Great mystery of the clean oil change resolved (no mess)

[Steve Brown]

I hope.

Today when I changed the oil I punched a hole in the highest point of the oil filter. This to provide a vent so that oil could drain freely out of the filter.

I let the whole thing drain and drip during lunch. When I pulled the filter after lunch, there wasn't a bit of oil in it.

I used a very small (jewelers) Phillips screwdriver and a wrench to whack it with. I figured the screwdriver tip would be soft enough not to break off in the filter.

I'll probably make a tool from a smoothed nail for my next oil change. I'd say if I can repeat the performance I'm going to have clean oil changes from now on.

[Ironflight]

That's great Steve!

Sounds like you have the filters that don't have the "check valve" design....the ones for my engine retain the oil and won't drain, no matter if you cut the whole top off them. Now the good part is that the entire filter full of oil doesn't dump - just the amount between the filter and the adapter - but that is still enough to make a mess if you don't prepare for it.

I have watched people's comments on filter changes for years, and the problem with "Eureka!" moments is that it depends on the configuration - different filters, different adapters, and even a difference between nose draggers and tail draggers. It's always great when someone finds a combination that works!

Paul

[Steve Brown]

I used the same procedure this week. Poked a hole in the top of the filter, waited a long time while performing other maintenance chores, then confidently unscrewed the filter.

What a mess

I don't get it. Now I'm wondering if the temperature of the oil has something to do with whether or not the filter will empty.
or
Maybe its the phase of the moon.

[BuckWynd]

Originally Posted by Steve Brown

or Maybe its the phase of the moon.

...or perhaps you just don't have a Form-A-Funnel yet.

[gasman]

TAKE A MILK JUG and keep cutting on it till it fits up under the filter good and tight. Works best with filters in STANDARD location.

[pierre smith]

.......but no cigar. I just changed oil yesterday and don't have any mess. First punch a hole in the top rear of the filter, then unscrew it half a turn and place a cup under the filter or suspend one with safety wire. I personally stand a plastic cup on the heater valve on the firewall then punch a second hole on top and the oil will then drain out of the lower hole. The cup will be about 3/4 full and it's dicey getting it out between engine mount, oil lines, etc but it can be done.

Regards,

[Geico266]

I still use the plastic bag around the entire filter and drop the filter in it the bag. Works for me.

[Ironflight]

One size does not fit all!

It really doesn't do a lot of good for other folks to tell them how to do it if you don't say what configuration you have - straight back filter, angle adapters, check valve filters, non-check valve filters...each is different! When you tell someone "just do it this way" without telling them what you have, you really don't do much good, and just frustrate the folks that keep making meses. For my engine, I have a check-valve filter on an angel adapter. I have to bag it with a zip-lock, or I get the mess. Louise just brought one of those long thin aluminum drain troughs to our hangar though....yet another thing to try!

Paul

[gvgoff99]

Originally Posted by pierre smith

.......but no cigar. I just changed oil yesterday and don't have any mess. First punch a hole in the top rear of the filter, then unscrew it half a turn and place a cup under the filter or suspend one with safety wire. I personally stand a plastic cup on the heater valve on the firewall then punch a second hole on top and the oil will then drain out of the lower hole. The cup will be about 3/4 full and it's dicey getting it out between engine mount, oil lines, etc but it can be done.

Regards,

Pierre, I do the same but instead of a plastic cup I use a one serving (12 oz?) plastic Coke or 7-UP bottle that has the top cut off. This makes it a "cup" that is very flexible and easy to remove from the tight space. I also use my compressor to pressurize the top hole, which blows the slow dripping oil out the bottom hole nicely. Since the oil is still seeping out of the filter element it takes several ?pressurizations? to get it to the last drop. Straight back/non-check valve filter.

[Steve]

Which brand filters have the check valve?

Steve