Easy drain valve, brilliant or not?

"Nick Has an Exocet" (nickallain)
07/03/2016 at 22:33 • Filed to: None

Just ordered an EZ-107 Oil Drain Valve. Anyone have experience with these? Good, bad?

I’ve gotten kind of sick of covering my gloves in oil every time I pull the plug out on the Ralliart. If this is the best, why doesn’t everyone do it? Or maybe it’s the best kept secret in motoring?

DISCUSSION (13)

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Nick Has an Exocet
07/03/2016 at 22:43

Pretty sure you want the EZ-710 valve. I’m not sure what 107 fluid is.

In all seriousness I’ve never used one, but it seems like a good idea. I’ve heard of guys using them on boats. It may get nasty with road grime on a car or be at risk of getting damaged from road debris. Most cars are fairly well protected from that kind of stuff, so that risk is probably fairly low.

-this space for rent- > Nick Has an Exocet
07/03/2016 at 22:46

I bought on for my Z but didn’t like how low it hang. Made me worry I’d rip it off on something.

But now that I remember I have it, I’llsee if it fits my 4runner since it’s got tons of clearance.

countypork > Nick Has an Exocet
07/03/2016 at 23:10

I have one on every vehicle we own. No matter how low the car is, it’s a quick oil change. Subaru takes 7 minutes. The Hybrid Escape takes 9. (Cartridge filter, annoying). No gloves. With good aim, or if you get one with a nib that allows a plastic tube attached, easiest oil changes ever.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Nick Has an Exocet
07/03/2016 at 23:21

Personally, I feel like it just adds extra parts that could break and be a problem, but a large part of that is likely due to the ease with which I can access my drain plug coupled with my ninja-like skills in removing the bolt without getting oil on myself or the car(OK, its really because BMW makes it really easy to do, but that’s besides the point). But I could see the utility on a car with a shitty drain plug location.

Nick Has an Exocet > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
07/03/2016 at 23:24

It should fit nicely under my aluminum skid plate.

Nick Has an Exocet > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP
07/03/2016 at 23:26

The ralliart doesn’t have the worst location, but I do need to remove an access panel in my aftermarket skid plate to get to it (which better than removing the entire skid plate- as was the case with the original plastic one).

XJDano > Nick Has an Exocet
07/03/2016 at 23:30

I bought something similar when Fram came out with theirs, it took twice as long I think, on a lifted jeep it seemed a mute point. I took it back off and just pull the plugs. The cars I change oil in are all accessed easily by just getting up on ramps.

If you have skid plates it'd be beneficial I'd guess.

Nick Has an Exocet > XJDano
07/03/2016 at 23:34

Interesting. I get sick of buying and using crush washers. I know lots of folks don’t bother (I’m looking at you, every Jiffy Lube in the world), but there is something to be said about doing it right.

I jack / jackstand the ralliart for it’s oil changes, so it already takes a while.

XJDano > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2016 at 00:10

I’ve never used crush washers for my metro in the 9 years I’ve owned it.

What is odd: metro is 17mm, Equinox 15mm, caravan 14mm

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > XJDano
07/04/2016 at 00:32

My Mitsubishi has an 18mm drain plug, huge compared to my Hondas which all had 15mm plugs if I remember correctly. However I replaced the Mitsu’s with a mishimoto magnetic drain plug and it’s 21mm.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2016 at 00:35

With the drain plug on my Mitsubishi, the location would make it impossible to use that. The drain lug is very close to the subframe, close enough that with the larger magnetic drain plug I have now. I can't use a ratchet, because I can't back the plug out all the way with the ratchet on it.

Bowtie_Guy > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2016 at 10:07

I had actually never heard of these before I started working for a Vocational Semi truck company and now I swear by them.

At first I was skeptical... and i was concerned about rocks busting it off or knocking it open... but we use these on all of our trucks. All the semis that run on dirt roads every day... and afaik we have never had one fail. Install it once and you never have to worry about crush washers leaking... or idiots over tightening the drain plug and stripping the pan.

I had problems with crush washers leaking on my Duramax and I got real tired of buying a new one every oil change... I’ve had a Fumoto drain for almost a year now and it will be the first mod for every future vehicle I own. 15,000 miles since I’ve added it and I haven’t had a leak and a service is a breeze

The only real problem with them is having enough space for them. Some are spaced out far enough that the will miss drain holes in skid plates or just dump the oil on a cross member and make a huge mess. The upside to this is they make almost every version with either a 90° fitting or an optional hose you can attach to try to route the oil down to the pan.

Nick Has an Exocet > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
07/09/2016 at 17:08

Welp, this turned out to be a waste of money. There is a flange on the plug is too wide, so it contacts a weird contour in the oil pan just before it makes a perfect seal. I may try filing down the flange a little, we’ll see.