The oil filter - hard to access

[Calson]

Changing the oil myself on my vehicles is the last thing I want to do. I can afford the extra $25 to have it done at a quick lube place and they are going to collect the used oil for recycling. It costs me to collect and store the used motor oil and then make a special trip to a collection location.

I change the oil on my standby generator and my pressure washer and that is enough.

My diesel pickup needed oil changes more often and used twice as much motor oil. I had it changed at the local Ram dealer where I could get the superior Valvoline Blue diesel motor oil.

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[ktrain]

Legitimate question: how tight are you going that you need a wrench/hammer/screwdriver to get these filters off? In about 70 years combined of both my dad and I changing our own oil we’ve hand tightened snug and been able to hand remove every filter on every car and truck we’ve ever owned. Never even crossed my mind to get a wrench. Never had a leaky filter on any of the 10 or so vehicles either…

 

[Snakebitten]

The filter is cold when you hand tighten a new one.
It's hot when you are going to remove it.
In my experience it is also tighter when you go to loosen it than it was when you installed it. There's probably some explanation for that, but I don't know the physics behind it.

I DO believe if I could get a good grip on it ergonomically that I might not need the aid of a tool?

 

[UGADawg96]

Nothing is easier than changing the filter on our Outback. Wish every engine had the filter on top.

 

[oncechance]

Nothing is easier than changing the filter on our Outback. Wish every engine had the filter on top.

Jeep Grand Cherokee has the filter on top too. You need to take off the cover but very easy.

 

[sbi]

What evil &$&$&&$&&$ genius put the oil filter AND all the crap in the way on these Powerboosts?

No need to apologize.

I'll tell you who - probably a 22 y/o kid who graduated college with a degree in engineering who never even popped a hood in his life. That's the world we're living in today: clueless kids who can't hold a screwdriver in their hand but get to design the machines and software we're using every day, just because they graduated college with a degree.

Changing the oil myself on my vehicles is the last thing I want to do. I can afford the extra $25 to have it done at a quick lube place and they are going to collect the used oil for recycling.

I gave this message a 'Like', I would give you two if I could.
Can't agree with this statement more - "can afford the extra $25": people spend north of sixty thousand dollars on a truck and additional few thousands on "upgrades" but will chose to swim in a pool of oil just to say they change their own oil. I'll never understand that.

 

[Snakebitten]

No need to apologize.

I'll tell you who - probably a 22 y/o kid who graduated college with a degree in engineering who never even popped a hood in his life. That's the world we're living in today: clueless kids who can't hold a screwdriver in their hand but get to design the machines and software we're using every day, just because they graduated college with a degree.



I gave this message a 'Like', I would give you two if I could.
Can't agree with this statement more - "can afford the extra $25": people spend north of sixty thousand dollars on a truck and additional few thousands on "upgrades" but will chose to swim in a pool of oil just to say they change their own oil. I'll never understand that.

It's not to save $25.
I assure you.
It's so that 22 year old doesn't...... Well, touch my stuff. ??

(Had an Infiniti G35 dump its sump just a few miles down the road from a jiffy lube lube job. They DID have good insurance though)

 

[oncechance]

I gave this message a 'Like', I would give you two if I could.
Can't agree with this statement more - "can afford the extra $25": people spend north of sixty thousand dollars on a truck and additional few thousands on "upgrades" but will chose to swim in a pool of oil just to say they change their own oil. I'll never understand that.
[/QUOTE]

Agreed but knowing that you:
1. Know how tight the filter is installed
2. Know that you have the correct oil you want (not what they have in a barrel)
3. Know that the oil is filled correctly; not over/under filled
4. Know that the drain plug is put back in (not too loose or too tight)

Is reason for doing my own oil changes.

 

[sbi]

It's not to save $25.
I assure you.
It's so that 22 year old doesn't...... Well, touch my stuff. ??

(Had an Infiniti G35 dump its sump just a few miles down the road from a jiffy lube lube job. They DID have good insurance though)

But God forbid something more serious happens with the truck and it needs service, then that's fine for the "22 y/o" to touch it? Because clearly you don't know who's touching it and who doesn't.
And what if that 22 y/o has more knowledge and experience dealing with the truck than you because they went to mechanic school?

 

[Mosey]

I change my own oil for a few reasons:

1. Gives me a chance to look at the underside/inspect.
2. Is usually relaxing - not this time of course.

 

[Snakebitten]

But God forbid something more serious happens with the truck and it needs service, then that's fine for the "22 y/o" to touch it? Because clearly you don't know who's touching it and who doesn't.
And what if that 22 y/o has more knowledge and experience dealing with the truck than you because they went to mechanic school?

I'm pretty sure that you were the one that took a shot at 22 year olds. In fact, 22 year olds with engineering degrees.

Admittedly I piggybacked on your take a bit, but in this case it was a 22 year old jiffy lube oil changer.

I meant no offense though. Just a little oil change banter.

 

[Mosey]

I edited my post as it looks to be getting a little bit heated. If I could delete it I would. Much calmer today.

 

[sbi]

I'm pretty sure that you were the one that took a shot at 22 year olds. In fact, 22 year olds with engineering degrees.

Admittedly I piggybacked on your take a bit, but in this case it was a 22 year old jiffy lube oil changer.

I meant no offense though. Just a little oil change banter.

Indeed I did - 22 y/o who has zero experience with his/her only achievement is going to college and graduate with a degree, as oppose to a 22 y/o who went to, let's say vocational school, learned how to become a mechanic and now has 4 years of experience working on vehicles in addition to the 4 years school. I believe I made the distinction very clearly

 

[Calson]

I can appreciate the need to justify changing the oil in your truck and I make sure I see the oil containers used and not the motor oil from the hose going to a large drum. I bring my own oil filter as many places use off brand ones and for me it is not worth taking a chance.

I have spent more time under cars and rebuilding engines than most people, stating with a 1954 4WD Willys overhaul in 1968 where it was parked at the curb and I had to contend with water running down the gutter from neighbors running their lawn sprinklers. I was in heaven when I could work outdoors on a concrete surface instead of dirt and gravel.

I would bet that these DIY oil changers don't bother to research the best motor oil for their trucks, and with diesel this is especially important. Amsoil would not have the sales it does if people bothered to do the research as their diesel motor oil has an additive mix that is no better than the Wal-Mart brand and markedly inferior to what you get with Red Line, Valvoline Blue, Pennzoil, and a number of other oils that sell for half as much.

I do get under my truck to check the oil pan bolts as they can loosen and result in oil leaks. I was happy not to be replacing the fuel filter every 5,000 miles or cleaning and regaping spark plugs every 15,000 miles or replacing the distributor capacitor and adjusting the points. With unleaded gas and electronic ignitions the required maintenance is a small fraction today of what it was in the past.

I change the wiper blades and the motor and cabin air filters and a battery when needed but the rest I prefer to pay someone else to do who has the waste disposal and tools and a hoist, etc.

 

[sbi]

I edited my post as it looks to be getting a little bit heated. If I could delete it I would. Much calmer today.

nothing is heated, I totally agree with your complaint and rant. The design of the oil filter/location and everything in the way of a "reasonable" oil change is stupid. We agree on that.

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