Guess the tool

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

That's what I was hinting at.

Awe C'mon Bob! You're blowing my whole story to pieces.

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

I wonder what percentage of us think this is a valuable tool, and those that think this is a joke?

I'm on the fence. A latex glove has worked for me.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Baz

Who in their right mind changes the oil when it's so hot their fingers get burned. That would be pretty dumb.

I always wait for it to cool down.

Pair of latex gloves and you're set!

Right. Oil gets changed when the engine is not hot.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

I wonder what percentage of us think this is a valuable tool, and those that think this is a joke?

I don't know about it being a joke, but it doesn't seem necessary. I'm sure that it's not 100% perfect either. I can probably move my hand out of the way quicker than I could move the tool. I can get my hand in from the side instead of having to come in from the end of the plug like the tool needs to hit. If you don't get the tool out of the way, the oil probably runs down the tool. I can probably feel what's going on with my fingers on the plug better than I could feel what's going on using the tool.

Originally Posted by cabmando

Awe C'mon Bob! You're blowing my whole story to pieces.

I'm on the fence. A latex glove has worked for me.

Yep, glove and fingers provide greater dexterity and feeling of what's going on. I assume some vehicles may be great candidates for this tool. It probably depends upon the vehicle to some extent.

[911 Rod]

I thought the video was pretty funny when he spills the oil without having the bucket under it and blames it on not having the special tool.
I just put an extension on my socket and maybe a swivel.

[stevej37]

I'll be using it this spring for the first time on my Prelude. I'll report back on how well it worked.

I'll let anyone borrow it....for those who have an incomplete tool chest.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by masraum

Right. Oil gets changed when the engine is not hot.

I usually warm it up to put cooties into suspension. I'm assuming that would happen to some degree.

[stevej37]

^^^ That's the way and reason I've always been told to do it.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

The smell of burnt electronics is still kind of manly

Are we talking about British cars?

[pwd72s]

I just used a breaker bar. Plug usually stayed in the socket. Easy clean up. Even if I still did my oil changes, which I don't, doubt I'd buy this.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by masraum

Are we talking about British cars?

German cars too. I let the smoke out of my turn signal switch once. When I first got my car on the road, I let the smoke out of a few wires because the PO had oversized fuses in place.

[Bob Kontak]

[Baz]

Originally Posted by masraum

Right. Oil gets changed when the engine is not hot.

Nuance.

Hot vs. warm.

Just change the oil at the right frequency and you'll be fine.

Says the guy with an '02 Silverado w/235K on the clock with a 4.8 Vortec that hums like a little sewing machine.....

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Baz

Nuance.

Hot vs. warm.

Just change the oil at the right frequency and you'll be fine.

Says the guy with an '02 Silverado w/235K on the clock with a 4.8 Vortec that hums like a little sewing machine.....

I hear ya. I also like the expression I have heard here that the best type of oil to use is new oil. Frequency matters.

[stevej37]

^^^ I noticed yesterday that the recommended oil for my Civic is 0W-20
I did a quick look at Meijers and they didn't even have that weight in any brand.

Is it that rare?...or are they just 'out of stock'?

[herr_oberst]

I change the oil when it's warm.
I also use a special tool, it's a 10" section of home rain gutter that I've customized to fit on the top of the crossmember so the oil doesn't just splash all around the chassis of the truck.
I can't remember the last time, or if, I've dropped the plug into the catch pan.
The technique I use is to unscrew the drain plug by hand with pretty solid upward pressure to (mostly) hold back the oil in the crankcase until I can feel the threads "jump" at the end, letting me know it's fully unscrewed. Lift the plug smartly away and let the oil drain while I change the filter, wipe the plug, install a new plug gasket, all the little things that are part of the oil change process. Therapeutic!

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ I noticed yesterday that the recommended oil for my Civic is 0W-20
I did a quick look at Meijers and they didn't even have that weight in any brand.

Is it that rare?...or are they just 'out of stock'?

That weight is common now.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

That weight is common now.

If you buy it in 5 quart jugs you get the drain plug gripper tool for free.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ I noticed yesterday that the recommended oil for my Civic is 0W-20

0W-20. The drainplug floats in zero-winter

[stevej37]

^^^ Thanks...I never looked for it before. I've got a while before the Civic is due. I checked the mileage minder today and it still said 100%
It might be summer before it's down to 10%.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

If you buy it in 5 quart jugs you get the drain plug gripper tool for free.

Dang...I don't need two of them. Any bids?