Ultimate Oil Change Thread

[chris4x4]

The Oil pan on the 2.7 is longer than the V6.

[kris77]

Those Fumoto plugs...Can you find them locally? Advance Auto? Auto Zone? Or are they online only...

[mws4ua]

Originally Posted by kris77

Those Fumoto plugs...Can you find them locally? Advance Auto? Auto Zone? Or are they online only...

I believe they're online only. I have one... Love it.

Here's where I bought mine. Don't get the F-103N... it hangs down way too far (for my comfort). I didn't think it'd hang down that far and I got it. I had to grind the nipple off to make my own F-103.

Edit: Also, DON'T get the little metal safety clip. It looks like it's pliable and can easily be used to fit over the valve and keep it from unlocking, but it's completely worthless. I threw mine away. It would take a LOT to open that valve by accident. No little pebble or rock is going to do it. You'll see what I mean when you get one.

[Pster]

Originally Posted by mws4ua

I believe they're online only. I have one... Love it.

Here's where I bought mine. Don't get the F-103N... it hangs down way too far (for my comfort). I didn't think it'd hang down that far and I got it. I had to grind the nipple off to make my own F-103.

Edit: Also, DON'T get the little metal safety clip. It looks like it's pliable and can easily be used to fit over the valve and keep it from unlocking, but it's completely worthless. I threw mine away. It would take a LOT to open that valve by accident. No little pebble or rock is going to do it. You'll see what I mean when you get one.

I have the F-103N and I don't think it sticks down far at all, at least I am comfortable with it.

[mws4ua]

Originally Posted by Pster

I have the F-103N and I don't think it sticks down far at all, at least I am comfortable with it.

You're wrong, dammit! It sticks down too far!

Kidding, of course.

I'm actually glad I got the 103N... I was able to put it on and see for myself that I wasn't comfortable w/ how far down it stuck... I'm also glad I had access to a grinder.

[wawireguy]

Don't over tighten the drain plug. I don't know what the torque spec is but it's probably pretty low. And whoever is using teflon tape, quit, never done that..

I like that plastic bag around the filter idea on the 4 banger when you unscrew it. No more leaked all over my arm messes!

[chris4x4]

Drian plug torque is 30 ft.-lbs.

[nurseboy]

so i just changed my oil this afternoon. I dropped the oil drain plug some place in the engine bay, so its probably lost forever. I just cut out a piece of the plastic tubing that i got from home depot, covered one end and used that as my plug.

My question is, will the heat from the engine bay cause that rubber tubing to melt onto the plug? It seems like it gets really warm in that area, but since the plug isnt directly connected tothe motor, it doesnt seem that it will melt the rubber part to the drain plug. So do you guys think i'll be alright with my homemade drain plug or should i take it off.

[chris4x4]

Originally Posted by nurseboy

so i just changed my oil this afternoon. I dropped the oil drain plug some place in the engine bay, so its probably lost forever. I just cut out a piece of the plastic tubing that i got from home depot, covered one end and used that as my plug.

My question is, will the heat from the engine bay cause that rubber tubing to melt onto the plug? It seems like it gets really warm in that area, but since the plug isnt directly connected tothe motor, it doesnt seem that it will melt the rubber part to the drain plug. So do you guys think i'll be alright with my homemade drain plug or should i take it off.

You should be able to find the right lug at an auto part store. It should be in the Vaccume tube section. You will be fine. There is nothing near the bottom of the engine that would cause it to melt. It would have to get lodged on the exhaust somehow. In fact, The first time you get past 50 mph, it will probably have blown out. It will be fine.

[nurseboy]

Originally Posted by chris4x4

You should be able to find the right lug at an auto part store. It should be in the Vaccume tube section. You will be fine. There is nothing near the bottom of the engine that would cause it to melt. It would have to get lodged on the exhaust somehow. In fact, The first time you get past 50 mph, it will probably have blown out. It will be fine.

thanks for the quick reply. Only hard part for changing oil on this truck was getting that plug off behind the filter. but overall soooooooooo much better then my Honda prelude. Filter location on that was right behind the engine, so youd have to stick your arm into the engine compartment where it gets all cut up

[tamer]

I saw this question asked earlier but never answered. Does it matter if you use the Mobil 1 short (standard height) filter over the taller one?

[Pster]

Originally Posted by tamer

I saw this question asked earlier but never answered. Does it matter if you use the Mobil 1 short (standard height) filter over the taller one?

I use the Mobil 1 Extended Performance...I think it is M-102.

[drifter379]

I changed my oil today for this first time on this truck.

I bought an EZ Change drain plug from O'Rileys



I was worried about the mess from the oil filter so I opened the filler cap and pulled the dip stick first then I drained the oil. Once it was drained I pulled the filter. No mess at all. The filter was completely drained. Here is a pic of the resivoir when I pulled the filter

And the filter its self


When I was putting the drain hose on I found out somewhere along the line the cap was never replaced so I made my own. I cut a length of hose and I had an extra clip from pulling my mud flaps and it fit perfect.


I also made it long enough that it will be easy to pull on the next change.

[SgtImaPepper]

Mornin'! I was plannin on doing my first oil change on my own at 3000 miles on my truck. Do I need to get the new oil cap?

[SgtImaPepper]

I meant a new oil plug gasket?

[deadbolt]

Originally Posted by SgtImaPepper

I meant a new oil plug gasket?

It wouldnt do much harm if you re use it once or twice. But i would get one, sometimes if the dealer is nice they will give you one for free. if not, they charge like 85 cents ha

[SgtImaPepper]

Thanks! I appreciate it.

[Pyro-Rob]

Originally Posted by drifter379

I was getting the dealership change untill my warranty ran out. Then like a dumb ass I went to the local quick change place. The first couple of times they did alright. But this last time they spilled oil all over the battery and driver side fender. The ass clown that did it didnt say anything just closed it up and sent me on my way. Well about 1/2 a block down the road I start smelling burning oil. So I pull over and open the hood. You can imagine the horror and thoughts of violence running through my head.

Sorry to hear this but I had a similar experience with the local dealer. They changed the oil and forgot to put the oil filler cap back on. I noticed the smell of burning oil a week later and checked under the hood, to find oil all over.

The dealership apologized, gave me a new oil filler cap, and called it good. I found the filler cap the next time I pulled the bottom shroud when the original one fell out.

--->Rob

[Pster]

Originally Posted by Pyro-Rob

Sorry to hear this but I had a similar experience with the local dealer. They changed the oil and forgot to put the oil filler cap back on. I noticed the smell of burning oil a week later and checked under the hood, to find oil all over.

The dealership apologized, gave me a new oil filler cap, and called it good. I found the filler cap the next time I pulled the bottom shroud when the original one fell out.

--->Rob

Oh man I can relate.....my first car was a VW Rabbit, paid for by me and babied like you wouldn't believe. I think I waxed it every weekend....then....I took it to an oil change place (I recall Jiffy Lube) and they had this pimple faced high schooler doing the work...I should have known, but I was young too. By the time I got home and smelled the burning oil, it was too late...he had failed to put the oil cap back on and the oil had spattered out all over the engine bay....it coated EVERYTHING. I wanted to kill him.

[mitiko]

never go to jiffy lube very bad reputacion.