what is your easiest and most difficult oil change?

[speeder]

Originally Posted by craigster59

Another good thing to have is a "low profile" lab carboy as a drain pan for oil. If you know anyone who works in a lab they might be able to score one for you.

Drain into the top hole and empty from the spout...

NFW...every oil change I've ever done, the hot oil shoots out in a horizontal stream like a bad case of whistle dick. I use a huge drain pan with curved up sides and lots of room for error in predicting initial trajectory of said stream. Sometimes I hold it close to the drain hole at first if the vehicle is far from the ground, like my F-250 with 4 gallons(!) of hot oil inside.

No thanks, amigo.

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by speeder

NFW...every oil change I've ever done, the hot oil shoots out in a horizontal stream like a bad case of whistle dick. I use a huge drain pan with curved up sides and lots of room for error in predicting initial trajectory of said stream. Sometimes I hold it close to the drain hole at first if the vehicle is far from the ground, like my F-250 with 4 gallons(!) of hot oil inside.

No thanks, amigo.

That's the beauty of the Fumoto valve. You stick the tubing on the valve nipple, place other end of tubing in carboy, open the valve and then pop open a beer while it drains.

No muss, no fuss....

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by speeder

NFW...every oil change I've ever done, the hot oil shoots out in a horizontal stream like a bad case of whistle dick. I use a huge drain pan with curved up sides and lots of room for error in predicting initial trajectory of said stream. Sometimes I hold it close to the drain hole at first if the vehicle is far from the ground, like my F-250 with 4 gallons(!) of hot oil inside.

No thanks, amigo.

Same here. Learned that lesson after overflowing a pan with small hole that couldn’t keep up with a 911 draining. Yeah I know, rookie mistake.

[targa911S]

914-easy
Cayenne- PITA

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by speeder

NFW...every oil change I've ever done, the hot oil shoots out in a horizontal stream like a bad case of whistle dick. I use a huge drain pan with curved up sides and lots of room for error in predicting initial trajectory of said stream. Sometimes I hold it close to the drain hole at first if the vehicle is far from the ground, like my F-250 with 4 gallons(!) of hot oil inside.

No thanks, amigo.

Not just that, but with my luck I'd drop the drain plug directly in the inlet.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Same here. Learned that lesson after overflowing a pan with small hole that couldn’t keep up with a 911 draining. Yeah I know, rookie mistake.

We've all done it, man. Someone who's never made a mistake is someone who's never rolled up their sleeves and worked on anything.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by targa911S

914-easy
Cayenne- PITA

What's hard about the Cayenne? I like that you don't need a jack.

[speeder]

I just had a really unpleasant time doing an oil change on this little R53 Mini Cooper. Had a heck of a time getting the oil filter canister to thread back on because it's a weird angle and you're doing it blind down a narrow passage. I finally disconnected the strut bar and lifted it out of the way and got it. (Duh).

One of the guys I share the space with, (not a mechanic), thought I was hurt and needed help because of the profanity I would unleash every time I burned my hands on the hot exhaust shield next to the oil filter location.

"Are you ok?"

Me: "I'm always ok, I just swear a lot. If you ever hear me yelling, 'HELP!' you can come running. Otherwise, ignore me."

[Shaun @ Tru6]

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[speeder]

Thanks! I'll look into those.

[Deschodt]

The 72 911 specifically is not "hard" but it's not "fun". Even with a Fumoto valve and a tube the 72 unique tank location makes it a pain in the butt to get to the tank opening behind the rear wheel. I've been changing oil on aircooled 911s for 30y and I still make a mess each time, one way or another. The one time I almost had a perfect spotless change I kicked a dirty oil can by accident and spilled, LOL...

The BMW2002 Oil filter location is also a complete $%$#%#$% and super hard to unscrew (or put a wrench on). I don't think I ever had an "easy" car for oil + filter.. Even old VWs and 356 would sometimes mess with your day pulling a stud from the oil filter plate.. if you can call that a filter ;-)

[Baz]

Originally Posted by rwest

The worst oil change is the FIRST time you charge oil on a 911 and realize your drain pan is too small!

All of my cars have been as good as can be reasonably expected.

I think I killed every mosquito in the state the first time I changed the oil on my first 911......keep checking the dipstick - engine off - oof!

[gregpark]

I don't have a lift :^(
My tundra and jeep are a pleasure compared to my 911 and wrx. I've always raised my trucks and lowered my sports cars. The trucks are high enough to slide a 5 gal. bucket under to catch oil and my arms are free even on a creeper. I have to ramp up my sports cars to even access the drain plugs and forget about a creeper, I'm slithering on my back.

[Baz]

I don't have a lift either. These ramps help a lot!

[speeder]

I use ramps sometimes but the OCD in me always wants to raise the rear of the vehicle and see if more comes out when it's level.

[syncroid]

Easiest = My 2024 Toyota Tacoma Off Road.
Hardest = Porsche 2017 and newer 718 Caymans. The filter is in an evil place!

[aschen]

Originally Posted by syncroid

Easiest = My 2024 Toyota Tacoma Off Road.
Hardest = Porsche 2017 and newer 718 Caymans. The filter is in an evil place!

I don't find my 2018 cayman to be too bad. Mine is 6mt so that may make it easier.


I most resent that you have to buy a special tool to reset the maintenance. Completely egregious of Porsche not to build it into the cars HMI. Also really sucks to not include a center jack point. Would make maintenance 200% easier.

Germans just don't care about making maintance coinvent I think.

[Brian 162]

My old SC was easy, removing the filter could be a little messy.
My Tahoe is easy. I can fit underneath without lifting the vehicle. The oil is so thin 0-W-20 it drains fast. Filter is easy to change as well.

[A930Rocket]

2014 F150 with a 4” lift is easy to drain and the filter is easy to swap, but when you remove the filter, it drips down on the K member, and then onto the ground. There’s a little plastic tray, but it doesn’t catch it at all.

Sometimes I use ramps and sometimes I don’t.

[Alan A]

easiest - one i pay for.

hardest - one i do myself.
especially when i can't get a strap wrench on the filter.
or better (red tr6 i'm looking at you here) it's too old for a canister and you get covered with oil undoing the filter housing.