2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Call HAZMAT!!

[stownsend]

It was time for an oil change today, so I was planning on replacing the stock plug with the EZ Change Drain Plug that I bought from Geno's. I forgot how fast the oil dumps when that plug comes out.



The stream of oil hit the container at such a force that about 3 quarts jumped out all over me and the garage floor. Then, the container hole is smaller than the oil pan hole so it couldn't keep up with the volume coming out of my truck. It started flowing over the lip og the container, adding about another 2 or 3 quarts to the garage floor.



As I'm sitting there drenched down my right side with oil, watching the river of oil flow down my driveway, I remember why I bought the EZ Change Drain Plug. I'll let you know in a couple of months how it works.



Steve

 

[work2muchplay2little]

stownsend, thanks for the laugh - been there a number of times and been baptized in just about every fluid a vehicle has to offer. These days I use a 5 gallon bucket, latex gloves, and Glad bags for the filter - but the wind can still reak havoc on my aim. The worst episode I can recall is when my buddy and I, while both employed as auto mechanics, were swapping out a torque covertor, there was a sudden shift in the transmission and he recieved a head to toe bath in ATF - made him feel nauseated for a while - ATF and other petroleum products have no real problem penetrating our skin... .

 

[Blu-meanie]

Ever try to change the ATF on a GM product? No drain hole. You drain some into a bucket and on to the floor, then you try to balance the rest to the floor. Hardly ever made it.

I have owned a F**D diesel for over ten years and every time I change the oil filter, oil runs down the filter as soon as the seal is broken. That last thread lets go when you least expect it. Many a quart has run down my arm and onto the floor and/or the whole filter is dropped. It's that good old sooty black kind too.

 

[Shovelhead]

Blu-meanie,

I use my bike lift to hold the trans pan up until I remove all the bolts.

It keeps the pan level, and lowers it slowly so no ATF bath.

You could probably do the same with a floor jack and a piece of plywood attatched to the pivot saddle.

 

[Todd G]

I used to have one of those 10 metal oil drain pans with the folding handles on the sides. After carefully draining my oil into the pan (without spilling a drop) and carefully sliding (slowly) the pan out from under the beast, I slowly lift up on the pan and carry it over to my 55gal drum. At this point the handle decides it no longer wishes to be associated with the pan and separates. Of course it's not a clean separation and it left a jagged edge. As pan with 11 quarts of hot oil heads for the center of the earth, said jagged edge makes new scar on left leg. Exon sized oil spil mixed with o-negative blood all over nice white freshly cleaned driveway. Fix wound first, get to oil after it has left 4 foot wide by 25 foot long racing stripe in drive. Drive to auto parts store for 50lb bag of kitty litter. I hate oil changes.

 

[Scot]

Originally posted by Blu-meanie

Ever try to change the ATF on a GM product? No drain hole. You drain some into a bucket and on to the floor, then you try to balance the rest to the floor. Hardly ever made it.

I have owned a F**D diesel for over ten years and every time I change the oil filter, oil runs down the filter as soon as the seal is broken. That last thread lets go when you least expect it. Many a quart has run down my arm and onto the floor and/or the whole filter is dropped. It's that good old sooty black kind too.

Take a #2 screwdriver and hammer it into the bottom of the old filter and let it drain.

 

[M Barnett]

I have a couple of those large oil drain pans and love them. The drained oil goes inside and a cap screws into the center when your done so you can't spill any draging it out from under the truck. It also has a pour spout so you can easily return the old oil to the container. You can't even lose your drain plug if you drop it. Worth their weight in gold. I think I found these at Wal-Mart. Be sure you don't get one of the small ones, this is pretty big. Also I drain my oil at the end of the day and let it drain all nite.

Michael

 

[zimman20]

I bought one of the large drain pans from Wal-Mart (15 qt. ). Because of the aforementioned gushing of oil and the too-small hole I came up with a better way (this was before I bought the easy-drain plug from Geno's, which ROCKS, by the way):



I took a regular bucket and drilled a hole through the bottom of it. I drive the truck up on matching mini-ramps I put together, staggered pieces of 2x4 screwed together, just to get the truck off the floor a few inches. I then put the bucket with the hole in it on top of the oversized drain pan and sorta-align the holes in the bucket and the pan, doesn't have to be perfect. The oil then collects in the bucket and drains out the hole and finds the hole in the drain pan. Worked until I got the plug from Geno's with the hose extension.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I just loosen my Super Plug one turn and let it drain out at a slow rate for about 5 minutes. Then take it all the way out. Dont spill anything. HOWEVER, my second oil change i used one of those fance drain pans that are like a "Jerry Can" with a funnel on the side and when your done draining your oil you can cap it and carry it away drip free. Well, lying under the truck i capped and pushed it out the passenger side behind the front wheel. Then, forgot about it. After i added oil, i stated up and backed out and heard a thump, then saw oil go flying every direction. I ran over the sealed container, it popped like a zit sending 12 quarts of hot BLACK oil all over the truck, the house, driveway and my freinds car. The driveway still looks like hell. Truck cleaned up ok though.

 

[zimman20]

BTW, the wind factor is why I stopped trying to change my oil in the driveway. It's such a wind tunnel that the oil blows every which way even on what seems to be the calmest days. I've taken to shoe-horning the truck into my garage as deep as I can with the dually fenders just to get out of the wind. Takes a few tries to get it straight. Then you either need to be skinny enough to fit between the garage opening and the truck or have a second garage door that you can walk in/out of.



What I wouldn't give for a double-wide garage door on my two-car garage! The openings are built for import econo-boxes, not for my wife's truck (although it will fit-barely) or mine.

 

[nickleinonen]

Originally posted by Blu-meanie

Ever try to change the ATF on a GM product? No drain hole. You drain some into a bucket and on to the floor, then you try to balance the rest to the floor. Hardly ever made it.

I have owned a F**D diesel for over ten years and every time I change the oil filter, oil runs down the filter as soon as the seal is broken. That last thread lets go when you least expect it. Many a quart has run down my arm and onto the floor and/or the whole filter is dropped. It's that good old sooty black kind too.

i guess i am lucky with my 4l80e transmission. it's got a drain plug, but i had to use an impact driver to knock it loose. looked like it was like 100 ft/lbs and locktite holding it in...

 

[RADdodge]

You will like the EZ Change Drain Plug. I use a 5 gallon gas can (round with flat top) for a drain can. Works just about right on a 4x4. Unscrew the EZ plug, align the plastic drain tube, insert it into the EZ drain and the oil starts to flow. No muss, no fuss. Man, those are oil horror stories. I hate making a mess.

 

[fest3er]

Originally posted by stownsend
... The stream of oil hit the container at such a force that about 3 quarts jumped out all over me and the garage floor. Then, the container hole is smaller than the oil pan hole so it couldn't keep up with the volume coming out of my truck. It started flowing over the lip og the container, adding about another 2 or 3 quarts to the garage floor. ...

As they say, oil's well that ends well, or the oily boid gets the woim.

Hmmm. There *is* an advantage to bypass filtration and extended drains after all! It's been so long, I've forgotten what an oil change is like!

Fest3er

 

[HTRDHLR]

Then, forgot about it. After i added oil, i stated up and backed out and heard a thump, then saw oil go flying every direction. I ran over the sealed container, it popped like a zit sending 12 quarts of hot BLACK oil all over the truck, the house, driveway and my freinds car. The driveway still looks like hell. Truck cleaned up ok though.

EMDDIESEL I am stil laughing That story is awesome

 

[stownsend]

You guys make me laugh. Where's a video camera when you need it.



You wouldn't think that changing oil could be so hazarous. On another vehicle I owned, the very first oil change I did on it turned into a trip to the doctor. Whoever did the oil change previous, tightened the drain plug down to about 100 ft. lb. I had both feet against the one tire, both hands on the wrench pushing as hard as I could. Needless to say the nut stripped and my hand hit part of the chassis and split my thumb wide open. (My kids learned some new words that day, as well as a new dance. )



I didn't change my own oil for two years after that experience. Did I mention how happy I am that I just installed the EZ Drain on my truck?

 

[wcaldwell]

Mine turn came about 1 1/2 weeks ago. Same kind of drain pain - fully enclosed with drain spout. I removed the center plug from the drain pan, pulled the plug from the oil pan and everything worked exactly like it should - EXCEPT - I forgot to open the breather plug on the drain pan. Probably 4 quarts on the garage floor.



Still nothing like Emdiesel's example.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

What happened that fatefull day was one of the 5 most terrible expieriences of my life. The mess was unbelievable and covers an area maybe 25 feet wide and is STILL there to this day.

 

[Hohn]

easy oil changes

We have all had bad oil changes, and those are the ones we remember, aren't they? I remember one on a certain ND day in the middle of winter. Sunset is about 4 PM that time of year, and it happened to be about -45° at the time. Drain plug was OK, but the filter nearly killed me.

Anyway, life has gotten much easier now. On my Maxima, I installed a Fumoto Engineering drain plug. It's a little ball valve in a housing that replaces your drain plug. When closed, it doesn't leak (and it LOCKS) so it will NEVER leak. Yet, with a flick of your hand, you can drain your oil. And, because the opening is only about 1/4", you don't have to worry about draining faster than your catch can will allow.

Geno's has these drain valves, (made by Fumoto) but they don't market then under that name. Just look for the one in the brass housing. Summit Racing also has them, as well as a version that has a little nipple on it that lets you connect a regular, transmission cooler-sized hose to it and drain your oil away. These little valves are one of those why-doesn't-every-car-have-them kind of things. They work like a charm, and they're cheap.

The other thing I did was switch to Redline oil. That stuff is amazing. I go 15K on a drain, changing the filter at 7500.

 

[McDowra]

Hohn

I agree with you about the Fumoto Valve. It is worth every penny it costs. After I installed it I also installed the remote mount filter which really make changing oil easy.



Tim

 

[Turbo Trucker]

I just back the plug out a few turns and it drains plenty fast. Plus it'll actually drain more out than completely removing the plug will.