Oil change mess, suggestions?

[iowaztr]

Late this summer I bought a new 48" Toro Titan with the Kohler engine. Planning on doing the end of season service and will be running into the same problem as my previous (bought used) zero turn mowers. Unscrew the oil filter and oil goes all over the place on the engine deck. That leaves an oily mess no matter how hard you try to clean it up as the oil goes to inaccessible areas. The other mowers already had this oily mess under the engine, I would like to prevent this with my new (and clean) mower.

Other than stuffing a bunch of rags or paper towels under the filter while unscrewing it, and that isn't a guarantee oil won't go all over, any other suggestions to minimize the mess? Thought about jacking up that side of the mower to try and partially drain the filter, would that work?

 

[Bertrrr]

A picture of the setup would help , I have not seen a Titan machine and looked at that aspect of it. I know on my Bad Boy it's not messy they left an opening under that area to catch oil from the filter

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

Late this summer I bought a new 48" Toro Titan with the Kohler engine. Planning on doing the end of season service and will be running into the same problem as my previous (bought used) zero turn mowers. Unscrew the oil filter and oil goes all over the place on the engine deck. That leaves an oily mess no matter how hard you try to clean it up as the oil goes to inaccessible areas. The other mowers already had this oily mess under the engine, I would like to prevent this with my new (and clean) mower.

Other than stuffing a bunch of rags or paper towels under the filter while unscrewing it, and that isn't a guarantee oil won't go all over, any other suggestions to minimize the mess? Thought about jacking up that side of the mower to try and partially drain the filter, would that work?

Put a paper towel or shop rag under the oil filter and unscrew it. Oil changes are messy. Wipe it up if it bothers you. Pressure wash the engine afterwards if you like. I do lots of oil changes each year and go through paper towels by the 12 pack.

 

[StarTech]

Could try an aluminum foil catch tray or the shape of a funnel that routes to a frame opening with a dip pan underneath.

 

[MParr]

You could take an empty 1qt. oil bottle and cut it down to fit under the filter. Turn the bottle on it's side and cut the side out. You will want to leave a lip on the bottom end and leave the neck and cap on the top end. Slide the cut down bottle under the filter. Remove the filter. Any oil will be caught by the cut down bottle. Leaving the bottle cap on, keeps the oil in the bottle.

 

[iowaztr]

No drain hole in the area under the filter and not much, if any, room to put a catch pan under the filter.

 

[slomo]

Shop vac on the oil filler tube. Remove filter. This will cut down on the mess. Still have some oil in the filter.

Could punch a nail hole in the filter quickly pulling the oil away with the shop vac.

 

[Auto Doc's]

Leave the oil drain open for an hour before trying to remove the filter, this gives the oil time to drain out of the filter. Place a wad of cheap paper towels under the filter area to catch any leftover oil. Cheap paper towels work best.