Today was oil change day

Haven't been driving much this year (and more truthfully had just been putting it off for some cars) but just bit the bullet and did oil changes on all of our "dailies" today. Nearly 20qts of oil between one Honda and two Jags.

Also, because the lift is tied up (I'm working on that), I was doing it the old way with a creeper and ramps.

Holy moly was it rookie day or what? I spilled significant oil on each change.

The Honda went first. No spill of course underneath, since there's not much oil and the filter is in an ok location. I was also the previous changer so the filter wasn't stuck. Filled it up 90%, started it to watch the oil light go off and to back down off the ramps for the final filling. Then I go to add oil the last 10%, and start pouring it in the funnel. Yep, funnel isn't actually in the oil fill hole any more. So I'm just pouring oil down the front of the engine. Lovely.

Next was the 1998 Jag. Super easy drain location and filter. Also I was the last person to change this one so easy filter removal. Except I dropped it. Then I caught it quickly by some miracle, but oil splashed all over. As I was cleaning that up, I noticed that the strong flow of oil from the drain hole had turned to a trickle, but it was trickling on the side of my drain pan and onto the ground. Grrrr.

And on the 87 Jag the issue was simple. I drained almost exactly 8 qts of oil into an (apparently) 8qt pan. So while stationary everything was kosher. Then I slid the pan carefully out from under the car and even the tiniest slosh poured oil all over the ground. I have one of those pans with a spout on it, so the actual top edge of the pan is not really the top, the bottom of the spout is the top.

I mean, I've changed oil before, I promise.

Its the simple things that are the biggest pain in the ass.

In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :

Lol, your Monday and my Monday were of a kind. 

I changed the oil on my Silverado and Pilot last weekend.  I too bumbled around and spilled oil.  
 

I take my used oil and recycle at Walmart but the Auto Service is closed and they won't take it.  Autozone up to 5 gallons.  

Right there with ya. Had to change oil in SWMBO's FoST on the floor this weekend because the lift is occupied.

6qt fill, 6qt pan....I was prepared though 'cause this ain't my first rodeo! Stuck the plug back in at a little more than half way full in the pan. Figured I'd just slide out and dump the pan twice instead of trying to move it when it was completely full. Sure enough, ran the creeper over my shirt and sloshed the pan 

Some days we can't win for losing

In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :

Only 8 quarts?  Some earlier Jags had as many a 20 quarts.  My race car held 4 gallons. 
I have an old fashioned hand pump oil tank that holds 30 gallons  so it's sometimes a few years between hauling to the Mound public works which will take any amount. 
  
 

Datsun310Guy said:

I changed the oil on my Silverado and Pilot last weekend.  I too bumbled around and spilled oil.  
 

I take my used oil and recycle at Walmart but the Auto Service is closed and they won't take it.  Autozone up to 5 gallons.  

Find a local garage that has a waste oil heater. 

Had to do both VWs a few weeks ago.  First time on the wife's Touareg.  As I'm draining the oil into the pan on my driveway that had just  been paved last fall, I realize I've got 8 quarts of oil to put into this truck, how big is this drain pan anyway?   It was 6 quarts.  So that made a nice mess in my driveway, getting the plug back in so I could empty the pan halfway through.

Last week when i was pulling the ls1 out of the impala i had the pan located so that when the driveshaft popped out it would release the flood of ATF into it perfectly.  Instead the yoke popped out, the crossmember fell, and everything pinched the pan to where oil poured everywhere just in front of it.  The concrete in front of the garage is now needing pressure washed.  

This is every oil change for me, and the reason that I almost always pay someone to do it for me. 

mtn (Forum Supporter) said:

This is every oil change for me, and the reason that I almost always pay someone to do it for me. 

This. 

We've all gone over this a bunch here, but the cost to pay someone else to do it is worth it for me. I basically pay $15 or so dollars to not have to jack the car up, crawl around on the garage, clean up any messes, then dispose of the used oil. And since I don't have a truck, I've always feared having to use something else. 

This thread from earlier this year shows exactly why I pay someone to do it. 
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/corvette-valdez-and-how-to-have-a-bad-day/173883/page1/

I understand the cost thing.

I do it myself because I hate fixing other people's BS. And I'm not sure I could easily find a place that takes good care of my car for $15 over my own cost. At jiffy lube prices, sure. But how is jiffy lube going to handle a 1987 Jag?

Then there's the time aspect. I suspect it actually takes more time for me to get it done by someone else than to do it myself. Especially if I'm not going to a jiffy lube type place where I might have to schedule or drop the car for a day, etc.

Also, since I really only change oil 1x or 2x per year, it's also a good chance to just do a quick visual on suspension components, CV boots, and fluid leaks.

I enjoy oil changes most of the time. It's pretty fustrating when overflowing a pan tho. 

So far both the Swedish Beasts are still on included free service, so the oil changes are Not My Problem.  Next year I guess I'll find out, though they have cartridge filters, so that's good.

But the K24 in the old TSX was a real pain in the ass, with the filter mounted sideways and way up on the back side of the block.  No way to get that thing out of there without an armpit full of dirty oil.

Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:

 

I do it myself because I hate fixing other people's BS. 

That’s the main reason I do my own oil changes, and most of my own maintenance.  Got ripped off by a shop when I was less than a year out of college, and have had dubious experiences since.  Other reason is I couldn’t afford to mess with as many cars as I do if I paid someone else to work on them.

I have a Fumoto valve on my GTI. When I change the oil I jack the car up just high enough that the opening of the valve is within an inch of a five quart jug of oil. Then I use the empty jug from my last oil change to catch the oil coming out of the car, put the cap back on, and take it to Autozone to drain.

Haven't spilled a drop in years.

This thread reminds me of an experience from my 'yout.

I was 16 IIRC, so this happened in 1997 or so. My best friend in high school asked me to help him change the oil in his 1976 Chevy Nova. It was probably the easiest car to work on as it had the 250 I6. We did it at his house and his dad gave us a stern warning to not spill any oil on his nice paved driveway. Simple, right? We pulled the car up on ramps and made sure to block the rear tires as his asphalt driveway had quite a slope to it. We were absolutely meticulous as to not spill a single drop on his dad's driveway.

We did everything right. Except when my buddy backed the car down the ramps. We had forgotten the oil drain pan was still under the car. The car promptly crushed it, spilling about 6 quarts of nasty oil which proceeded to run down the driveway. Since the car was so low, we couldn't get the pan out so he had to drive back up the ramps which drug the pan even further. It looked like the Exxon Valdez had run aground on his dad's driveway. Boy was his dad pissed lol. That was the last time we did any maintenance as his house, instead opting to do it at my house which had a level gravel driveway.

You can still see the stain from space, 23 years later lol:

Moral of the story is that even though you research everything before hand and perform the action flawlessly, there is still a chance you will berk it up badly. Live and learn.

Damn y'all...

I had to change the oil in my Avalanche at the extended stay here in Scottsdale literally as I pulled into town....

Got up early the one morning, like 6am early, crawled under without a jack, and changed the oil without spilling a drop nor anyone coming out to ask wtf I was doing.

Dropped the old oil off at the local advance and filter in the garbage. Job done.

I still have spills and I've been doing this for over a decade. That's less than many but more than plenty. I try to use lots of cardboard and big drain pans but sometimes ish happens. 
For me the worst part is always draining the old oil back into the bottle for disposal. It usually runs down the edge of the pan and onto the ground. Or worse, I misjudged how much room I have in the bottle and overfill the funnel. 
This thread convinced me I need a Fumoto valve for the Subaru. Then I can throw a skid plate on without having to drill a drain hole too!

MrFancypants said:

I have a Fumoto valve on my GTI. When I change the oil I jack the car up just high enough that the opening of the valve is within an inch of a five quart jug of oil. Then I use the empty jug from my last oil change to catch the oil coming out of the car, put the cap back on, and take it to Autozone to drain.

Haven't spilled a drop in years.

My my my, aren't you.....well, your screen name. 

My oil change ritual involves a 4'X6' piece of cardboard.  After a few years it gets dirty enough that I pitch it and start with a fresh piece.  WAAAY easier than trying to clean up the garage floor and I use a lot fewer paper towels.  ;-)

No pics of alll that spillage? 

I also use a very large piece of cardboard and a 2 gallon plastic bucket that is high enough to easily catch the oil and never gets close to full. Easy pour lip and funnel makes it easy to pour used oil back into empty container.  The CX5 has the filter and drain plug located within inches of each other. The Tacoma filter is near the top of the engine with a drain pipe to avoid dripping oil. However, the Miata filter is a challenging and messy ordeal.

Guess it's nice I can still use the pit at my former employers. I havnt spilled a drop from anything other then giant diesel trucks in years. It humors me to see these threads after all the quick lube bashing ones. 

In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :

I know your pain. Often I will turn a simple job into the Exxon Valdez and end up cleaning for 2x as long as the project itself took. Generally I take a step back and stare in disbelief of my own failures. 
 

I really hate the drain pain with the plug in the top. Forgot to pull the plug it overflows, dropped the oil pan bolt in and blocks the drain hole overflows.