Changing Engine Oil [Archive] - Two Plus Two Older Archives

CardSharpCook

12-07-2005, 04:30 PM

OK, So I dedcided to change my own engine oil. How hard can it be, right? But I've encountered a problem. I've removed the old oil filter and let the oil drain, but damned if I only collected a little less than a quart of oil! WTF? So I poured some new oil in (about 1/2 a cup), just to be sure it would drain, and sure enough, no new oil drained out. Checked the dip stick. There is still plenty of oil in there. There has got to be some crucial step I am missing right? Gonna look this up on the internet, but I thought OOT's my best bet, so I came here first.

Thanks

daryn

12-07-2005, 04:32 PM

you pulled the plug out right? or are you just watching the area where you took the oil filter out?

CardSharpCook

12-07-2005, 04:34 PM

plug? this sounds important.

looking for "plug" now.

shakingspear

12-07-2005, 04:35 PM

Hahahaha. Yeah it is.

Gunny Highway

12-07-2005, 04:35 PM

[ QUOTE ]
you pulled the plug out right? or are you just watching the area where you took the oil filter out?

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh man this is good. This is why they have oil change places.

To the op, crawl up under the car and remove the plug. Put your eye real close to the hole so you can see if anything is blocking it.

12-07-2005, 04:35 PM

that'd be your crucial step.

should be on the bottom of the engine. usually takes a socket or a wrench to remove.

i got beaten to this by half of oot. eew.

jba

12-07-2005, 04:37 PM

[ QUOTE ]
that'd be your crucial step.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, take the plug out. not a big deal if you don't put it back in though, you'll just have to take it out again next time you change your oil.

samjjones

12-07-2005, 04:38 PM

There is some excellent advice in this thread.

CardSharpCook

12-07-2005, 04:42 PM

ok, ok, this is good. Now where exactly, in relation to the oil filter might I find this plug? Man, I swear it feels like the truck is gonna collapse and crush me when I'm under there.

codewarrior

12-07-2005, 04:46 PM

This is a troll, right? Seriously - you didn't know you had to pull the plug? Kids.

Bradyams

12-07-2005, 04:48 PM

The plug is on your oil pan which looks like the following picture. It's practically impossible to miss, and the plug should be at the lowest point. You can see it sticking out in the picture here.

http://www.diamondstarmotorsport.com/used_files/oil-pan.jpg

codewarrior

12-07-2005, 04:48 PM

Do you know what your crankcase is? That's at the bottom of the engine. You will find the plug near the bottom of this, off to one side.

Edit: See the above picture ^

CardSharpCook

12-07-2005, 05:19 PM

Good news everybody!!! I found the engine coolant plug!!

12-07-2005, 05:32 PM

we need photos of this adventure.

still searching for that sneaky oil plug eh?

CardSharpCook

12-07-2005, 05:51 PM

OK, I'm fairly confident I've found the plug. However, it requires that delightfully common socket wrench btwn 9/16 and 5/8. Do they actually make 19/32? God this sucks! Should have gone to JiffyLube.

12-07-2005, 05:53 PM

you have a foreign car, don't you?

jba

12-07-2005, 05:53 PM

jason_t

12-07-2005, 06:11 PM

[ QUOTE ]
OK, I'm fairly confident I've found the plug. However, it requires that delightfully common socket wrench btwn 9/16 and 5/8. Do they actually make 19/32? God this sucks! Should have gone to JiffyLube.

[/ QUOTE ]

And once you figure this out, make sure you have a drain pan so that you can dispose of the oil properly. There are laws governing the disposal or motor oil and you'll probably have to pay a disposal fee at your local refuse station.

CardSharpCook

12-07-2005, 06:17 PM

believe it or not, this much I know. Off to OSH to buy an adjustable wrench. on my bike.

kipin

12-07-2005, 06:19 PM

Look for one of these.

http://www.merchantmedia.com/images/productImages/gator1.jpg

That should work for you.

12-07-2005, 06:26 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Good news everybody!!! I found the engine coolant plug!!

[/ QUOTE ]
I hope you don't really mean the coolant plug...

crovax4444

12-07-2005, 06:53 PM

just remember, when your going to need to apply some force to take off the nut, however, don't put too much. I did that once, loosened the nut but compltely slamed my pinky into the bottom of the car, killing the nail...a painful 2 days + 2 months to grow that sucker back (while looking like a freak the entire time)

Have fun

Crovax

CardSharpCook

12-07-2005, 07:26 PM

well, I've succeeded in stripping the screw. This blows donkey nuts. Well, it's not totally stripped, but it isn't making things easier. I may try finding one of these "gator grips". I hate failure. But I may have failed here. But I'm not done yet. Will see what I can do tomorrow.

MrTrik

12-07-2005, 07:52 PM

Awesome laughs! Thank you very much. I'm still laughing ...

Gunny Highway

12-07-2005, 08:13 PM

[ QUOTE ]
And once you figure this out, make sure you have a drain pan so that you can dispose of the oil properly. There are laws governing the disposal or motor oil and you'll probably have to pay a disposal fee at your local refuse station.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, all the suckers do this.

BradleyT

12-08-2005, 01:58 AM

CSC,

Make sure you got the seal removed with the oil filter, sometimes it will stay on. It's just a rubber ring between the filter and the engine.

And when you put the new filter on, dip your finger in the oil and rub it around the seal on the new filter. Oh and I'd recommend an oil filter wrench too.

12-08-2005, 02:26 AM

Cardsharp- How much do you charge? Seems you've got the process dialed in.

wacki

12-08-2005, 04:18 AM

rusellmj

12-08-2005, 04:28 AM

If the screw head is stripped just use a pair of Vice Grips or a pipe wrench. A pipe wrench will increase it's grip as you turn it. As Wacki mentioned, the make of your car in most cases, will tell you whether you need SAE or metric tools.

God speed.

Victor

12-08-2005, 04:34 AM

[ QUOTE ]
you have a foreign car, don't you?

[/ QUOTE ]

actually my chevy requires a 13mm socket. gm cars have been metric since the 90s.

Victor

12-08-2005, 04:38 AM

[ QUOTE ]
ok, ok, this is good. Now where exactly, in relation to the oil filter might I find this plug? Man, I swear it feels like the truck is gonna collapse and crush me when I'm under there.

[/ QUOTE ]

you should never ever be tinkering under your car while its jacked unless you have some jack stands. especially if you are trying to loosed bolts that you have never messed with before. oil change places often overtighten the bolt bc the are standing under the car and get more leverage with a longer tool.

garion888

12-08-2005, 05:30 AM

Other good DIY car jobs

Fill the blinker fluid...
Replace Exhaust Bearings...

CardSharpCook

12-08-2005, 07:55 PM

I AM THE KING!!!! freaking 15mm socket wrench did the trick. Why, for the love of God, does Chevy use the Metric system? I've replaced the engine coolant, drained the oil, transfered oil into containers, now all I need to do is return the standard oil filter to get one that is considerably smaller. Now why does a truck, and I'm not talking one of those tiny import trucks, why does an american Chvey Silverado use such a tiny oil filter? Well, they do, so just a quick run up to Pep boys to get it exchanged and I am in business!

Frustrating experience, but damn did it feel good watching that stream of black coming from the oil pan after finally looseing that screw. In 100K miles, I'll even know how to drain my engine coolant. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks for the help, OOT, and glad I could provide a few laughs.

CSC

mrkilla

12-08-2005, 08:07 PM

depending on the car and part it was built in Canada, also Metric is becoming more common jsut in general for car parts

BTW thanks for the laughs

PS I hope you didnt strip the threads on the plug , and i pray the oil that came out was brown/blackish and not redish..if it was red uh, say Hi to your tranny for me ...

PPS Draining your coolant and refilling it this time of year isnt a bad idea either, should do a raditor flush too though, if you do please pelase post that as well. :P

d10

12-08-2005, 08:37 PM

There's no way this isn't a troll.

dynamite

12-08-2005, 11:30 PM

this is so great

mostsmooth

12-09-2005, 12:18 AM

[ QUOTE ]
CSC,

Make sure you got the seal removed with the oil filter, sometimes it will stay on. It's just a rubber ring between the filter and the engine.

And when you put the new filter on, dip your finger in the oil and rub it around the seal on the new filter. Oh and I'd recommend an oil filter wrench too.

[/ QUOTE ]
i always fill my filter with new oil before i put it on (in addition to lubing the seal of course)

siccjay

12-09-2005, 12:37 AM

All this trouble or spending $20 for an instant oil change? You make the call.

HtotheNootch

12-09-2005, 01:07 AM

[ QUOTE ]
All this trouble or spending $20 for an instant oil change? You make the call.

[/ QUOTE ]

My grandfather was a mechanic. My father is only slightly below my grandfather in ability. I'm pretty damn good when compared to the general population...

I have other people change my oil. First there's the cost. Even if I go to my "regular" mechanic (there are things that just aren't worth doing if you don't have a working shop), it still doesn't cost me that much more than the oil and filter by themselves. Second, there's disposal. You have to have a plan for waste oil disposal. It's not always legal or easy to get rid of. The cost of hiring someone to change your oil is far less than any fine you get for improper disposal.

One time in college, a girl offered me a case of beer and $25 to change her oil. I drove her car to Jiffy Lube. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

dblgutshot

12-09-2005, 01:12 AM

[ QUOTE ]

One time in college, a girl offered me a case of beer and $25 to change her oil. I drove her car to Jiffy Lube. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

This is great. I hope you got some oil and smeared it on your cheek and made yourself look exhausted, possibly by jerkin it in her car.

CardSharpCook

12-09-2005, 03:41 AM

[ QUOTE ]
All this trouble or spending $20 for an instant oil change? You make the call.

[/ QUOTE ]

There is the benefit of being allowed to have the oil drain completely and from resting state. You're right, though, that the costs are similar. However, it is easy to dispose of. Just take it to your local jiffylube or repair shop. I'm 2 for 2 in finding a place that will accept used oil for free.

Brainwalter

12-09-2005, 03:44 AM

My favorite part of this thread was when you said, I'm licked for today, I'm going to figure it out tomorrow.

Good job though, every man should know how to do this.