When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I purchased a new to me 1999 Lariat F250 SC LB 5.4L with 98,848 miles. The previous owner had been taking the truck to Jiffy Lube for his oil changes. I climb under the truck and find yellow sealant around the drain plug. I think this can't be a good sign. I scrape the sealant off and put my wrench on the plug and it would not budge with one hand on the wrench. So I put both hands on the wrench and it still will not move. Now, I am not a small person, 6 foot and 230 lbs. I have also been a turning wrenches for a living for over thirty years. I had to put some serious @#! behind it! with both hands!! I am able to get the drain plug out and replaced it with a quick oil drain. I move on to the filter and sure enough it would not budge. I had to drive a screwdriver thru the filter to loosen it. The filter was so tight the o ring remained on the engine.
The moral of this story is DO NOT GO TO JIFFY LUBE!!! Avoid them like the plague!!!!
My new oil filter wrench
The result of using the new oil filter wrench
Filter was so tight the O ring stayed on the engine
Yeah, one of the things I loathe is doing the first oil change on a used car purchase. Drain plug, insane. Oil filter...nuts. I've had them where the screwdriver would basically tear the housing.
As for the o-ring. Learned that lesson a couple years ago. Put the new filter on and started the car. It proceeded to start emptying the crankcase at 40PSI onto the driveway.
What's so stupid, pretty much any oil filter has the spec printed right on the side. Doh!
Seated plus 3/4 turn by hand. That's plenty tight, they don't leak, they don't fall off, plus, can be removed by hand as well.
At a guess their policy of reefing everything down to 40 yd/tons is simply because now and then somebody will forget the oil pan bolt altogether. Oops. Overtightening has been a problem for decades. So what happens is, one person $h*ts their pants and then everybody's gotta wear diapers.
For quite a few years now I've been using these oil pan draining devices: Unique Truck Equipment And no I'm not affiliated with them!
I also added one (with the help of a backing nut) to my trans fluid pan. Paired with the mating hose changing oil in my sloped driveway has never been easier or less messy.
I'm sure most of us here are DIY on oil changes, this post being the perfect example why we do it ourselves. However there was a time 15 years ago I was doing a new truck oil change at 1,000 miles and the filter was on so tight my special wrench was spinning the crimped canister inside the stamped mounting plate. Making matters worse was the filter was almost recessed between the block and frame so no clear access to just the edge of that stamped plate.
A hole was punched in the filter, left to drain then literally snip-by-snip cut the canister away. Once that was all gone a single tap with a chisel spun the plate off. Brand new truck mind you----first and last time I've seen that particular situation---thankfully.
I am sure there are good jiffy lube stores out there, comes down to good training and management.......someone told me once he went to a jiffy lube out east and when he pulled in to check if he could get quick oil change he noticed the guy in the shop using an air impact on the oil drain plug......he turned around and left.
I am sure there are good jiffy lube stores out there, comes down to good training and management.......someone told me once he went to a jiffy lube out east and when he pulled in to check if he could get quick oil change he noticed the guy in the shop using an air impact on the oil drain plug......he turned around and left.
This might be 100% true but who here wants to test it as a theory?
While the incidence of Jiffy Lube et al causing motor problems is statistically "small" were one of those dolts cause ME to loose an engine it would be a huge deal TO ME!
Come winter, summer, spring or fall I'll do my own oil changes knowing its done correctly----not really guessing or assuming there.
For quite a few years now I've been using these oil pan draining devices: Unique Truck Equipment And no I'm not affiliated with them!
I also added one (with the help of a backing nut) to my trans fluid pan. Paired with the mating hose changing oil in my sloped driveway has never been easier or less messy.
I'm sure most of us here are DIY on oil changes, this post being the perfect example why we do it ourselves. However there was a time 15 years ago I was doing a new truck oil change at 1,000 miles and the filter was on so tight my special wrench was spinning the crimped canister inside the stamped mounting plate. Making matters worse was the filter was almost recessed between the block and frame so no clear access to just the edge of that stamped plate.
A hole was punched in the filter, left to drain then literally snip-by-snip cut the canister away. Once that was all gone a single tap with a chisel spun the plate off. Brand new truck mind you----first and last time I've seen that particular situation---thankfully.
neat device, looks better than my B&M drain plug I put in my transmission pan....that I can't get to stop leaking. Leaks from the actual drain bolt and I don't want to torque too much. Guess next drain and fill I will add some silicone to act as sealant "tape"
Hey - @JWA, your ATVAR conjures up conflicting images in my mind of a DIY'er laying under a greasy vehicle twisting on an oil pan bolt! Lol
On a serious note, I wanted to thank you for the link in post #4. I was never before aware of it. Just did it the messy way. I plan to order one!
One what? My avatar image or the Quick Changer---either one are very nice additions, needless to say! In my perfect world she'd be right beside me during my DIY projects..........such are my daydreams. Sadly one of those is far more easily obtained than the other.............
Honestly though despite the relative higher cost of the Quick Changer they are basically life time devices that make this chore very easy and clean. I installed one in my DD transmission pan too but that requires a backing nut and some JB Weld just to be safe. Now I can drain under vehicle fluids with ease.
Gosh there's a double entrendre in there somewhere right?
Her being right there beside you twisting on your drain plug would complicate any DIY project. But you failed to provide a link to her. So I just ordered the Quick Changer. lol
I learned 60 years ago working in a gas station that NOT putting oil on the filter gasket will cause the condition you described with the oil filter. I hate letting nyone changing my oil. I bought tires from Walmart ONE TIME. They installed the valve stems with pliers or vise grips. That was why only ONE TIME.
Her being right there beside you twisting on your drain plug would complicate any DIY project. But you failed to provide a link to her. So I just ordered the Quick Changer. lol
She's all mine so NOT available to you rabble rousing DIY guys----only has eyes for ME...........or so my fantasy goes..............
You'll love the Quick Changer. The only downside is they go unnoticed by most everyone but we owners----a sad state of being for a device so well designed and executed.