Speaking of oil changes- QOTD: Warm or cold?

"crowmolly" (crowmolly) 02/07/2017 at 13:49 • Filed to: None

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I’ll usually do fluid changes warm so the draining is quicker and more complete. Also debris will probably be in suspension.

What method do you prefer?

Ash78, voting early and often > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 13:51

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Warm because dat floe.

CaptDale - is secretly British > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 13:51

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Warm, but not hot.

vicali > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 13:53

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Warm - because I’ve got other stuff to do than wait around..

Bonus point; Fumoto forever.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 13:54

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Hot right after a 300 mile interstate run in August in south Georgia at 20mph above the legal limit.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 13:54

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Warm, I usually do it straight after a drive.

Bourbon&JellyBeans > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 13:55

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Warm, with salt and garlic butter.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 02/07/2017 at 13:56

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In third gear the whole time, I hope.

Funktheduck > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 02/07/2017 at 13:56

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Hell. Down here in the summer it’s almost hot enough to not run the engine to warm up the oil

MonkeePuzzle > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 13:56

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I drain it hot. then go inside and take a nice long break. and come finish it cold.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 13:57

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Warm, but not over-warm, particularly if I’m not using a lift. Not a fan of cuddling hot exhaust.

Nonster > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 13:58

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I like to do it when its warm, but still hot enough that I obtain several 1st degree burns when I crawl under my MR2 to the forward side of its centrally located engine to reach the oil filter & drain plug which amounts to playing a high stakes game of mechanics-creeper exhaust-downpipe limbo....

crowmolly > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 02/07/2017 at 13:58

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Hot pipes have needs too!

Urambo Tauro > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 13:59

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Immediately after driving, so that it flows out more readily and has contaminants suspended in the fluid. (Disclaimer: I do not own a Subaru with the “ring of fire” exhaust surrounding the filter.)

I suppose the case could be made for doing it cold, since the contaminants would theoretically be settled closer to the drain plug. But I’m not sure that amounts to cleaner results than doing it warm.

crowmolly > Urambo Tauro 02/07/2017 at 14:01

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Gear oil is something I’m curious about. I know engine oil is frequently changed warm but I don’t know how many other people drain their axles “warm”.

diplodicus > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 14:02

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I agree with RamblinRover, since the oil filter for the M20B25 is located between the block and the headers.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Nonster 02/07/2017 at 14:03

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I just back it up onto a ramp. Drains easier too since the drain’s forward-facing.

Jcarr > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 14:03

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Yep, I pull the vehicle out of the garage and let it run while it get my ramps, tray, creeper, etc. in place. Warm enough to run easily, but not so hot as to burn.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Funktheduck 02/07/2017 at 14:05

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I lived in Valdosta Georgia for 5 years, you are correct.

Urambo Tauro > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 14:07

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I try to do every fluid change (engine, transmission, differential) warm if I can, for both the flow advantage and the particle suspension thing. I would do the same for coolant if it wasn’t pressurized.

Nonster > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 02/07/2017 at 14:08

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I’ve been telling myself that I should get a set of those ramps for about 5 years now

One day I finally might break down and buy them....

But today is not that day

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 14:08

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My exhaust needs something, and that something is for me not to leave a layer of skin on it. In fairness, I think the only car I owned personally that had oil service near the exhaust was the Rabbit pickup, but my Benz has an aluminum canister setup on the back of the engine which *does* get too hot to open if I go overboard on warmups. Unlike the Benz canister, which self-drains from above, the Rover has a canister down below, so warm >hot in risk of “dump whole little bucket of oil all over self by accident”.

So, that’s two with canister, a small-block Ford (with filter not that far from the left manifold), and two as-yet un-running which will be less sketchy (RV8 - right bottom timing cover, MEL - left bottom timing cover).

Funktheduck > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 02/07/2017 at 14:09

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You took the 5 year college plan?

Urambo Tauro > MonkeePuzzle 02/07/2017 at 14:11

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Same here. I like to pull the plug & filter and walk away for a while. I want as much of the dirty oil to drain as possible. No ten-minute oil changes for me.

I hope that I’m not shooting myself in the foot by doing this, though. Surface tension is enough to keep the bearings and stuff from getting oil-starved, right?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Nonster 02/07/2017 at 14:12

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Worth their weight in gold when doing an oil change.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Funktheduck 02/07/2017 at 14:14

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I did, drunk the entire time with aircraft mechanics from Moody

Mercedes Streeter > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 14:17

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I do it with the engine hot...but not too hot. Makes life easier and the oil flow faster! :)

Mercedes Streeter > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 02/07/2017 at 14:19

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Worth their weight for some underbody repairs and servicing too. Just stay farrrrrrrr away from plastic ramps!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Mercedes Streeter 02/07/2017 at 14:25

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Never had a problem with my plastic ones, but then again the car that goes on it probably weighs about the same as your Smart. If I were dealing with something bigger I’d be more worried, but so far so good.

Scott > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 14:28

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By the time I get to the jiffy lube or what ever... the oil is warm... so I guess warm it is.

Mattbob > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 14:31

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I pre-warm my oil in a bottle warmer and check it on my wrist before I let the car have it.... no, no I don’t. I change my oil at whatever temp it happens to be.

for Michigan > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 14:34

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I generally like to get the engine up to temp and then let it sit for about 30 minutes so I’m not working with overly-hot parts in close proximity to my skin.

Funktheduck > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 02/07/2017 at 14:38

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I knew a few guys that transferred from UGA to Valdosta because they were partying too hard. I’m not sure what the thought process was

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Funktheduck 02/07/2017 at 14:43

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The major partying only happened there on Wednesday and Thursday nights when I was there in the 90s. So that’s less partying right?

Future next gen S2000 owner > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 14:49

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Is it warm or cold outside? I minimize run time prior as to not burn myself. That puts me in the cold camp.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Mercedes Streeter 02/07/2017 at 14:50

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why?

Future next gen S2000 owner > Urambo Tauro 02/07/2017 at 14:52

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I don’t think it is an issue letting it drain for extended periods. Your car sits overnight so all the oil would drain to the bottom of the pan. Start-ups are bad enough but you are inducing a condition that already occurs.

Urambo Tauro > Future next gen S2000 owner 02/07/2017 at 14:54

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Ah, good point. It’s not like I’m shooting brake cleaner in there or anything.

crowmolly > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 02/07/2017 at 14:57

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Yeah, I bought a set of forearm sleeves for oil changes on cars with long tube headers. One good burn from a big block...

Future next gen S2000 owner > Urambo Tauro 02/07/2017 at 15:00

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Right! Just make sure you use the good garden hose when you flush out the old oil.

lone_liberal > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 15:02

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Warm for me too, at least when it comes to the drain plug, but I have been known to wimp out and wait for it to cool before dropping the filter as it is closer to the header tubes.

HammerheadFistpunch > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 15:06

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Warm, cold just doesn’t get the job done.

crowmolly > lone_liberal 02/07/2017 at 15:09

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Gen I SBC, right?

lone_liberal > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 15:12

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Correct!

crowmolly > lone_liberal 02/07/2017 at 15:12

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Yeah, that filter can be a bear.

7:07 > MonkeePuzzle 02/07/2017 at 15:30

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Instead of waiting so long, what about pouring a half quart of new oil to flush out the last of the old stuff?

MonkeePuzzle > 7:07 02/07/2017 at 15:47

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I usually flush with a boiling hot saline water and bleach mix

#lies

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 16:35

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Operating temp only. Some manufacturers even specify it be done this way.

The Compromiser > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 20:10

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I let the car idle a bit then do it. The bike is warm up. 5 minute ride, then drain. Then clean up where I spilled the Damn hot oil on myself! Shit! Owww!

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > crowmolly 02/07/2017 at 22:28

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unless you don’t mind using an hour glass, waiting for it to drain.

uofime-2 > crowmolly 02/08/2017 at 16:21

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Warm, and with my top mounted filter and drain valve on the bottom my car really couldn’t be easier. Now if only it preferred less volume, cheaper and more infrequent oil changes.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > crowmolly 02/24/2017 at 13:15

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Warm, always, but install a magnetic drain plug.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > lone_liberal 02/24/2017 at 13:16

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With all of the advances in automotive technology, you’d think that there would be a way of changing an oil filter without oil haveing to pour all over the place. Maybe there is a way and I am a moron, but I’m just putting that out there...

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Urambo Tauro 02/24/2017 at 13:16

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Magnetic drain plug takes care of that, by my thinking....

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > HammerheadFistpunch 02/24/2017 at 13:17

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Agreed. I usually go for a drive, then let it sit for about ten minutes before draining.

HammerheadFistpunch > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/24/2017 at 13:20

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thats about my policy. Needs to be warm, not melt my hands off.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > HammerheadFistpunch 02/24/2017 at 13:40

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But why, with all of the advances in automotive technology, does oil still have to spill everywhere removing an oil filter? It is a puzzlement .

Urambo Tauro > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/24/2017 at 13:45

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Not a bad idea! (But not all contaminants are ferrous...)

HammerheadFistpunch > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/24/2017 at 13:52

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have you seen the way the new subaru’s do it? smart.

right on top with a catch basin underneath.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Urambo Tauro 02/24/2017 at 20:20

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No, you’re right. Magnet grabs the iron and if it’s warm, most of the goodies are still in suspension.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > HammerheadFistpunch 02/24/2017 at 20:21

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Wow... Who’da thunk?