a quart of oil in it. I did not realize that much leaked out. Luckily I had some extra in the barn. Thankfully I got it shut down before catastrophic failure.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I bought 2 quarts of oil and a new filter this morning and put it on this evening. All went well but what I found amazing is the engine only had about a quart of oil in it. I did not realize that much leaked out. Luckily I had some extra in the barn. Thankfully I got it shut down before catastrophic failure.

You will be surprised how much is in the old filter. Like I said I do more than 100 oil changes per year. I have already done two this week. I used to just turn over my filters for the night in a pan and let them drain. I then got fancier with a piece of old chicken wire on a wood frame set over a 5 gallon pale in the corner of my barn to let them drain.

About 2 months ago or so I made a drain catch pan. Its simply a old cake pan with a piece of expanded metal mesh on the top secured by 4 holes and 4 zip ties. I mounted it at a slight angle with a hole drilled in the low corner. It has a fitting and a piece of hose going down to a empty gallon oil jug.

What I now do is take a punch and punch a hole in the filter at the top and then one by the base plate as a vent. I then place them on the drain rack for a week or so with the top of the canister down and the base plate up. I can clearly see how much oil drains out and into my gallon jug. I changed the oil on 3 things last week. One was a 4.6L V8 Lincoln Aviator. One was a mower with a 18HP Kawasaki Motor. The last was a boat with a GM based 6.2L V8 engine. When I threw out the filters tonight I had drained nearly 2qts of oil from these 3 filters. I am amazed at how much more oil I get out versus just turning them upside down and draining.

Chris

 

[timswi]

I had the gasket stay behind on my 396 Chevelle once...That thing runs so hot sometimes that I think the gasket just stuck to the block. I did catch it though...Ever since, I check the old filter and the housing...I also check the pipe thread with my fingers, just to make sure it's tight...I did run into one of those backing one time...Don't remember what kind of car, but I'm sure it was an old one.

One other thing I do is double check that the gasket mounting surface is the same on both filters, Set the old one on the workbench, set a paper towel on top and set the newly lubed filter on top just to make sure they are the same (outlines are left on the paper towel)...Have run into times where they weren't even though the part numbers are correct...Why? Who knows? Even the counter guy didnt understand. Bad packaging or general mischief somewhere.

Bird, love that your daughters know how to change oil...That is outstanding. If they have to get their car worked on, most likely no one will be able to blow jive by them. Hat's off to that.

 

[hosspuller]

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.

Same with my two daughters... Each has been glad they knew how at least once so far... 28 and 30 years old.

Parents job is to prepare children for life on their own, not live it for them.

 

[bigtiller]

Since all the manufactures started using the spin-on oil filters I have not had a gasket mishap. But back when everything had the canister type filter sometimes the gasket had to be dug out with what ever handy tool we could get up in there. I guess that is where I got in the habit of looking at the old one very good before putting in the new stuff.