Finger Touch oil drain valve thoughts?

[Bob Cochran]

If you make oil samples; makes doing this in mid-stream easy to get oil in those tiny sample bottles!!!

I've seen that valve for years in the Geno's catalog too and always thought it was a dumb idea. Why take the risk of having a valve on your oil pan that could get snapped off or opened up while driving when the factory drain plug is so simple and secure?... You all have opened my eyes a little though as to how convenient it could be. If you had some empty jugs around it would be nice to be able to control the flow and just fill them up right from the oil pan. Sounds like a lot of you have used the valve for years without incident. So I guess it's not so dumb after all... I'm not sold yet though. I'll keep my drain plug and trusty 5gal bucket for now.



I do have and engine with that other kind with the hose you screw on. It's on my Bobcat 442 excavator. It came with it from the factory. It's a 75 hp turbo oil cooled Deutz. Maybe it's a Deutz thing, but you have to have something like that in this application because of the bell pan. The hose gets the oil out without making too big of a mess. It works good, but it drains a little slow.



Rick

 

[Zak Smith]

And it's super easy to draw just enough to fill one oil sample container. .

 

[BurlesonR]

Yeah, it would be nice for getting samples.

The pluses keep adding up!

 

[Bob Cochran]

Absolutely when using oil sample to determine if you need to change the oil or not.

And it's super easy to draw just enough to fill one oil sample container. .

 

[Newf Limo]

I have had the EZ Drain- for about nine years or so. Love it. I keep my empty set of old amsoil jugs, and attach the shortened hose, slide under the truck and drain the oil right into the jugs. You just back the hose off the plug a couple turns and it closes the valve. No drain pan needed, no dumping the drain pan into jugs through a funnel. After refilling the engine with oil, I have the next set of empty jugs.



I also found that a "Homer Bucket" from Home Depot fits right under the truck. Sometimes I drain right into that, put a lid on it, and take the bucket down to the local garage for oil recycling (or re-using for heating fuel). It is a tight fit though, and makes it hard to use the hose because you don't have a lot of room between the top of the bucket and the oil pan. Since I am going back to 265's for tires, I guess I am back to filling jugs.



I'd do it again.

 

[AMink]

I used a 5 gallon detergent bucket from Costco, then they went to a smaller square version. I was bummed, but found out it works even better. It gives a little more room to get your hand between the bucket and the Fumoto valve.



I think the best thing about the valve is I don't end up with oil down my hand and arm trying to open the traditional drain plug without dropping it in the oil. Finally, I gave up on that and got an extendable magnet. Then the Fumoto.

 

[AH64ID]

And it's super easy to draw just enough to fill one oil sample container. .

I would want to dump a bit first so your not getting whatever was sitting in the drain when you opened it.

 

[Bob Cochran]

I like to drain mine when the oil still hot just after shut down. I sure miss hot oil running down my arm into my armpit. Must be getting wimpy in my old age!!!!

I used a 5 gallon detergent bucket from Costco, then they went to a smaller square version. I was bummed, but found out it works even better. It gives a little more room to get your hand between the bucket and the Fumoto valve.



I think the best thing about the valve is I don't end up with oil down my hand and arm trying to open the traditional drain plug without dropping it in the oil. Finally, I gave up on that and got an extendable magnet. Then the Fumoto.

 

[RMachida]

Another fan of the Fumoto valve. No issues with it opening and the bottom of the valve is still above the bottom of the front axle. I drain directly into gallon milk jugs. No pan or bucket to mess with. I've had it since the first oil change on my 2005. Worth every penny.

The problem I have with the other one is that I'd probably loose the hose in the garage.

 

[DonT]

I have been using the Fumoto valve on different vehicles for years. I have never had any troubles with any of the valves. I put on my '10 Ram on the first oil change and I am sure it will not give me any trouble.

 

[AH64ID]

Another fan of the Fumoto valve. No issues with it opening and the bottom of the valve is still above the bottom of the front axle. I drain directly into gallon milk jugs. No pan or bucket to mess with. I've had it since the first oil change on my 2005. Worth every penny.



The problem I have with the other one is that I'd probably loose the hose in the garage.

You must have a leveling kit??



On my 05 and my dad's 06 the oil pan was within 1/2" of the axle tube, and that valve looks to be much taller than 1/2".

 

[SOLER]

I've got the EZ drain with the hose. Works great. just put the hose on and forget. Don't have to hold a valve or anything. Also, if you have more than one vehicle, only have to have one hose. Well, if it takes the same size. The hose makes it easy to figger out exactly where the oil is going to go. Sometimes, with the original plug, especially on other vehicles, it's hard to aim the bucket in the right place since I'm laying on my back and the oil pan is so high off the ground.



It also doesn't protrude out much. Either of them are going to offer a cleaner oil change. I've not used the drain valve version, but the one with the hose is GREAT. I'm going to do what others do... use empty oil jugs. Then, just put the lid on, take to Autozone, and DONE. Don't have to clean my container after the oil change before putting in car/truck. Don't have to wait for Autozone clerk to bring my container back. Me likes that idea a lot!



No more oil down (or up) my arm. No more dropping the plug in the pan. I used to use one of these Blitz/15 qt. oil recycle pan (11838) | Oil Drain Pan | AutoZone.com

The truck plug fell right in the middle once and the geiser coming out of the truck filled the top up QUICK, fast, and in a hurry. I had 1. 5 gallons of used oil on my driveway before I could get another container under there. Now I use this Blitz/5 gal. oil drain pan (11845) | Oil Drain Pan | AutoZone.com with this Blitz/3/4 x 25 x 36 in. galvanized drip tray (11430) | Oil Drain Pan | AutoZone.com but it's all overkill now that I have the EZ plug.



Oh, and BTW, that Blitz 15 qt pan really isn't 15 qts. Our trucks ('03 and later) take 12 qts, and this container is full when I've drained my truck and filter into it.

SOLER

 

[RMachida]

You must have a leveling kit??

On my 05 and my dad's 06 the oil pan was within 1/2" of the axle tube, and that valve looks to be much taller than 1/2".

No, no leveling kit. The bottom of the little brass tube is still about an half an inch above the bottom of front axle housing. Not sure why the difference. Here is a picture I sent someone a while back who had the same question.

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[FParisi]

I had the EZ on my '95 for 100,000mi. Put one on my new 2009. I like the double seal.

Once on the 95 there was a slow leak when I took the o-ringed cap off. I drained the oil + took the plug out + there was a small peice of gasket material in the drain valve. No leakage until I took the cap off! That, controlled flow + no tool, no spill oil changes!!!

 

[AH64ID]

No, no leveling kit. The bottom of the little brass tube is still about an half an inch above the bottom of front axle housing. Not sure why the difference. Here is a picture I sent someone a while back who had the same question.

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Lets see a photo of your springs. Someone a few months ago said the same thing, turned out they had a leveling kit and didn't know it.

That looks about where my axle sits with a 2" level kit.

 

[RMachida]

Lets see a photo of your springs. Someone a few months ago said the same thing, turned out they had a leveling kit and didn't know it.



That looks about where my axle sits with a 2" level kit.

What part of the front springs? In other words, where does a leveling kit go? I've had the truck since it was new and haven't touched anything with the suspension.

 

[AH64ID]

On the top of them where they contact the perches.

 

[RMachida]

On the top of them where they contact the perches.

No spacer on top of the spring. No leveling kit. Picture didn't come out, I'll try it again with a regular camera.



Maybe just differences in manufacturing, or I just don't have that many miles...

 

[AH64ID]

Interesting. I looked at my buddies '10 over the weekend and his sits about 1. 5" higher than mine did stock, only about . 5" lower than mine with a level kit. My dads 06 was just like mine.

I'll try to snag a photo tonight.

 

[AH64ID]

So here are 2 trucks, the top one is a '10, no level kit. The bottom is my '05 with a 2" level kit.



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And here is my spacer. .



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Its very interesting that my '05 3500 SRW and my dads '06 2500 with 2" level kits have essentially the same clearance as your '05 3500 SRW and Dan's '10 3500 SRW do without level kits. My truck does have a little more clearance, but not 2" worth.