Anybody have any good oil change tips / suggestions?

[Brian]

Had my little guy out to help me for his first time changing the oil on the jeep today. He had a great time, especially when he got to watch the jeep "go pee"...

But it got me thinking - I'm still using the old basic wobbly ol' 7qt pan I got free who knows how long ago, and the nasty old funnel I've been using for years. I still pour the dirty oil back in the bottles and stash them away until I drop them off somewhere. Today with my son it was a little bit of a mess since I let him try most of it, but I'd be lying if I said I was completely spotless every other time too. The worst part is getting the dirty oil back in something to store it in.

Have an oil pan you swear by? Is dumping in a 5gal bucket easier in the long run (I'd be a little afraid of transporting a full bucket to the local shop...)? I'm thinking I might upgrade to one of those fancy $20 pans on amazon with the spouts, but I'm not convinced I'd actually use one of those that are long-term containers as well.

I know there still have to be a few of you out there who still change your own oil. Anybody have any new suggestions for an old process?

[zteknik]

For doing it on the ground the best ting to use is the self contained drip pans like you were talking about.
Other than that the proccess pretty much stayed the same sinec cars were first made..

[fj605]

Speaking from experience, premium, synthetic oil works best if you put the plug back in the oil pan before pouring in the oil. It doesn't do much just passing through.

[Irving]

I've always used a catch pan with a screw on lid and spout. Just throw the whole thing in the car every other oil change and dump it out at the auto parts store. I can't imagine pouring it back into the containers.

[Brian]

Speaking from experience, premium, synthetic oil works best if you put the plug back in the oil pan before pouring in the oil. It doesn't do much just passing through.

LOL I had this exact conversation with my 5yr old. "Why do we have to put the plug back in daddy...?"

[gnihcraes]

I've done the same thing with my kids, young (5?) and when older - 12+

I use an old dishpan. I did two oil changes today with it, poured old oil back into jugs it came out of. I'll take them to walmart sometime in the near future.

If I have a lot of oil - 5 or more jugs, I will make a trip out to Mesa oil on highway 72? - they have a self serve recycle container. (or used to anyway, been a while since I've had that much to donate)

Mobile 1 synthetic and napa gold filters. About the best you can do I believe. (don't use fram filters!)

[Great-Kazoo]

i have these under the pan. They're called Chux. walgreens, walmart carry them

[newracer]

Replace the drain plug with a Fumoto valve. You can even get one with a nipple so you can attach tubing. Makes oil changes very easy and less messy. My only vehicle that doesn't have one is my rock crawler since there is a chance it would get hit.

[Irving]

i have these under the pan. They're called Chux. walgreens, walmart carry them

My garage floor is covered with every spare piece of largish cardboard that comes my way. I have a few appliance sized mats of cardboard. They don't soak up real well, but as long as the spill stays on the cardboard, then I don't care. If they get too bad, then I can trash them and get more for free out of the dumpster of any hardware or appliance store.

Replace the drain plug with a Fumoto valve. You can even get one with a nipple so you can attach tubing. Makes oil changes very easy and less messy. My only vehicle that doesn't have one is my rock crawler since there is a chance it would get hit.

Seen these back in my car forum days, but never picked one up. Where do you get yours?

[StagLefty]

http://www.qwikvalve.com/