Finger Touch oil drain valve thoughts?

[98ramtough]

So I searched the forum and found many good things to say about the fumoto finger tough valve sold at Genos. I just placed my order. And of course ordered a fuel filter, oil filter, cummins keychain, and a nifty looking yellow cheater bar. .



So reassure me guys. This valve will not open by itself or have a stick or something offroad open the valve...



I have 1/4 turn ball valves on all my pitcocks in my boat and have never had a problem. I am hoping this will be the same!

 

[AH64ID]

Plain and simple, they scare me... There is no way I would run one on my truck. Without a lift the oil pan and axle are at the same level, 60% of the reason for my level kit was to raise the oil pan level. . Dropping it another inch with a valve is a no-go in my book.

That being said, I have never read about any issues.

 

[dfirlik]

I have had a fumoto valve on my 03 for the last four years and have driven the washes in AZ with nary a problem or concern.



Don (MI)

 

[67guzzler]

I have the one from Genos with the little lever on my 2010 and it's great. 'FINGER TOUCH' OIL DRAIN VALVE - 18MM ('02-'10 DODGE) W/NIPP-Dodge Cummins Diesel Truck Accessories - Geno's Garage

I had the same one on my 2005 before it. Best thing I ever did if I wanted to change my own oil. It's nearly impossible without it on the 2010's the way it flows (splashes) out the oil drain.

I never had a problem with it opening on my 2005 and I doubt I will on this one. It has a tiered slot for the lever and it would take a miraculous push and then pull to get it to open on it's own.

I do my own oil changes and it's great. The flow is slow and manageable and you can change your oil with no stress.

 

[AMink]

I have the Fumoto one and love it. Yes, it hangs down a little. Bottom line is, if you whack the drain valve, you've likely broken something else in the front end already. I don't use my truck for heavy duty 4 wheeling (it is a little too big:-laf) but it does spend a lot of time on dirt and other unimproved roads. Never had a problem. Just like your front differential, you have to remember it's there and where it is.



It makes the oil change painless. You can get the oil hot and just open it and get a good drain. Definitely recommend it for the DIYer.

 

[notron46]

drain plugs

how much deeper into the pan does this type of plug extend? does it prevent drainage of the very bottom of the pan? is the one with the screw on tube and the screw on cap when your done a better type as it does not hang down at all? Norton

 

[67guzzler]

I drained my oilpan all the way till it was dribbling with NO plug in the pan. Then I inserted the plug with the drain into the pan. It then continued to dribble. So I'm confident that the plug does not protrude extensively into the pan. This is the one with the lever -- no screw on.

#ad

 

[Metalaram]

I drained my oilpan all the way till it was dribbling

Did you shake after it was dribbling or not? I was just trying to understand the proper technique:-laf





I have been looking at the finger touch and the other one with the hose that goes on it.



EZ CHANGE DRAIN PLUG - 18MM ('02-'10)-Dodge Cummins Diesel Truck Accessories – Geno’s Garage



Both have pros and cons. The finger touch is cheaper and simpler but sticks down a ways.



The other one is pricey and needs the hose to work but is low profile and the hose could help control splatter.



I like Mr guzz have a 2 inch level and 34 inch tires so I don't think clearance is an issue. I am leaning towards the hose one but am not 100% yet. I was actually going to start a thread on the issue but obviously got beat to the punch

 

[rcornel]

You should not have any problems with this valve as I have one on my 2007. 5 Mega Cab and just changed the oil yesterday and with the detent and rotation you must make to open the valve I can see no way for it to open on its' own. (Well I guess you could knock it off on something but that would most likely put a hole in the pan any way) AND the oil drains straight down into the drain pan and not on your hand/arm... .

 

[67guzzler]

I agree with rcornel. All I know is that I had this valve for 5 years and countless miles on my 2005 and no problems. I know there are theoretical possibilities but there are the same possibilities for a million other things that could go wrong with other parts that we don't even know to think of. I wouldn't worry. Just my $. 02. -Guzzler

 

[AH64ID]

EZ CHANGE DRAIN PLUG - 18MM ('02-'10)-Dodge Cummins Diesel Truck Accessories – Geno’s Garage

I had a similar setup on my 22RE rock toy a few years back. It worked great. The rig was IFS still, so clearance wasn't an issue. . But clearance is MUCH better with that unit than the other one.

 

[HBarlow]

I had seen the Fumoto drain valve in the Geno's catalog for years and was also skeptical like others have posted. About the time I bought my current truck I learned that my friend Bill Stockard who I know to be very conservative and careful had been using one for several years without incident, so I bought one.

My truck is a highway driven 2wd so I think the risk of striking a foreign object and breaking it off is minimal. So far no problems at about 82,500 miles.

 

[Metalaram]

The pic on top is how you run it which would only stick down about 1/2 inch. The lower pic shows with the tube and connector on when you are draining.

 

[Zak Smith]

The Fumoto drain valve is great. I don't think it could be opened accidentally, but I do put a small hose clamp on the finger-valve portion to make triple sure it can't be opened accidentally.

 

[67guzzler]

The Fumoto drain valve is great. I don't think it could be opened accidentally, but I do put a small hose clamp on the finger-valve portion to make triple sure it can't be opened accidentally.

That's a great idea. Can you snap and post picture sometime of how you did it?

 

[Zak Smith]

Here you go. I have the 90-degree valve protrusion pointing to the front of the truck so any rock impacts would not activate the valve lever.

I just went through the clamp bin at the hardware store to find one that fit right. If you look closely, part of the clamp is actually inside the recess the lever would have to move in and physically blocks lever movement.

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[Bob Cochran]

When we first discussed this valve here on TDR years ago concern was expressed if all the oil would drain. At the time many of us cross drilled the valve to get the last drop. Honestly I think we was kinda anal about this. I doubt without modification the amount of oil left would do anything to harm engine or degrade your new oil appreciably.

I forgot to add I have had this since they was first advertised in Geno's and have had not problems breaking off or opening. Of course I don't have a 4wd but do a lot of driving on gravel rural roads.

 

[67guzzler]

Zak -- I see 100%!!! There is no way the lever could move. I think it's unlikely it would anyway but doing what you did makes it impossible. Smart idea! Appreciate you snapping the fotos!

 

[PatrickHansen]

I have used one on my various vehicles for about twenty years now. Never had any mishaps or accidental opening of the valve. I keep some scraps of tubing around to attach to the nipple and drain directly into the jugs I take to my recycle.

 

[BurlesonR]

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