Oil Change without making a mess?
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carlcap1491
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Always have a oil drain pan ready to go under the lawnmower to catch the draining oil. It is a messy job but, if done carefully, the mess will be limited to just a few drops on the garage floor.
BWH
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Can anyone tell me if any brand of oil filter allows the oil to drain back into the crankcase when the engine is stopped? To me the biggest mess is the oil running down off the oil filter while I unscrew the old one.
Mad Mackie
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Oil filter removal means dripping oil!!!! I have an assortment of small pans both metal and plastic. Some are modified to fit a particular machine/engine to catch the dripping oil.
I'm a retired aircraft mech and letting oil drip on aircraft particularly the engine area is a "no no"!!! If you can get access, you can punch two holes in the oil filter with an ice pick or similar tool, one hole at the 12 o'clock position and turn the filter 180 degrees and punch another hole usually before the filter is loose enough to drip oil. Do this in the "flats" on the end of the filter away from the engine. Catch this oil in a small pan and let the filter drip until the drip stops, then remove the filter with minimal dripping. An aircraft specialty tool company makes a tool that is a large hose clamp with a nut spot welded to it. Thru this nut is a hollow needle type screw that by tightening will puncture an oil filter and it will drain thru the screw with a small diameter hose connected to it. You need to do this with a hot engine so the oil will drain freely!!!
Mad Mackie in CT:biggrin::laughing:
I'm a retired aircraft mech and letting oil drip on aircraft particularly the engine area is a "no no"!!! If you can get access, you can punch two holes in the oil filter with an ice pick or similar tool, one hole at the 12 o'clock position and turn the filter 180 degrees and punch another hole usually before the filter is loose enough to drip oil. Do this in the "flats" on the end of the filter away from the engine. Catch this oil in a small pan and let the filter drip until the drip stops, then remove the filter with minimal dripping. An aircraft specialty tool company makes a tool that is a large hose clamp with a nut spot welded to it. Thru this nut is a hollow needle type screw that by tightening will puncture an oil filter and it will drain thru the screw with a small diameter hose connected to it. You need to do this with a hot engine so the oil will drain freely!!!
Mad Mackie in CT:biggrin::laughing:
BWH
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Thats Funny/Sad/True all in one sentence. Could be these design engineers actually own controling intrest in the oil dry companies! :smile:
Mad Mackie
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Most piston engine aircraft manufacturers use remote oil filter assemblys with the filter installed facing straight up which reduces the dripping oil problem.
But with power equipment small engines remote oil filters are rare. With vertical shaft engines, the oil filter is almost always installed in a horizontal position and with V belts and clutches directly under the engines one must take precautionary measures when removing oil filters to catch the dripping oil, it is just a fact of life with small engine maintenance.
Mad Mackie in CT :biggrin::laughing:
But with power equipment small engines remote oil filters are rare. With vertical shaft engines, the oil filter is almost always installed in a horizontal position and with V belts and clutches directly under the engines one must take precautionary measures when removing oil filters to catch the dripping oil, it is just a fact of life with small engine maintenance.
Mad Mackie in CT :biggrin::laughing:
I used a filter relocation kit on my Bad Boy Zero Turn and moved the filter to the rear engine guard. It was an easy relocate but the kit is a little pricey at about $113.00 but if you hate oil all over your mower like I do, it is worth it. My mower also came with a drain hose from the engine out the back of the mower. I didn't like the nut they put on the end of the hose so I put a ball valve on the hose with a nut in the end of the valve, just in case it should get hit and open the valve. My engine is a Kohler 27 hp Courage Pro and the web site is opeengines.com.
At Home Depot you can purchase a Siphon for a mere $11.00. These are red in color and work very well at cleaning the oil out of your crankcase. I used one on my Sears Craftsman Honda Engine mower with great results. Filled the rankcase up with new oil and I was set. 50smower