Oil Change without making a mess?
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reynoldston
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Lots of luck on not making a mess. I find making a trough from a old oil bottle some times helps. I don't know why but some times the manufactures just don't make changing oil a easy job.
WELCOME to LMF...
If the drain plug is a standard thread size & you have a clear routing area, either get the new model drain hose' OR have a low pressure hydraulic hose made up using the correct hose ends and proper length... put a cap on the end and you will be set for Many oil changes....
The lowest pressure hydraulic hose you can buy will be made with components that engine oil & heat will not harm... It will last a lifetime, and with a cap screwed on the end it will never "accidentally" drain the engine.. :smile:KennyV
Mad Mackie
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An oil withdrawal unit is what you need to keep oil spilling to a minimum. The suction tube goes into the dipstick tube, the withdrawal tank has a vacuum pump and the oil is sucked out of the engine. I also have plastic drain pans cut specifically to fit under the oil filters on my various machines so changing the oil filter doesn't make a mess.
Most or all newer small engines have a low point formed into the housing where the dip stick tube mounts so oil can be withdrawn from the engine and get 95% or more of it out with the suction tube from an oil withdrawal system. They start at about $40 and go up from there depending on how fancy of a machine you desire. I use the same unit to evacuate oil from the engines and transmissions in my vehicles. The oil is captured in a six liter container that is easily drained into a larger container for disposal. The suction tube is long so I hang it up and let it drain into a pan when I'm thru using it.
Mad Mackie in CT:biggrin:
Most or all newer small engines have a low point formed into the housing where the dip stick tube mounts so oil can be withdrawn from the engine and get 95% or more of it out with the suction tube from an oil withdrawal system. They start at about $40 and go up from there depending on how fancy of a machine you desire. I use the same unit to evacuate oil from the engines and transmissions in my vehicles. The oil is captured in a six liter container that is easily drained into a larger container for disposal. The suction tube is long so I hang it up and let it drain into a pan when I'm thru using it.
Mad Mackie in CT:biggrin:
Those are sweet indeed!:thumbsup: You can set them up to draw the oil out, do something else for a couple of minutes, come back, and it's done.
On the cheesy spring loaded push and turn drains, I just as a matter of course change back to what ever length 3/8" pipe nipple and cap it takes to clear the frame. Most of my oil changes end up being a bit of a mess, but it's only every 50 hrs of operating time.
crazyoldtractor
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Just do it out in the driveway. I wouldn't worry about making a mess. If you spill anything just sweep it away and it will dry up. Last time I did an oil change i just drained into a bucket and then when I was all done I ended up kicking the bucket over by accident. Until that happened I only had spilled a few drips. If you don't knock over your container you'll be fine.
Black Bart
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Last spring I bought a new John Deere ZTR and I was surprised at how easy it was to change the oil and filter.
It has a pipe screwed into the crankcase with a spigot on the end I slid a pan under it open the spigot and drain into the pan then slide pan to other side and change the oil filter.
Fast easy and did not spill a drop. :thumbsup:
They could all do this if they really cared about making it easy to service.
It has a pipe screwed into the crankcase with a spigot on the end I slid a pan under it open the spigot and drain into the pan then slide pan to other side and change the oil filter.
Fast easy and did not spill a drop. :thumbsup:
They could all do this if they really cared about making it easy to service.
reynoldston
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Who would want oil spilled in their driveway? I change oil in my shop and find in the repair business that spilling oil sometimes can't be helped. Broken hydraulic lines can also make a good mess or anti freeze. Yes I have also spilled the whole bucket by accident. I dry my spills up with saw dust. I find that if I work the sawdust into the spilled whatever with a rag it will dry it right up. Then just sweep up the whole mess and throw into the trash.
I appreciate the responses. When I change the oil in my trucks I put some heavy paper down first. Bought a roll of heavy construction paper like they use a schools. Seems like there is always drips or I miss the oil drain pan when the oil plug comes out. The heavy paper soaks up the spills and then can be easily discarded.
sallymander
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I drive on to big cardboard boxes that I can get for free from places that sell appliances to change oil on all my mowers, trucks and tractors.
Any oil spilled on the cardboard wipes up easily with a rag so the same cardboard can be used for months.
It's also nice when the cardboard isn't under the vehicle tires that you can pull the cardboard out with all your tools, rags and drain pan at once instead of crawling under.
Any oil spilled on the cardboard wipes up easily with a rag so the same cardboard can be used for months.
It's also nice when the cardboard isn't under the vehicle tires that you can pull the cardboard out with all your tools, rags and drain pan at once instead of crawling under.