Is there a better way to change an oil filter?

[2ndAmend]

OK, today I did my mandatory 6mo oil change even though oil life was 61% (even after land speed trials). I have been doing oil changes for over 50 years and I’m getting pretty sick of oil pouring all over my hand and running down my arm when removing a filter. (My dad had a shop and I started doing oil changes at 12.)

So today I’d thought I’d be clever, after draining the pan I punctured the filter at its lowest point an drained it for 10min. But when I removed it, it still spilled all over the place!!! Maybe I need to puncture on both sides of the element?

Any of you guys have the secret solution to this prob? Thanks!

 

[BULL]

OK, today I did my mandatory 6mo oil change even though oil life was 61% (even after land speed trials). I have been doing oil changes for over 50 years and I’m getting pretty sick of oil pouring all over my hand and running down my arm when removing a filter. (My dad had a shop and I started doing oil changes at 12.)

So today I’d thought I’d be clever, after draining the pan I punctured the filter at its lowest point an drained it for 10min. But when I removed it, it still spilled all over the place!!! Maybe I need to puncture on both sides of the element?

Any of you guys have the secret solution to this prob? Thanks!

Yes, but 99.9% of people's freak the **** out when I tell them how I do it...

Are you CERTAIN you want to know...?

 

[vortecd]

I get a little oil on my hand but not enough to try to figure out a way not to. I also change my oil after it has sat all night so it is cold

 

[2ndAmend]

Yes, but 99.9% of people's freak the **** out when I tell them how I do it...

Are you CERTAIN you want to know...?

Geeze! Now I'm afraid to ask! What, have the wife do it?!?!?

 

[AeroF16]

Unscrew the filter until oil starts running down the side. Move away and let the filter hang on the threads until it no longer is running down the side of the filter. Carefully remove straight down as not to spill.

Gets a tad bit of oil on your hand but nothing running down the arm.

 

[DavidKFla]

I let Travis do it. I watch sometimes. I don't miss it.

 

[2ndAmend]

Unscrew the filter until oil starts running down the side. Move away and let the filter hang on the threads until it no longer is running down the side of the filter. Carefully remove straight down as not to spill.

Gets a tad bit of oil on your hand but nothing running down the arm.

Thanks but been doing that forever, don't always get the timing perfect pulling the hand away just as the oil starts to run down, then hold the filter perfectly vertical when removing it. I was hoping there is a better way.

 

[AeroF16]

I let Travis do it. I watch sometimes. I don't miss it.

It’s my me time. My therapy haha. A few cold beers and an hour or two just relaxing in the garage.

And my Son loves working on the car, which at 3 years old, I’m pretty excited about.

 

[2ndAmend]

I let Travis do it. I watch sometimes. I don't miss it.

Who is Travis? Please forgive me, I'm new.

 

[DavidKFla]

It’s my me time. My therapy haha. A few cold beers and an hour or two just relaxing in the garage.

And my Son loves working on the car, which at 3 years old, I’m pretty excited about.

It was great when I was your age. I have all girls so they stayed away from the garage.

 

[DavidKFla]

Who is Travis? Please forgive me, I'm new.

The guy who services our cars. He's a SRT and Cummins tech.

 

[DGatzby]

Nah, dude been changing them for about 50 years myself. It is a PIA. Good other ideas above, but I am with ya, looking for any hints. But, it is a bad day when it goes down the arm!

 

[BULL]

With car FULLY hot and driven, I pull in, immediately drain oil from pan.

When 95% or so has drained out, I start the car for 15-30 seconds...

(Still with me?)

This empties the pump and filter as well as the cooler of most of the oil in the respective volumes...

(Swooning yet?)

Then I remove the filter and oil cooler plug, and let drain for at LEAST an hour, sometimes all afternoon...

(I know, you don't have to say it, I've had plenty of other people tell me their thoughts on my process...)

; )

 

[DGatzby]

Who is Travis? Please forgive me, I'm new.

Some of the members on here have interests in oil wells and cryptocurrency so they hire others to do menial things like working on the car.

 

[DavidKFla]

With car FULLY hot and driven, I pull in, immediately drain oil from pan.

When 95% or so has drained out, I start the car for 15-30 seconds...

(Still with me?)

This empties the pump and filter as well as the cooler of most of the oil in the respective volumes...

(Swooning yet?)

Then I remove the filter and oil cooler plug, and let drain for at LEAST an hour, sometimes all afternoon...

(I know, you don't have to say it, I've had plenty of other people tell me their thoughts on my process...)

; )

I'm speechless.

 

[AeroF16]

Can you reach it from the top? Never tried.

Get under to loosen it, then reach down from the top and unthread it all the way, have the oil pan really close and elevated on some 2x4s or something and just drop it in after it’s unthreaded?

Hand would get dirty but obviously it can’t run down your arm at that point.

Otherwise, just take your time when unthreading the filter and let it drip like mentioned above. Totally doable, I’ve done half dozen on my Hellcats with no real issue.

 

[DGatzby]

With car FULLY hot and driven, I pull in, immediately drain oil from pan.

When 95% or so has drained out, I start the car for 15-30 seconds...

(Still with me?)

This empties the pump and filter as well as the cooler of most of the oil in the respective volumes...

(Swooning yet?)

Then I remove the filter and oil cooler plug, and let drain for at LEAST an hour, sometimes all afternoon...

(I know, you don't have to say it, I've had plenty of other people tell me their thoughts on my process...)

; )

Why am I not surprised?

 

[DavidKFla]

Some of the members on here have interests in oil wells and cryptocurrency so they hire others to do menial things like working on the car.

I wrenched for a living years ago. I've done more than my share...

 

[BULL]

BTW, I do OAL on all my engines, great reports.

 

[DGatzby]

I wrenched for a living years ago. I've done more than my share...

I know, remember?