Fumoto Oil Drain Valve/Skid Plate-?

Info. sought:

Bought a 'Fumoto' oil drain valve (

$38 F133S with LC-10 S-Series Large Body FUMOTO® Valve with Short Nipple and LC-10 Lever Clip for 12mm-1.25

F133S, short nipple valve w/12mm-1.25threads w/lever clip), intending to use it with a 'Budbuilt' front skid plate.

I read on a few threads here of folks doing this (w/out having to remove the skid plate of course), with this type of drain valve (short nipple and all).

Can someone please tell me what I'm missing here? As I'm going to have to remove the skid plate soon apparently to change oil. I did buy the 'short nipple valve', but I saw others who had done so, and said it could be used w/out removing skid. I did buy the clear vinyl tubing to assist in draining, but am obviously missing something.

Pic's attached mostly for some basic context. The oil drain hole in skid is 1 1/2", the valve is about 3 1/2" away from bottom of skid (as can be seen in pic., why I included these pics, IDK, lol).

I'm beginning to wonder if I'm better off with the OEM oil drain plug, and tooling up through the drain hole. I can't seem to tool/or put a finger on the fumoto as is.

 

Could make the hole large enough to stick a few of your sausages in there to actuate the valve?

Mine doesn't really line up with the hole perfectly anymore because the hole is in the correct place for a 5VZ drain plug not the 1KZ, but it's ok because the skid plate acts as a big drain pan that funnels the oil to whichever side is downhill.

 

Just make the hole larger, or undo the front 3 bolts to drop the front and gain access to the lever.

 

I'm considering making that hole bigger for sure. I like the simplicity of your set-up, sounds good to me. Do you just have a regular drain plug that you can somehow access? Thx!

 

I'm thinking I might just make the hole bigger, thx for the tip on the 3 front bolts. Sounds like you might have the same skid plate maybe. Thx!

 

I do have the same skid plate.

I just topped off my front diff 2-3 days ago and did so by loosening the rear 2 almost all the way, so that when the plate hangs, the bolts don't get damaged.

 

Looks like a Major leak !!

How is the concrete so clean and not any ice or snow??

 

It's water from the A/C running

That pic was taken while at my storage.

 

Right on, I see you have the belly skid too, nice. Thx for the tip on loosening the bolts

 

There's enough clearance for me to get a hand in there with a ratchet and 14mm socket. Took a few oil changes to get used to the location & orientation of the drain plug, but now it's pretty easy. The drain plug gasket always sticks to the pan and not the plug, so the hardest part is actually getting the end of a pick or slotted screwdriver in afterwards to pry it off.

Definitely need to do it with a gloved hand too; can't ever get my fingers out fast enough to avoid the oil. I would get a Fumoto valve in theory, but it's on my "Want but don't need" random parts list (along with those Honda Odyssey washer fluid hood nozzles!) so I probably won't get around to it anytime soon.

 

10-4 got it. I think I know what you mean, and am considering just going back to the OEM plug myself, I'm not sure how much of an advantage the fumoto plug actually is. I've heard of some set-ups that have a drain tube w/fancy drain valve that just stays in place (for use w/skid plates/not having to remove them). I'm going to finally email fumoto and ask, and I know there is another popular maker/brand out there for these oil drain valves. And of course about a million other ways to do it. Thx for the heads up on the gasket sticking, gloves, and I may have to check out these washer nozzles. I appreciate the tips.

 

Even if you figure out how to open the Fumoto with the skid plate on, you'll want to take it off for changing the filter or you'll end up with motor oil all over it.

 

Hello, seeking clarification here please- what will end up w/motor oil all over it? the filter? I'm beginning to think more the fumoto valve doesn't make much sense, for me at least.Thx

 

Because of the location of the oil filter on the 3.4L engine, it's almost unavoidable that you'll spill some oil when removing the filter. The oil drips down onto the front differential and skid plate if you don't take steps to mitigate it (there are whole threads on this topic). Some people will change the oil without removing the skid plate, but if you want to keep things clean down there you'll likely need to remove it.

I say keep the Fumoto and use a floor jack to help lower the skid when doing the job - it looks heavy.

 

10-4 got it, I kinda figured that's what you meant. It is heavy, and a floor jack (like you say) is the way to go w/the skid-plate. I'm on the fence w/the fumoto, but might as well keep it on for now unless/until something else comes up. Thanks for the info., I appreciate it.