DIY Mechanic Mistakes

seaneastok · Jul 26, 2015

Ahh yes..I was sent to the "basement" when I worked at a meat plant that produced pork product's. I was a bit wiser and after i realized I had been had, I went to the break room and had a very long unauthorized coffee break. At that point I really didn't care if they thought I was slow since it was a constant 38 degree's in the plant.

Although sending new hire's for a case of pig squeals never got old..:laughing:

cat fever · Jul 28, 2015

aczlan said:
Crack it loose (but not enough for it to leak), then punch a hole in the bottom of the filter with a screwdriver.
Once the oil drains out, remove the filter.

Aaron Z

Thanks;
I will give this a try next oil change.

ecbaatz · Aug 14, 2015

aczlan said:
Crack it loose (but not enough for it to leak), then punch a hole in the bottom of the filter with a screwdriver.
Once the oil drains out, remove the filter.

Aaron Z

Just double check you have the correct new filter first, maybe even triple check.

BTDT

aczlan · Aug 14, 2015

ecbaatz said:
Just double check you have the correct new filter first, maybe even triple check.

BTDT

Ouch, that would be a problem.

Aaron Z

buckeyefarmer · Aug 15, 2015

When changing the oil filter, make sure the gasket of the old one is removed... They like to leak with 2 gaskets...

RedNeckRacin · Aug 15, 2015

Anybody else break bolts off putting things back together? Or have to make three trips to town to gets parts for almost every job?

LD1 · Aug 15, 2015

Never break bolts putting things back together. But then again, I like to clean them with a wire wheel on a bench grinder, If the hole looks cruddy, tap and blow it out, then anti-seize.

damartin · Aug 16, 2015

About 25 years ago I was changing the oil on my Dodge 318 V8. I had put the car up on ramps and had finished draining the oil and installing the new filter. After replacing the oil pan drain plug and dragging the drain pan out from under the car I rolled the car back off the ramps to add the new oil. I always put the car in neutral and push the car off the ramps before adding the new oil so the front end is lower and easier to reach in under the hood to add the oil.
Just then my wife called me into the house to answer a phone call, I probably talked for about 20 minutes more or less. I always lower the hood before rolling the car back so the hood doesn't hit the top of the garage door opening as it is rolling back. After my 20 minute conversation I returned to finish the job and since the hood was closed, I forgot that I didn't yet add the new oil.
I then started the car, backed it up and parked it to the right side of the driveway. Just as I reached for the key to shut it off I remembered that I had not added the new oil before starting and moving the car. I then had a very bad feeling that I had just made a very expensive mistake.
Well I immediately added the oil and drove it for about 1/2 hour. The oil pressure was normal and I didn't hear any odd ticking or other bad noises coming from the engine.
We kept that car for many more years with no engine problems and traded it in with high mileage. I think I dodged a bullet(pun intended).
Every now and then you get lucky, I think I did that day. Have a good one.

Dwight

Sodo · Aug 16, 2015

I had a roommate who had a Chevy Sprint (Suzuki?) appx 1988. He told me about changing his oil, and it leaking from the filter, such that the oil light would turn on every couple days, and he'd add some oil. Then he had to pick up his sister at the airport. Oil light came on as they were driving home and he said he didn't stop because he was worried if he shut it off it might not start and he wanted to make it home, but he made it, just barely, it quit in the driveway. Lucky guy! I unscrewed his filter, and screwed it back on flat, and he put ore oil in it. Didn't run as well but it ran long enough to get in a car accident and total the car. This fella was an airline pilot (Cascade regional airlines) who quit flying to become an accountant.

RedNeckRacin · Aug 16, 2015

LD1 said:
Never break bolts putting things back together. But then again, I like to clean them with a wire wheel on a bench grinder, If the hole looks cruddy, tap and blow it out, then anti-seize.

Well it took me a long time to learn that, just a lil tighter isn't always better! A half inch drive ratchet isn't always needed either. I also used to use a 4 way wrench to put the lug nuts on my vehicles until I got the torque wrench out and found out putting some muscle into it was way over tightening!