What Are You Buying Right Now? (non-OT version)

nolaegghead

Some of the newer ICE engines and transmissions don't have an oil drain plug.  More and more they are being designed like that. 

I would think they probably wouldn't be doing that if it made the engines fail sooner.  I would suspect they do that to discourage amateur oil changes, and a plug is another failure point for leaks, and idiots that forget to replace it.

You don't find all that crap in your oil pan very much in newer engines.  If you change your oil while it's hot like recommended, anything soluble in hot oil will be drained with the oil.  Anything that doesn't dissolve will be filtered out before it's pumped through the engine, but more likely it just rolls around in the bottom of your oil pan, harmless. 

alaskanassasin

nolaegghead said:

Some of the newer ICE engines and transmissions don't have an oil drain plug.  More and more they are being designed like that. 

I would think they probably wouldn't be doing that if it made the engines fail sooner.  I would suspect they do that to discourage amateur oil changes, and a plug is another failure point for leaks, and idiots that forget to replace it.

You don't find all that crap in your oil pan very much in newer engines.  If you change your oil while it's hot like recommended, anything soluble in hot oil will be drained with the oil.  Anything that doesn't dissolve will be filtered out before it's pumped through the engine, but more likely it just rolls around in the bottom of your oil pan, harmless. 

Just a guess here but if they are specifically designed to have the oil vacuumed out it is possible the pan has a different configuration that has the lowest point near the dip tube?  What car does not have a engine oil drain plug?

WeberWho

I can't recall the last time I haven't used a channellock when removing an oil filter. It's a fun game of not squeezing too hard and not squeezing hard enough. I pretty much only use cheap Supertech oil filters through Walmart. (Rebranded Wix filters) Fram isn't known to be a very good filter but I do like the extra grip they give you on their filters but not enough to switch over and use them. 

Botch

Does nobody else use these filter cap tools for removal?  I've never failed to get one off with one of these.
 

 

alaskanassasin

Botch said:

Does nobody else use these filter cap tools for removal?  I've never failed to get one off with one of these.
 

 

I bought one for my 4 runner. The thing is I have 25 different size oil filters and that strap wrench works on almost all of them.

alaskanassasin

Also fuel filters, transmission, hydraulic.

Langner91

Botch said:

Langner91 said:

I change my oil the old fashioned way, I climb my fat @$$ underneath it and take the little bolt out, draining hot motor oil down my arm, ruining my t-shirt and staining my garage floor.  Then, I cuss at the stuck oil filter for 10 minutes, until I finally hammer a screwdriver through the side of it and tear it off.  This is followed by more cussing and installing the new oil filter which I usually leave on the other side of the garage instead of taking it under the car with me. 

The best part is the one out of 10 times I fail to see that the old gasket is still attached to the oil filter sealing surface, causing the new filter to spray $36 worth of new synthetic oil all over the garage and underside of the car.  

I just can't imagine sucking the oil out through the dipstick hole.  What's the fun in that?

...
 
My BMW motorcycle is unusually frustrating, especially for a bike.  It takes two different Torx driver sizes to remove the bottom bash plate, and then a third Torx bit to drop the oil plug.  And then when you remove the filter, the oil stream hits the 2-point kickstand, dead-on; gah!  I did figure out how to fashion a shield/funnel out of heavy aluminum foil to prevent part.  The one saving grace on that bike was, no dipstick: it had a small round glass in the side of the block where you could check the oil level without tools or touching; that is nice.     

My Harley (2008 model) was the first vehicle I owned that had every sized Torx fastener on it.  Not for the oil plug, that takes hex or Allen, but every other fastener was a different sized Torx.  My SAE exposed brain cannot look at a Torx fastener and guess the correct size on the first, second, third or sometimes fourth try.  It is a glitch.

So, the second time I had to remove a Torx fastener from that bike, I bit the bullet and changed every Torx fastener out to SAE Allen or Hex.  Fortunately, it has not had to go to the shop for service because the Harley trained mechanics would be upset having to guess which wrench (hex or Allen) they need to take it apart.  I would have to take my copy of the service manual in with it.  I have noted every change I have made in the appropriate section.

Botch

alaskanassasin said:
I bought one for my 4 runner. The thing is I have 25 different size oil filters and that strap wrench works on almost all of them.

When looking up that picture I noticed amazoid had cased sets with many different sizes; but yeah, if a strap works for you, that's the best method.  

GrateEggspectations

WeberWho said:

I can't recall the last time I haven't used a channellock when removing an oil filter. It's a fun game of not squeezing too hard and not squeezing hard enough. I pretty much only use cheap Supertech oil filters through Walmart. (Rebranded Wix filters) Fram isn't known to be a very good filter but I do like the extra grip they give you on their filters but not enough to switch over and use them. 

I also use those Channel Locks and have both sizes. I’d I often crush the filter during removal. 😂 Agreed that while I hate Fram, the textured surface is a really nice feature. 

OhioEgger

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Ingress.  "Egress" is when you leave.

I can never see that word without thinking of P.T. Barnum.

People used to dawdle through his side show, and he wanted to speed them up to increase the throughput. So he put up signs all through the place saying "This way to the Egress -->".

Most had no idea what the word meant, so they figured it must be the main attraction and kept moving right past everything else. They finally arrived at a door marked "Egress" and went through to find themselves back outside again. 

HeavyG

Why buy a filter removal tool? Chances are you already have a long screwdriver...



... twists right off! You're welcome.

nolaegghead

HeavyG said:

Why buy a filter removal tool? Chances are you already have a long screwdriver...



... twists right off! You're welcome.

I must have done that a dozen times, but look at all that space!  I'd grab a pipe wrench, less mess.

Langner91

HeavyG said:

Why buy a filter removal tool? Chances are you already have a long screwdriver...



... twists right off! You're welcome.

The problem with your method is the angle of approach is all wrong!  When I use the long screwdriver method, I am laying directly below said hot-oil filled filter pounding the screwdriver UP, not down.  Makes all the difference.  The first puncture on the bottom side of the filter causes the hot oil to begin draining down your hand holding the screwdriver while you swing the hammer wildly trying to get the screwdriver through the top side of the filter so you can twist it.

If the oil is hot enough, this method can take several minutes.

HeavyG

nolaegghead said:

HeavyG said:

Why buy a filter removal tool? Chances are you already have a long screwdriver...



... twists right off! You're welcome.

I must have done that a dozen times, but look at all that space!  I'd grab a pipe wrench, less mess.

Yeah, I've never done that. Seen it done but would never do that myself. Especially,as you said, with all that space - I've never done an oil change where the filter could be accessed so easily as that.

I haven't done my own oil changes in more than a decade. My dealer usually does them for about the same price as the filter and oil would cost me plus I don't have to hassle with disposing of the oil.

GrateEggspectations

HeavyG said:

nolaegghead said:

HeavyG said:

Why buy a filter removal tool? Chances are you already have a long screwdriver...



... twists right off! You're welcome.

I must have done that a dozen times, but look at all that space!  I'd grab a pipe wrench, less mess.

Yeah, I've never done that. Seen it done but would never do that myself. Especially,as you said, with all that space - I've never done an oil change where the filter could be accessed so easily as that.

I haven't done my own oil changes in more than a decade. My dealer usually does them for about the same price as the filter and oil would cost me plus I don't have to hassle with disposing of the oil.

I hear you about the cost of having it done vs doing it yourself and I agree, but the biggest reason I do my own oil and tire changes is that I can do them on a whim whenever it’s convenient. I don’t have to be at the mercy of anyone else. Oil change at a mechanic’s place is multiple hours from start to finish. Oil change in my driveway is 30 mins whenever I want, and most of that time is spent waiting for the oil to drain. Even when costing is equivalent, doing it at home saves me hours of my time. Plus, I can enjoy an adult supervisory beverage while doing it. 

Only downside is our second vehicle has the worst oil filter placement I’ve ever seen. Very tough to do it cleanly. Worst vehicle I’ve owned in that regard. 

nolaegghead

Who is this that does oil changes for the same price as the oil and filter??   

I buy oil when it goes on sale for around $25 for 5qts and filters are cheap.

GrateEggspectations

@nolaegghead

Its often not that far off. 

HeavyG

My Nissan dealer used to send coupons that would get an oil/filter change and a tire rotation, and multipoint inspection for $29. I'm sure they were hoping to always find things that would need fixing or replacing so I always assumed it was like a store's loss leader kinda deal.

I haven't paid any attention to the pricing in the last couple years so I just looked and they offer a special where I get the oil/filter, tire rotation, multipoint inspection, car wash and floor mats vacuumed for $69. That's for an express service appt. - they say they'll get all that done in 40 minutes or the next one is free.

I only take my truck in when it needs its annual inspection and I also get an oil change then. Just drop it off, no sitting and waiting, and pick it up at the end of the day. The last time I did that the annual inspection was no charge (usually $20).

Just looking it up now, unless I really shop around for a sale the oil and filter cost would be $30-40. So yeah, the dealer offer isn't as sweet as it once was but I can't see a scenario where I'll go back to doing it myself.

Well, I can imagine one scenario - if I ever had a spacious shop with a vehicle lift with which I could easily stand underneath and access the filter and use one of these to catch the oil:




then I would be glad to get back to doing oil changes (and lots of the other wrenching I used to like doing).

nolaegghead

I bought the shop to store all the crap for cooking (Brisket Camp equipment grew each year) and service my vehicles, pretty much, because I like to do those doing those things rather than need.  I figure I break even with the DIY savings cost balance.

GrateEggspectations

nolaegghead said:

I bought the shop to store all the crap for cooking (Brisket Camp equipment grew each year) and service my vehicles, pretty much, because I like to do those doing those things rather than need.  I figure I break even with the DIY savings cost balance.

You bought a shop because of Brisket Camp? I knew this hobby had its costs, but…..

Ozzie_Isaac

GrateEggspectations said:

nolaegghead said:

I bought the shop to store all the crap for cooking (Brisket Camp equipment grew each year) and service my vehicles, pretty much, because I like to do those doing those things rather than need.  I figure I break even with the DIY savings cost balance.

You bought a shop because of Brisket Camp? I knew this hobby had its costs, but…..

You haven't bought property, built a building, or reconfigured your house for this hobby?  Are you really even serious about this hobby?

Who was it that converted a garage stall into an entire walk in fridge?

paqman

Chef’s Press

HeavyG

paqman said:

Chef’s Press

I guess you're sure you wouldn't also need the 18 ouncer. 

nolaegghead

Wut?  It’s not metric?!

paqman

HeavyG said:

paqman said:

Chef’s Press

I guess you're sure you wouldn't also need the 18 ouncer. 

Nope but it wasn’t in stock and I’ll probably get a few more 8ozs so I figured that I could stack 2 and be close enough.  I want to give them a try first before investing too much.

TechsasJim

Beef fajitas crushed.  

Legume

Instant pot keeps f'ng up the underside of my cabinets when I do a quick release, so I'm getting this little silicone thing that redirects the steam

HeavyG

Legume said:

Instant pot keeps f'ng up the underside of my cabinets when I do a quick release, so I'm getting this little silicone thing that redirects the steam

LOL. I think I like yours better - https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/comment/2509759/#Comment_2509759

JohnInCarolina

Legume said:

Instant pot keeps f'ng up the underside of my cabinets when I do a quick release, so I'm getting this little silicone thing that redirects the steam

Have you tried using that instapot to save a brisket cook that’s gone sideways?

kl8ton

All the fluids and all the filters.  It only cost my firstborn.