[Emoto]

Here's my question: When I do my oil change, if I pull the drain plug from the pan first, and allow that to drain out more or less completely before touching the oil filter, does that mean that when I do unscrew the oil filter that the oil above the filter is gone, and I will therefore get no running down the side of it?

Trying to do as neat and tidy a job of it as possible.

[JeromeS13]

No. The filter still retains some oil. It's going to run down regardless.

[Emoto]

Originally Posted by JeromeS13

No. The filter still retains some oil. It's going to run down regardless.

So, being upside down like a cup, I expect the filter to be full of oil.

But how much volume should I expect will run down the sides of the filter as though the filter is overflowing, when I loosen it? Trying to figure out if I just need some newspaper on the driveway or a second drain pan...

[JeromeS13]

Originally Posted by Emoto

So, being upside down like a cup, I expect the filter to be full of oil.

But how much volume should I expect will run down the sides of the filter as though the filter is overflowing, when I loosen it? Trying to figure out if I just need some newspaper on the driveway or a second drain pan...

More than enough to make a mess. I would recommend a drain pan.

[Emoto]

Thank you, sir!

[Glen e]

Originally Posted by JeromeS13

More than enough to make a mess. I would recommend a drain pan.

There's an easy way to make sure you don't make a mess of the filter removal. Get a tall kitchen garbage bag, loosen in the filter to where there is just one or two threads left before it would fall off. Then put the whole bag around the filter and snake a lot of the bag up around the top of the filter. loosen the filter and let it fall into the bag, have a rag ready and you won't spill a drop on the pavement. I do it all the time in a condo garage where we're not allowed to spill things. Been doing it for 10 years, it works perfect.

[Emoto]

Originally Posted by Glen e

There's an easy way to make sure you don't make a mess of the filter removal. Get a tall kitchen garbage bag, loosen in the filter to where there is just one or two threads left before it would fall off. Then put the whole bag around the filter and snake a lot of the bag up around the top of the filter. loosen the filter and let it fall into the bag, have a rag ready and you won't spill a drop on the pavement. I do it all the time in a condo garage where we're not allowed to spill things. Been doing it for 10 years, it works perfect.

Cool idea, Glen! Thanks!

[wildchevy]

take a sharp punch and put a hole in the bottom of the filter to drain it, we do this all the time on diesels that hold 4 quarts in the filter

[HackSaw]

Since I am never in a hurry changing my own oil I drain the motor, put the plug back in, then slide the drain pan to under the filter. If it is the first time for a different car I also measure how much oil came out inc. draining the filter. For this car I cut up a old plastic 5 gal gas can for the drain pan

[Chutzpah]

My trick, place a zip lock bag over filter (once filter is loose). Wear tight rubber gloves, wrap a rag around my wrist (just in case there is leakage... hate oil running down my arm) and always have a tarp, folded twice, under my work area.

[squish72]

Sometimes it's better to do the filter first then drain the oil. Anyone who has changed oil more then a handful of times has dropped the filter into a full drain pan at least once. It makes a huge mess when it splashes.

Being a fleet mechanic it really sucks doing that with a peterbilt filter haha

[Emoto]

Originally Posted by squish72

Sometimes it's better to do the filter first then drain the oil. Anyone who has changed oil more then a handful of times has dropped the filter into a full drain pan at least once. It makes a huge mess when it splashes.

Being a fleet mechanic it really sucks doing that with a peterbilt filter haha

LOL. Or a wrench. Or, the drain plug.

[HackSaw]

LOL Your right, I have dropped both Im hoping my new 4 gallon handy dandy drain pan stops spillage when sliding it out from under the car

[Emoto]

Originally Posted by HackSaw

LOL Your right, I have dropped both Im hoping my new 4 gallon handy dandy drain pan stops spillage when sliding it out from under the car

I bought a brand new big one for the Camaro. We'll see how it goes. I plan to spread out a tarp and some newspaper then drive the car over it, as I have no idea how hard or far the stream may splash. Next time, I'll know.

I've done tons of work on motorcycles for over 40 years, but very little on cars, so I am trying to be cautious.