Oil sludge.... what went wrong?

[soccerballtux]

This is why I change my own fucking oil. I realize not everyone has a place to change their oil but still, even when I did use oil change places I'd stand out in front of the bay and watch the oil drain out and watch the old and new filter being swapped out.

Who fucked up my drain pan plugs the most? The dealers, not the quick change places. All my vehicles now have Fumoto drain plugs. Takes a bit longer to drain, but less mess overall.

how can you not have a place to change it? you just need the drip pan, a funnel, the wrench, and a new 5q container. empty, pour in new, pour old into new container, done

 

[WackyDan]

how can you not have a place to change it? you just need the drip pan, a funnel, the wrench, and a new 5q container. empty, pour in new, pour old into new container, done

Every Apartment complex I used to live in had a rule about working on vehicles in the parking lot. You could do some stuff, but anything that involved jacking the vehicle up (oil change) was not permitted.

 

[WackyDan]

The Fumoto valve is not the cure all for oil changes. I decided against it for many reasons.

1) Driving over a branch or some other type of debris can easily catch on this brass valve and pull it out. There have been occurrences where low clearance cars have broken this valve over something as simple as a speed bump. The threads are brass, not steel.
2) With this valve screwed into the oil pan it raises the drain level. Meaning that there could easily be 3 or 4 tablespoons or more of old oil left in the oil pan or some very small debris/sludge.
3) Many cars have their oil drain plug at a slight angle which moves this valve lower than the oil pan making it more susceptible to hitting something.
4) Many cars do not have proper access when installing this valve and require a one inch or longer adapter, which makes this valve more susceptible to breaking off, hitting against something, or leaking.
5) Oil changes take longer because the restriction of this valve causes the oil to drain slower.

The bottom line is that for $30, I don’t really see this as an advantage. I don’t find it that difficult to get out a wrench and remove the oil drain plug. For that matter, I always use a Gold Plug (Magnetic Drain Plug) and believe that using a magnetic drain plug is more important than using a Fumoto valve.

Well, I have probably 150k of miles between all the ones I've had or currently have installed. No issues. If you are going to be going off road they make a clip that locks the valve in place. I haven't needed to use one of there adapters.

You can get them with and without the nipple. They sit hardly any lower than the pan. I wasn't sold on them at first, but for the vehicles I drive they have been awesome.

If they didn't fit right on the next new vehicle then yeah, I'd probably avoid them. I'm going to be building a lifted Jeep in the near future and I probably won't use a valve.

To each their own. Most vehicles have plenty of clearance for these.

 

[squirrel dog]

you got a wallet flush .

 

[Midwayman]

Bought an oil extractor. Now I can do all the service with the car the ground. So nice not to have to roll around on the ground and spend time jacking it up.

 

[996GT2]

OP, you need to watch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-avpx8UTakI

If you don't want to do the oil changes yourself, take it to the dealership for oil changes. I know for sure that many Ford dealerships offer a $29.99 oil change using Motorcraft synthetic blend oil, which is a great quality synblend made by Conoco Philips. Buick dealerships probably offer a similar type of deal.

You're much less likely to get scammed at a dealership than at one of those quick-change places like Jiffy Lube or Midas. If the dealership tries to pull a fast one on you, you have the ability to complain to the car manufacturer directly. You lose that ability if you go to a quick-change place.

 

[Gerle]

I guess it's also the fact that they work on new cars under warranty (which have to be brought there to maintain the warranty)

At least in America that is not the case, any shop or even you yourself may service the vehicle, just follow recommended methods and be prepared to provide documentation in case of a claim. And good luck!

 

[MongGrel]

Classic scam with quick-change oil places.

Oh, you didn't come to us last time? Well just look at your filter, it's full of sludge (that we put there when you weren't looking and is actually axle grease). You need to pay us MORE to "flush" your engine (this is typically a horrible idea) and next time you better come to us so that "other" guy doesn't screw you again!

was my first thought actually.

I've seen a few things in the last couple of years, my sister-in-law actually drove home once with and empty crank case a couple of years ago when they didn't even put the drain plug back in.

Had something happen about the same time at another place, the wife took one of our Jeeps in to have something done and had the oil changed then.

The guy changing the oil knocked the sensor off the block, I looked at the engine after it got hot and she had AAA tow it home.

I was so pissed off at the time I actually walked to the place, the mechanic that did the work walked into the the office, took one look at me when I put one of my aerospace golf shirts on and waqs pretty pissed, and ran straight back into the garage.

The owner said I'll pay for it myself to fix it, he wanted to charge me for the repair at first when the wife called, I told her not to.

They had all ready charged her for another thing the week before, at that point they were just trying to hit her up for money.

Needless to say, have never taken a car there again.

 

[nakedfrog]

Bought an oil extractor. Now I can do all the service with the car the ground. So nice not to have to roll around on the ground and spend time jacking it up.

Doesn't take long to jack it up with a floor jack

 

[ISAslot]

strange, i never have to jack my cars up to change the oil. (87 Tercel + 68 Galaxie)

 

[nakedfrog]

strange, i never have to jack my cars up to change the oil. (87 Tercel + 68 Galaxie)

Don't have to on my Grand Cherokee... can't even use a standard floor jack on the Miata unless I put it on ramps first.

 

[pauldun170]

strange, i never have to jack my cars up to change the oil. (87 Tercel + 68 Galaxie)

Same here.
I've changed oil in a decent variety of cars over the years.

There are always exceptions. I've come across Miatas I'd probably toss it up.
On a typical family sedan? Nope

 

[Raizinman]

Bought an oil extractor. Now I can do all the service with the car the ground. So nice not to have to roll around on the ground and spend time jacking it up.

Oil extractors are nice and a few garages even use them but the downside is that the dirtiest oil (which is on the bottom of the oil pan) cannot be extracted. the extractor straw that you put down the dipstick tube will often leave as much as a 1/2 cup of dirty oil and debris. One way for you to test this is to extract all the oil and then remove the oil drain plug. You will be amazed at how much comes out.

 

[CZroe]

Sounds like the same scam.

You got taken for a ride so they could sell you the flush that they probably didn't even do.

Edit: Damn. Beated by 996GT2. Just came across it on YouTube last night.

 

[Midwayman]

Oil extractors are nice and a few garages even use them but the downside is that the dirtiest oil (which is on the bottom of the oil pan) cannot be extracted. the extractor straw that you put down the dipstick tube will often leave as much as a 1/2 cup of dirty oil and debris. One way for you to test this is to extract all the oil and then remove the oil drain plug. You will be amazed at how much comes out.

From everything I've seen oil extractors remove more oil. They can remove oil below the threads in the oil pan. Also, its the OEM method for oil changes on my car anyways.