did my first oil change... what a PITA...trick

[Larrythelunatic]

I drain mine ‘cold’ after it has been sitting for ~24 hours, that way I know all the oil is actually down in the pan and available to drain, as opposed to still partially up in the heads, block, crank, oil cooler, windage tray, timing set, etc...


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Two reasons (probably more) to change one’s oil:
Renew lubricity with new oil.
Remove the crud that has accumulated in the old oil. That consists mostly of acids, small bits of engine innards, and combustion blow-by products, all of which will do damage to the working parts of the engine with which it will come into contact.
That crud is heavier than the oil, and will settle to the bottom. If the plug is pulled while the crud is still in suspension, it will flow out the drain. If allowed to settle, a large portion of it will remain in the pan, like sand after a receding wave. When the new oil is added, gets warm, it will sweep up that crud and distribute it throughout the engine, negating some of the original purpose of the oil change.
What do I do?
Drive home with a thoroughly warm engine. Pull the plug, and filter, allow it to drain over night. Bring the new oil inside (winter), so it’s warm in the morning. Flows better.
New filter and oil in the morning, and I’m good to go.
One caveat……..
Make sure another vehicle is available. While it wasn’t an
oil-change night, there was a time when a middle-of-the-night trip to the emergency room resulted in a gall bladder removal.
A no-cost lesson learned.

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