So I've been changing my own oil for 30 years, never a problem. I don't over-tighten the drain plug or the filter, it's all good, and I enjoy fiddling with the cars, trucks and motorcycles.

So today I do the SuperCrew, get all done and am starting to clean up- thinking how easy a job it is with all that room under there, a (finally) well thought out filter setup and so forth. I look down in the catch pan and guess what I see? Yep, the o ring washer. Well, methinks, this is going to be fun!

Turned out to not be a big deal at all. I spread a garbage bag out (figuring it's going all over), had a bunch of paper towels at the ready. I thought about it a bit, trying to decide what would be the least messy. I considered catching it all in a clean bucket and just dumping it back in (all 4 gallons/16 quarts), but it became more of a challenge. So, I scoot under there and went for it. Loosened the drain bolt and back it all the way out with my fingers, holding it in place with the opposite hand's finger in the middle of the bolt head. Not much was coming out at this point (good) so I pulled the plug and stuck my finger in the hole- I don't think 2 tablespoons went anywhere! So I fiddle the crush washer on the bolt; while my right hand held the bolt and my left had the washer and a finger in the drain hole- and quickly stick it back in and thread it in. Complete loss maybe 4 tablespoons- so I'm feeling pretty good about it. Cleaned everything up with a few paper towels, the loss didn't even show the dipstick.

Happy New Year!

 

a trick that i use is take a rag and a shop vac. take off the oil fill cap and put the shop vac to the oil fill. now you can take the drain plug out and not 1 drop will come out of the oil pan. it works great. also works good if you over fill it. you can control the amount that you drain out.

 

Great idea Elmo!

 

I installed a Fumoto valve, so I never have to worry about forgetting that washer, or stripping out the drain plug threads ever again. It makes the oil change even easier and cleaner.

http://www.dieselsite.com/index.asp?...PROD&ProdID=33

 

I'd be worried about that hunk sticking down and getting snapped off by a tree branch or rock or something offroad.

 

I was thinking the same thing ...That would make servicing so much easier with it on there , but with my luck I would end up knocking it off or something out of the ordinary happening .....

 

The Fumoto valve is higher than other things. If it gets snapped off, chances are you've already torn a good bit of other things off first. They are a good thing to have. The only reason I've not installed one is because I like to check the magnet on the end of the drain plug each time I change the oil. The magnet just gives me a little more peace-of-mind. But, I have had the Fumoto valve on some other vehicles I've owned.

 

F250tuff is right, the Fumoto Valve really doesn't stick down that far. If you hit something hard enough to break it off, chances are you were going to put a hole in your oilpan anyways, or your going to be hitting the transmission pan or something else.

There are a lot of people on this site using a Fumoto valve, and I have not heard one story about it being ripped off, or opened accidently.

 

This is a slightly different question but basically the same topic - anybody try the Fram (I know - ick) quick oil drain plug w/ the hose? R

Reason I ask is I'd like to put a fumoto on our VW but unlike the SD's it rides pretty low and we have evidence of scrapes, etc on the plate protecting the oil pan on it. Hate to have the Fumoto get broken off in this case. The Fram one looks more like just a regular oil drain plug and is a bit smaller than the Fumoto.

DG

 

I use one on my 5.4L SD and like it. Be warned though, there is nothing quick about the drain flow. 7qts can take almost 10-15 minutes drain completely. You diesel guys with the bigger sumps, may not like to wait. To be fair to FRAM, they marketed it as the "Sure Drain" and not a "Quick Drain".

I also think FRAM discontinued marketing them but there is pleny of new old stock (NOS) floating around ebay and other vendors to still be able to find one. I also wanted to say that I think another company is marketing and selling the same design but with a blue tube attachment.

All in all, it makes for a nicer drain and will continue to use it.

 

Luckily the VW only holds about 4qts so time won't be a big deal - I'll look around to see what I can find.

DG

 

Fumoto all the way! Drains plenty fast and the chances of tearing the thing off are 0 to none.