Speaking of oil change mistakes...

The other thread reminded me of one of my own fiascos. Mine was merely a huge mess but all the same.

On my last Toyota, an 03 4Runner with the 4.0 just like my Taco, I decided to teach one of my 12 year olds how to change the oil. Everything was going great until I realized (about the time I removed the oil filter) that I didn't put a bottle under the drain nipple...oil EVERYWHERE! So I am trying to get it to stop running while trying NOT to scream obscenities (my daughter is right there). I finally get the flow stopped and realize exactly what a mess I have so I started cleaning the hoses, and wires and whatever that the oil had leaked down onto. Then I realized I need to pull the skid plate to clean that off. Once I finally got everything off and clean I finished the oil change. By that point, she had completely lost interest and had wandered back inside. I was late for something and I realized I needed to get the skid plate back on. In my rush I hit the LAST bolt too hard with the air gun and snapped the head off. It was at this point I decided to walk away!!! I struggle with knowing when to do that! Anyway, I cleaned up and we went wherever we were going. The next day I bought a few extra bolts from Toyota, got the sheared bolt out and finished the skid plate install.

I had changed the oil in that Runner quite a few times and never had any issue. Funny how things changed when I was trying to educate my daughter. Anyway, $hit can happen at any time and to anyone. Just thought I would share that!

 

My one oil incident when I had my 06...

Did the oil change in my driveway.. Everything went perfect like usual. Slid the oil catch out from under the truck and off to the side.

Buttoned and wiped everything up, started the truck, all good. Open the door, get out of the truck and splash. Not only did I step in the oil catch pan, but I stepped just enough on the edge of it to flip the damned thing and spill all the oil over my leg AND driveway. All of it.

Wife was not too happy. Ruined a broom and dust pan trying to sweep up what I could and a couple bags of cat litter and my pair of jeans and shoes. Got it all pretty much up without much evidence it ever happened though. Was a black asphalt drive so that helped.

 

OP,

A couple years ago I did the exact same thing. Forgot to place a bottle underneath the oil filter. What a fucking mess. I had done it many times but for whatever reason I just didn't think about it this time. Removed both skid plats and cleaned them off along with all the hoses. I didn't snap a bolt and the rest went as planned.

Like Scott said.... you do something long enough you will eventually make a mistake. But... I doubt you (or I) will make "that" mistake again.

 

I just ran some cheap fuel line from the nipple down into the tranny cross member so when I do changes I just reach up into the hole in my ATO skid and pull it out so it drains into my oil pan.























that's after I left the bottle in there once and started it up

 

Lol, i had an '86 Toyota 4X4 with the old trusty 22R. First truck i ever had, i think i was 17. But any way i was changing the oil for the first time, everything was going great. Time to put in the new oil. I had studied the capacities, filled it to what should have been close... and nothing on the dip stick. Threw in another quart, nothing... Huh?? About that time i slipped and fell on what was a perfectly dry garage floor! Guess who had to borrow moms car to go buy more oil? This guy. Lol, ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR DRAIN PLUGS KIDS!!!

 

Still have my DL!

 

Great stories...we have all had these fun moments! XXXX, that is a GREAT idea using old fuel line to have a drain to reach the oil catch pan. May look into that!

 

That's exactly what I did. Ranit down and dumps out right beside the skid. Works great.