Repairs Way to avoid a mess changing oil?

[JDgreen]

Good Idea:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Hope I can remember this:biggrin:

I have holed a filter a few times but drilling isn't necessary, an old phillips driver and a hammer work as well. Just be POSITIVE you have a replacement filter before you punch a hole in the existing one....:laughing:....

There has been a time or two I began changing the oil on a vehicle without checking to see if I had a new filter because "I KNOW I bought one last fall" and about two years ago I removed the filter on my GMC and learned I didn't have a replacement on hand. Since it was a premium filter (K&N brand) and the oil I had drained only had 2000 miles on it, I just emptied the filter and reinstalled it. :ashamed:

 

[RTSB]

I don't have a picture. Take a 1 qt oil bottle and cut the side out of it low enough to fit under your oil filter leave the top on bottle. Let it drain and then take the top off bottle so oil can be drained into pan.
When I change my oil this year I will take a picture of it. No mess no rags.

 

[ronjski]

I have an x540 and after two oil changes I'm trying to figure out a way to avoid making a mess when I change oil.

There are two issues, first, the oil change bolt is in a place where different parts of the body, supports & mower deck are in the way. Second, the filter always drips a fair amount of oil as its being removed.

Is there some sort of extender people are using to avoid the mess?

I'm buying a PIG Form-A-Funnel Flexible Draining Tool to see how that works, but it would be helpful is there was a way to extend the oil drain pipe a few inches.

Any ideas?

I inserted a pipe about 3-4" long (enough to clear the frame) into the oil drain hole. I put an elbow pointed down, onto the pipe. I then put a pipe plug into the elbow. This works well to drain the oil.

As far as the filter, I shove a rag under it. I know it is not the ideal solution, and I am still working on finding one.

 

[bertsmobile1]

Cut the bottom, side or end off an old plastic container.
It does not need to be an oil container, you can use old milk bottles, soda bottles, juice bottle, whatever.
Just make it a size that will slip under the filter and either function as a funnel or oil pan.
I must have better than 20 such "custom drain pans" and I still get caught out every now & then.

 

[redmondjp]

I have a roll of commercial-kitchen aluminum foil in my garage (is wider and thicker than consumer-grade foil). I use a piece of this for any difficult fluid draining situation, folding it over itself and then forming it into a waterfall/funnel to direct the fluid down into my drain pan. Then wad it up and throw it away afterwards.

When doing this, a bit of care is necessary to keep the foil in position, as sometimes the weight of the fluid on it can cause it to shift (or wind can blow it - I work outside most of the time and that can be most frustrating).

 

[reynoldston]

I have a roll of commercial-kitchen aluminum foil in my garage (is wider and thicker than consumer-grade foil). I use a piece of this for any difficult fluid draining situation, folding it over itself and then forming it into a waterfall/funnel to direct the fluid down into my drain pan. Then wad it up and throw it away afterwards.

When doing this, a bit of care is necessary to keep the foil in position, as sometimes the weight of the fluid on it can cause it to shift (or wind can blow it - I work outside most of the time and that can be most frustrating).

I like sure your idea. Having a repair shop I find I am changing oil and filters on many different models it can be a challenge not making a mess. I do use a lot of rags and dry up any oil that spills on the floor with saw dust. Thanks for the idea.

 

[Zeroturner]

Get a Mityvac Fluid Evacuator.

Until I bought one of these, I would have a mess on my hands each oil change.

No more!

 

[reynoldston]

Get a Mityvac Fluid Evacuator.

Until I bought one of these, I would have a mess on my hands each oil change.

No more!

Sure looks like a wonderful tool. For the shop that has everything.

 

[7394]

Get a Mityvac Fluid Evacuator.

Until I bought one of these, I would have a mess on my hands each oil change.

No more!

What about the oil filter ?

 

[bertsmobile1]

Umm dosn't every workshop have a pump or two ? :confused2:
Been around for decades.
Originally designed for marine inboards where it is sort of difficult to get under the boat to drain the oil, :laughing:

Gees even I have 3 of them, saves hours of time and lots of mess particularly on those cheap & nasty conglomerations of parts pretending to be a mower engine that do not have a drain plug. And of course the "forgot to replace / tighten the drain plug" warrante return can no longer happen.

I commonly do 3 simultaneous oil changes as you don't need to stand there holding the tube and you will hear when they start to suck air.

As for the oil filter, no luck it is still a drain pan under job but once out you can suck it almost dry which makes disposal of the old filter a lot cleaner.

Only real downside is you don't get to feel & smell the oil nor see any nasties floating around till you empty it.
Mine are all 6 litre jobs so good for 4 ride ons between emptying and I sell about a dozen of the 4 litre ones a year.

The 6 & 12 litre ones are popular with big truck & machinery owners where you only change 1/2 the oil each oil change