Oil & Fuel engine oil change

kjm3232 · Jul 23, 2007

Well i reached the 100 hr mark on my 1430 and i was changing the engine oil and was wondering when you take out the plug on the bottom of the engine most of the oil will come out of the hole that power trac has cut in on the bottom of the frame but the hole doesnt go completely under the drain plug so when the pressure weakens the oil drips onto the floor plate so i spent alot of time wiping up the oil that didn't go into my used oil bucket. My question is, is this the same on your pt's? if so, how do you minimize the cleaning of the used oil that goes all over? thanks for your inputs and suggestions

jfh28 · Jul 23, 2007

I use a plastic funnel. I had to cut a notch in it to fit around everything but once I get it in there it directs all the oil thru the hole in the frame.

Jack

Bob999 · Jul 23, 2007

I made a "funnel" by cutting the top off a quart oil bottle.

MossRoad · Jul 24, 2007

kjm3232 said:
Well i reached the 100 hr mark on my 1430 and i was changing the engine oil and was wondering when you take out the plug on the bottom of the engine most of the oil will come out of the hole that power trac has cut in on the bottom of the frame but the hole doesnt go completely under the drain plug so when the pressure weakens the oil drips onto the floor plate so i spent alot of time wiping up the oil that didn't go into my used oil bucket. My question is, is this the same on your pt's? if so, how do you minimize the cleaning of the used oil that goes all over? thanks for your inputs and suggestions

As you learn the quirks of your machine, you get to design tools to help you do stuff. I'd see if you can find a small plastic funnel that will fit under it and through the drain hole. Or, you could take a small plastic dish or tub like you get with packaged lunch meat and cut a hole in the bottom and slip it under the drain plug after you remove it and then position it over the hole in the skid plate.

Charlie_Iliff · Jul 24, 2007

MossRoad said:
As you learn the quirks of your machine, you get to design tools to help you do stuff. I'd see if you can find a small plastic funnel that will fit under it and through the drain hole. Or, you could take a small plastic dish or tub like you get with packaged lunch meat and cut a hole in the bottom and slip it under the drain plug after you remove it and then position it over the hole in the skid plate.

'course the next part of the lesson is when you drop the oil drain plug in your clever catch funnel, which immediately stops up and drains the remaining three quarts in the belly pan - out on the floor - and under those cardboard boxes which contain reasonably heavy parts with predictable consequences.

Marks481 · Jul 24, 2007

On my PT422, the engine came with an elbow (with a screw on cap)mounted in the drain hole on the engine, which cleaverly dumps the oil out about 1" over the hole in the bottom of the bed plate. Works like a champ... don't need to mess around with funnels at all, and it is easy to unscrew the cap by sticking a socket straight up through the hole on the bottom.

MossRoad · Jul 24, 2007

Charlie_Iliff said:
'course the next part of the lesson is when you drop the oil drain plug in your clever catch funnel, which immediately stops up and drains the remaining three quarts in the belly pan - out on the floor - and under those cardboard boxes which contain reasonably heavy parts with predictable consequences.

NOTE TO SELF: Make hole in cheap plastic drain pan a tad larger than the drain plug per Mr.Murphy.

kjm3232 · Jul 24, 2007

Tim_in_CT said:
On my PT422, the engine came with an elbow (with a screw on cap)mounted in the drain hole on the engine, which cleaverly dumps the oil out about 1" over the hole in the bottom of the bed plate. Works like a champ... don't need to mess around with funnels at all, and it is easy to unscrew the cap by sticking a socket straight up through the hole on the bottom.

I had tried using a funnel but there wasn't enough room to get the plug out and get the funnel in the right place to catch all the oil. any chance you can take a picture so I(we) can see how it looks. thanks all for the suggestions and tips.

J_J · Jul 24, 2007

Someone makes an adapter that screws in the oil drain hole. It looks like a small hose assembly that screws in the oil drain hole, and has an oil drain release at the other end. The Kohler on my Dixie Chopper has one on it, and lets you drain the old oil very easy. I would think any small engine shop would have this unit. You can also make one with a rubber hose and a bolt in the end with a clamp around it .

J_J · Jul 24, 2007

J_J said:
Someone makes an adapter that screws in the oil drain hole. It looks like a small hose assembly that screws in the oil drain hole, and has an oil drain release at the other end. The Kohler on my Dixie Chopper has one on it, and lets you drain the old oil very easy. I would think any small engine shop would have this unit. You can also make one with a rubber hose and a bolt in the end with a clamp around it .

And here it is.

Charlie_Iliff · Jul 24, 2007

J_J said:
Someone makes an adapter that screws in the oil drain hole. It looks like a small hose assembly that screws in the oil drain hole, and has an oil drain release at the other end. The Kohler on my Dixie Chopper has one on it, and lets you drain the old oil very easy. I would think any small engine shop would have this unit. You can also make one with a rubber hose and a bolt in the end with a clamp around it .

A different alternative is pumping it out the dipstick hole. Various places sell a vacuum bottle with different tubing sizes. I have one, and haven't spilled anything recently. (I'll probably dump over the vacuum bottle now that I've said that.)

kjm3232 · Jul 26, 2007

Charlie_Iliff said:
A different alternative is pumping it out the dipstick hole. Various places sell a vacuum bottle with different tubing sizes. I have one, and haven't spilled anything recently. (I'll probably dump over the vacuum bottle now that I've said that.)

I have one of the vacuum bottle and when i tried it on my hand push mower it took more time and effort than it was worth. JJ's picture looks like something that i get or make and will try next time i have to change the engine oil. thanks everyone.

toy · Jul 27, 2007

kjm3232 said:
Well i reached the 100 hr mark on my 1430 and i was changing the engine oil and was wondering when you take out the plug on the bottom of the engine most of the oil will come out of the hole that power trac has cut in on the bottom of the frame but the hole doesnt go completely under the drain plug so when the pressure weakens the oil drips onto the floor plate so i spent alot of time wiping up the oil that didn't go into my used oil bucket. My question is, is this the same on your pt's? if so, how do you minimize the cleaning of the used oil that goes all over? thanks for your inputs and suggestions

I have a 425 with kohler engine, and if I remember right mine has two drain plugs in the bottom of the engine one doesn't align up with the hole in the bottom of the tub but the other does perfectly. I hope I remember right, that will be something that I'll pay more attention to the next oil change. My sears garden tractor has a nipple in the oil drain hole with a t shaped cut off valve on it, and it works like a charm, thought about putting one on the pt.

RegL · Jul 27, 2007

kjm3232 said:
Well i reached the 100 hr mark on my 1430 and i was changing the engine oil and was wondering when you take out the plug on the bottom of the engine most of the oil will come out of the hole that power trac has cut in on the bottom of the frame but the hole doesnt go completely under the drain plug so when the pressure weakens the oil drips onto the floor plate so i spent alot of time wiping up the oil that didn't go into my used oil bucket. My question is, is this the same on your pt's? if so, how do you minimize the cleaning of the used oil that goes all over? thanks for your inputs and suggestions

It only seems like a problem because yours is so new. My 1430 has so much gunk down there that old oil running on it is like rinsing it out.lol!

J_J · Jul 27, 2007

RegL said:
It only seems like a problem because yours is so new. My 1430 has so much gunk down there that old oil running on it is like rinsing it out.Lil!

To everyone.

You really need to keep those engines and floor pans clean, in case of a fire. It is real easy to do. A bucket full of detergent water, one of those air guns that suck up fluid and squirt out a mix of cleaning agent and air, or a pressure washer with soap injector. Works quite well. Between that, and the leak finder in the oil, should help solve the source of your oil leaks.

Red Zebra · Aug 2, 2007

RegL said:
It only seems like a problem because yours is so new. My 1430 has so much gunk down there that old oil running on it is like rinsing it out.lol!

That's funny.

tracdoc · Aug 9, 2007

I use one of those treated paper drain funnels for the job. They fit right through the hole in the pan. You can bend 'em a bit to make 'em fit the way you want, and you can cut the tip to enlarge it so you can let the bolt drop through. Best of all, just toss the filter when the job is done. I get them at Wally World--they come 3 stapled together for about a buck.