Is there a way to remove the oil filter without making a mess?

[Hack]

I used Al foil, worked ok. Biggest issue for me - I wasn't expecting the firehose effect of that bigass oil drain plug. Just glad my garage floor is epoxied :doh:

I have to hold the plug partially inside the opening in the pan to prevent the oil from draining too quickly and making a big mess.

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[rb92gt]

lol

I used Al foil, worked ok. Biggest issue for me - I wasn't expecting the firehose effect of that bigass oil drain plug. Just glad my garage floor is epoxied :doh:

WORD! lol. After my first oil change I drilled multiple holes around the center hole in my drain pan because the damn thing overflowed. No problems now. And since the holes I made are relatively small a drain plug still can't fall into the pan. Truth is I should have done this a long time ago, even vehicles that drain slowly cause a problem if the drain plug falls into the hole in the pan... which seems like every time because the pan is tapered.

 

[Tomster]

WORD! lol. After my first oil change I drilled multiple holes around the center hole in my drain pan because the damn thing overflowed. No problems now. And since the holes I made are relatively small a drain plug still can't fall into the pan. Truth is I should have done this a long time ago, even vehicles that drain slowly cause a problem if the drain plug falls into the hole in the pan... which seems like every time because the pan is tapered.

Get one of those open oil pans. Place it off center of the oil pan drain so that when the plug is pulled it wont miss the pan.

 

[rick81721]

WORD! lol. After my first oil change I drilled multiple holes around the center hole in my drain pan because the damn thing overflowed. No problems now. And since the holes I made are relatively small a drain plug still can't fall into the pan. Truth is I should have done this a long time ago, even vehicles that drain slowly cause a problem if the drain plug falls into the hole in the pan... which seems like every time because the pan is tapered.

Thanks, I have that exact same oil drain pan. Going to do the same thing.

 

[The_Dude]

WORD! lol. After my first oil change I drilled multiple holes around the center hole in my drain pan because the damn thing overflowed. No problems now. And since the holes I made are relatively small a drain plug still can't fall into the pan. Truth is I should have done this a long time ago, even vehicles that drain slowly cause a problem if the drain plug falls into the hole in the pan... which seems like every time because the pan is tapered.

I used the same pan and had the same problem. :( Good thing I had a bag of cat litter handy.

 

[rb92gt]

Get one of those open oil pans. Place it off center of the oil pan drain so that when the plug is pulled it wont miss the pan.

I have one of those open oil pans as well, but prefer the top to be mostly closed as it doesn't smell in my garage if oil is left in there for months until it fills up, and less chance of a spill if I bring the entire pan to the auto store to dump the used oil. Also no fishing for drain plugs in hot oil if you "filter" it out.

 

[The_Dude]

I have one of those open oil pans as well, but prefer the top to be mostly closed as it doesn't smell in my garage if oil is left in there for months until it fills up, and less chance of a spill if I bring the entire pan to the auto store to dump the used oil. Also no fishing for drain plugs in hot oil if you "filter" it out.

I pour it into gallon jugs immediately after changing the oil.

 

[TRS7139]

Gee, thanks for the tip.

I suppose I should have been clearer - I have changed the 350 oil/filter in the past (cut open the filter to find nothing but and oily filter). My point is, considering the factory oil/filter change intervals is 7K to 10K miles (under normal driving conditions), is changing the filter after 1/3 to 1/4 that mileage even necessary, especially considering it is a bit of a PITA.

When I change my Porsche oil this spring, should I replace the filter? I only drove it 234 miles last year? Is that filter spent, too? Don't answer, I'll make my own decision.

Sorry....you make it sound like initial change.
Just remember, when you do the Boxter, you should have no more than 3-4 gold chains on to avoid potential injury.

 

[FranzVonHoffer]

A mechanic would use an awl to poke a small hole....

Same here. We used to do it to all the cars. In fact we did it to the recep aircraft when I worked in the aviation biz. You really want that filter as empty as possible before you spin it off.

 

[H6G]

Haven't seen or heard a peep out of you in a while. I threw that photo up to see if you would catch it. Next time, I'll throw up the bat signal.

Good one!

Sorry, I’ve been busy..... trying to finalize a deal on some great property. It’s located several miles from PLS. The only bad thing is..... due to this expense, a GT500 might not become ‘accessible’. If this deal goes through..... a diving/fishing boat will be next. :cheers:

 

[UnhandledException]

Well I ll have to admit to doing something so stupid.

While trying to not make a mess this time, I made the biggest mistake like an idiot and did not empty the oil pan before moving it under the oil filter. And guess what happened when the filter slipped dropped into 10quarts of oil? It splashed all over and unfortunately some got in my eye. I got a lot of stuff in my eye before including drywall but not engine oil and man does it burn and it burned for so long.

I always empty my oil pan to the jug before doing this because that damn filter always slips and falls but this time I was so preoccupied with a few drops of oil that I forgot this completely.

 

[Tank]

Well I ll have to admit to doing something so stupid.

While trying to not make a mess this time, I made the biggest mistake like an idiot and did not empty the oil pan before moving it under the oil filter. And guess what happened when the filter slipped dropped into 10quarts of oil? It splashed all over and unfortunately some got in my eye. I got a lot of stuff in my eye before including drywall but not engine oil and man does it burn and it burned for so long.

I always empty my oil pan to the jug before doing this because that damn filter always slips and falls but this time I was so preoccupied with a few drops of oil that I forgot this completely.

opcorn:

 

[rb92gt]

Doh!

Well I ll have to admit to doing something so stupid.

While trying to not make a mess this time, I made the biggest mistake like an idiot and did not empty the oil pan before moving it under the oil filter. And guess what happened when the filter slipped dropped into 10quarts of oil? It splashed all over and unfortunately some got in my eye. I got a lot of stuff in my eye before including drywall but not engine oil and man does it burn and it burned for so long.

I always empty my oil pan to the jug before doing this because that damn filter always slips and falls but this time I was so preoccupied with a few drops of oil that I forgot this completely.

See the oil pan in post #32, lol. No splashing here. I can sure make a mess as well, but oil in my eye is luckily something I haven't done, yet.

 

[shelbyman]

I just did my 2nd oil change at 6700 miles yesterday. I've learned some things I'll pass along for whatever its worth. First one I did on the floor in my garage...was tough getting the car high enough to have very good access through the trap door to see anything much less work in there. I got it done without too much mess because I read on here about stuffing rags all around inside and that helped with keeping the area oil free. I told myself the next time I was going to borrow the use of a friends lift.

So 2nd time around I did get the use of a lift and tried some of the things suggested on here. One was taking off the front left tire....BIG help with access. Do it even if you are doing it on the ground. Much easier to get at the filter to break it lose and it was on tight as I torqued it to 17lb first time around as instructed. I also used the green "form a funnel" and it is a big help...so I recommend it. Make sure you get it tucked up behind the casting the filter is attached to and it works great at directing the initial flow of oil when the seal is broken. (Pics attached) All the oil coming out is the oil above the anti drain back valve in the filter and the housing...its not the oil inside the filter coming out as suggested in some other posts on here. There is no way oil can run uphill out of the filter. Now there is no problem in punching a hole in the filter to drain it but I just don't see the point in making another mess as that hole will have to be plugged with clay or something to keep it from dripping once its drained...ask me how I know...did that the first oil change.

I also tried using the bottom end of a plastic bottle that would fit over the filter and catch oil when the seal is broken. That actually worked ok but even with the filter able to turn by hand once oil is on the plastic and the filter it becomes somewhat of a chore to continue to turn both of them...and there are a LOT of turns once the seal is broken. Even though a good amount of oil was captured in the plastic bottle half I'm not sure I would do that next time. I think just the form a funnel would do the job of containing the oil when the seal is broken on the filter. I'll try that next time.

Regarding being ready for the oil flow OUT of the pan....as has been stated on here before BE ready with a big pan. The size of the hole in a normal pan is about 1/2"...this one is MUCH bigger...maybe 3/4"-7/8" Just a warning is all...again ask me how I know...:doh:

So in summary pulling the tire was a BIG help with access to that area. Not sure why :ford: made the access hole so small...not a better idea and one would think it wouldn't be too HARD to design the filter housing so the filter mounts vertically. They must not be thinking about future maintenance :shrug: when engineering things. So not a particularly fun job but it can be done relatively neatly if some of these steps are followed.

 

[xXANCHORMONXx]

“Making shit way harder than it needs to be.” -GT350 Owners


Be sure to check out my YouTube video on how to check the oil in your GT350.

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