Tried my first-ever own oil change yesterday evening!

"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
10/01/2019 at 07:05 • Filed to: Oil Change

All seems well - took the car for a drive afterward and left a piece of cardboard under it overnight and so far, no leaks from the filter or drain plug! :)

Only issue was I only have a strap wrench to get the filter off and the filter says to put it on hand-tight and then turn it another 3/4 of a turn. I put it on as tight as I could by hand but as I had got a little oil on the outside of the filter as I was installing it, I could only get my strap wrench to grip well enough to give it another 1/4 of a turn past that...? Think it’ll be OK? I don’t want it coming loose and dumping all my engine blood out while I’m on the road...

I also managed to spill a little oil on the asphalt driveway despite having cardboard laying under the car, which mom is none to pleased about as I’ve heard oil stains on asphalt are a B**** to get out...anyone have any experience lifting oil stains from a driveway? We don’t have a pressure washer and our hose won’t reach to where I made the mess...I tried the ‘dish soap/scrub hard with a stiff bristle brush/rinse away’ trick last night but as the dew hasn’t dried off from overnight yet, the driveway is still damp and I can’t tell if it made any difference...

Some shots from in progress...

Also, no doubt about the model code for my car (MC)...found this stamped on an engine mount underneath! :D

Accent Trivia Oppo Pop Quiz - 1000 internet points to whoever knows what the JB means! I know, do you? :P

DISCUSSION (37)

pip bip - choose Corrour > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/01/2019 at 07:09

JB will be the Kia Rio?

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > pip bip - choose Corrour
10/01/2019 at 07:15

Yuppers, that was fast! 1000 internet points to you! :P

The 2006-2010 Hyundai Accent / 2006-2011 Kia Rio shared a platform. The Accent used the designation ‘MC’ and the Rio used the ‘JB’ designation

shop-teacher > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/01/2019 at 07:17

I'm sure your filter will be fine.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > shop-teacher
10/01/2019 at 07:20

Thanks! Makes me feel better about the 140km I have to drive later today! :P

nerd_racing > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/01/2019 at 07:22

Not so great with accents, unless you mean Eyetalian

Kinja'd!!!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > nerd_racing
10/01/2019 at 07:38

Take your star :P

OPPOsaurus WRX > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/01/2019 at 08:19

i dont know if i’ve ever done an oil change where i havnt spilled at least a drip or two. its just part of the job.

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/01/2019 at 08:44

Good job! When I did it the first time last year, I left a lot more oil on the floor, and the filter, and myself, and the engine and plastics and my whole life.

It feels good when you complete something like that, especially if at first it seems daunting and scary - at least it was for me.

TorqueToYield > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/01/2019 at 08:45

Filter on hand tight is fine. I normally never use a wrench putting them on so they’re easier to get off. Snug by hand then another quarter turn by hand.

Watch next time you go to take it off it’ll have magically tightened itself on to where you need hulk strength to remove it.

Michael > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/01/2019 at 08:55

To me, “Hand Tight” is basically where the filter gasket contacts the housing, not “as tight as you can possibly get it by hand”

Then another 3/4 turn

example from WIX: http://www.wixfilters.com/assets/techBulletins/Wix/WIX_HD-oilInstructions.pdf

Kinja'd!!!

Sammyno55 > Michael
10/01/2019 at 09:09

I’vebeen doing my own oil changes since 1987 or so. I also helped my Dad change his oil before that because I had smaller hands and could reach the filter easier. I’ve never used a wrench to install a filter and never had one leak. I usually spin it until it just makes contact, then a bit more. I’m not sure if I’ve ever got a ľ of a turn on any of them. Most times I can spin the filters off by hand when it's time to change the oil. Just watch for drips and check the level regularly.

Ash78, voting early and often > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/01/2019 at 09:34

Congrats! I started DIY car stuff in college 20 years ago and never really stopped. Although now I definitely weigh the options of professional repairs for the tougher stuff. For easy stuff, I still like to DIY because I can do it whenever I want, not be at the mercy of the shop and their schedule.

I’ve never used a strap wrench to reinstall a filter. I just go “wrist tight” (which is more than hand tight, but less than arm tight!). As long as you primed the gasket with fresh oil, it should stay nice and sealed. I’ve never had a filter leak...unless you count the old, residual oil from the previous change that hangs out for a few days afterward. That depends on filter design and orientation, though. Easy to spot because it’s black, not gold.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/01/2019 at 09:35

I’ve always just hand tightened my oil filters and they have been fine. It’s has a rubber seat so it doesn’t need to be extremely tight. One thing that a lot of people say if you should put a bit of oil on the rubber seal so that it’ll slide better as you tighten the filter. Idk is that’s vadil or not but I’ve always done it.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > nerd_racing
10/01/2019 at 09:35

What a great movie.

Shift24 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/01/2019 at 10:03

Also more for the fact that the gasket doesn’t stick to the engine block. The oil helps as a barrier to keep it from sticking.

A nd in some of the stupid tight areas they put the filters... the last thing I want to be doing is scraping off the old gasket

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Shift24
10/01/2019 at 10:16

That makes sense that rubber is going to go though a lot of heat cycles. It could easily breakdown and become sticky

Michael > Sammyno55
10/01/2019 at 10:27

Same. First time I used a wrench was when I had to take one that the dealer had overtorqued and I couldn’t get a screwdriver through it.

My experience only goes back to about 2001, though.

Only time I had one leak was when the gasket of the old filter stayed on the block, and doubled up with the new filter

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/01/2019 at 11:14

Yup, I did put some fresh oi l on the seal before I put it in!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Shift24
10/01/2019 at 11:16

Luckily the gasket from the old one came off the block no problem with the old filter! :)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Ash78, voting early and often
10/01/2019 at 12:28

Yup, the oil on the ground was a mixture of me dribbling some when draining it and some fresh stuff I spilled when priming the new filter.

Thanks! The only other thing I’d done to my own car before this was mostly more minor stuff. I did install the wiring and assemblies for aftermarket OEM-style fog lights last year though ! :)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
10/01/2019 at 12:31

Yup...I still have a foreboding feeling thinking something will come undone o n the 70km drive to or from work today, lol. I’ve MADE it to work so far, so we'll see if I get home! :)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Michael
10/01/2019 at 12:34

From hand-tight, I gave it a gentle 1/4 of a turn with the strap wrench...don't think it's on TOO tight, but maybe I did overtighten it in that case!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Michael
10/01/2019 at 12:35

I checked to make sure the gasket came off with the old one before I installed the new one! :)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > TorqueToYield
10/01/2019 at 12:35

Great. Sounds like I may have screwed up then...

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Michael
10/01/2019 at 12:40

I probably snugge d it on a bit more than that then...

Dogsatemypants > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/01/2019 at 13:12

When i was a lube monkey.... the only filters i would tighten wi th a band wrench were diesels and chevys with the filter that is inset into the oil pan. Make sure you put some fresh oil on the rubber gasket and then twist that sucker on with your hand. Any more than that and you are just making a pain in the ass for your future self or the next guy. Pro tip, go to harbor freight and get you some slip joint filter pliers. It will give you a lot more ugga duggas for filter removal.

Dogsatemypants > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/01/2019 at 13:16

Lol, you needn’t prime the filter. The car does that for you. If you had a cummins or some other diesel, that would have been the correct move. On small displacement gas engines you don’t need to prime.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Dogsatemypants
10/01/2019 at 16:39

Oh well, less work for the car to do! :P

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > OPPOsaurus WRX
10/01/2019 at 16:39

Well, this was a little more than a drop or two, but it not too bad....enough to be noticeable though, sadly :(

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Dogsatemypants
10/01/2019 at 16:40

Yeah, might pick those pliers up for next time...don’t have any now!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Dogsatemypants
10/01/2019 at 16:40

Yeah, might pick those pliers up for next time...don’t have any now!

Dogsatemypants > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/01/2019 at 17:46

You should also grab a roll of tin foil for next time, it makes for a quick and easy drip funnel. Just have the sheet wrapped against the engine cradle or lower control arm and put a crease in the middle to let it run into your catch container. Also, make sure to wipe the base plate clean before applying the filter. It helps the gasket to form a better seal.

Jordan > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/01/2019 at 18:31

Always wanted to learnt to do these little things, but I’ve always been afraid of messing something up and ruining the car. Maybe one day when I have more money I’ll buy a beater to try these things on.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Dogsatemypants
10/01/2019 at 19:31

Ah, that tinfoil idea is a good call...I sortof did the same, but I used a cloth I was holding in the same hand as the filter I was taking off to try and redirect any dribbles to the catch pan.

I did wipe off the base plate for the filter on the engine before I reinstalled it though!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Jordan
10/01/2019 at 19:34

I was overly cautious and slow at it, but it was satisfying - I’d so go for it! I’m hoping to do a lot more hands-on stuff when I finally import a FIAT 126p. They’re such simple and small cars, nothing is really hard to get to or repair as it’s so basic. I already have a service manual, lol...

Dogsatemypants > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/01/2019 at 22:21

Plus you can make a helmet to keep the dark one from readin g your thoughts.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Dogsatemypants
10/02/2019 at 05:23

It’s true! :P