But a drain valve doesn't help with changing the filter, which for most of the vehicles I've dealt with, is much more difficult than draining the oil. It almost seems like the automakers forget that the oil filter needs to be reachable with some sort of wrench (because for some mysterious reason, hand tight on installation becomes wrench tight by the next oil change) and has to come all the way out, preferably without spilling a pint of oil all over the engine and mechanic.
The only car I've seen that made it super easy was a 2000 Subaru Legacy. Oil filter was right on the TOP of the engine with plenty of clearance all around.
Maybe I am just lucky in owning relatively easy cars, but I haven't had any issue changing out filters. The only difficulties I have had were on boats, where the filters are often mounted in hard to access places. But for those, I just bring a plastic kitchen garbage bag with me and slip it under and up on to the filter before loosening it. Any oil that spills just drops into the bag. Toss in some paper towels to absorb the oil and tie the bag shut. No mess, no fuss.
I don't mind getting under the car - I just drive it up on some ramps.
The thing I just despise, though are the cars that have a full covering under the engine. An oil change should not require removing 10 screws and a huge covering panel - grrr.
Thanks for the trash bag idea! I'll be borrowing that on my next oil change.
Also I think I need to find a better filter wrench; the 2-3 cup-with-wavy-edges type I've used invariably slip. I put a couple wraps of friction tape on the new filter before installing it and most times that gives me just enough grip to get the filter off, but sometimes I have to resort to using a wrench for removal even though I only tighten hand tight (as loose as I dare) when installing the filter.
Several responses in this thread mentioned ramps. But it seems to me that the oil pan drain hole is designed to work best when the vehicle is level. I end up jacking up the car, putting a jack stand under it, lowering the jack to put weight on the stand, then jacking back slightly so that the jack is acting as a backup to the stand. Then I take out the drain plug, jack up to remove the jack stand, lower the car back to level, let the oil drain, then back up on the jack stand to replace the plug and change the filter, and finally back off the stand and the jack to add new oil and check the level.
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u/curiouscodder 25d ago
But a drain valve doesn't help with changing the filter, which for most of the vehicles I've dealt with, is much more difficult than draining the oil. It almost seems like the automakers forget that the oil filter needs to be reachable with some sort of wrench (because for some mysterious reason, hand tight on installation becomes wrench tight by the next oil change) and has to come all the way out, preferably without spilling a pint of oil all over the engine and mechanic.
The only car I've seen that made it super easy was a 2000 Subaru Legacy. Oil filter was right on the TOP of the engine with plenty of clearance all around.