RE: Missed Oil Change Step?

[tuareg_imp]

How do you guys get those under your bikes? I bought one like Nortoon posted last year at Auto zone and it wouldn't fit under my ST OR my CB. I gave it to my son to use on his car.

The one in my example is about 5" deep and 12" wide so there's ample room to fit under the CB.

[flynrider]

Good thread. I bought one similar to Roper and Tuareg's examples, but found (the hard way) that the indentation in the side wasn't deep enough. Also, the 2 small holes where the oil drains inside the container were too small. When the hot oil poured out, it quickly overflowed onto the garage floor.



Of course, the first time I thought I hadn't centered the pan under the drain opening. The second time I learned my lesson. I bought this one because my airplane oil drains via a hose and this lets me stand it upright and run the hose into the container. Works great for that.

I think I'll pick up one like Nortoon originally posted for the motorcycles. I had one years ago and they work pretty well.

[Townie_imp]

I just use an old Rubbermaid dishpan. It certainly has all the clean-up work that Nortoon mentioned, but it's long enough to catch oil from both the drain plug and the oil filter. Once the oil from the drain plug starts a slow drip, off comes the filter. Oil from both areas drip into the same pan, at the same time.

Most of the containers shown in the thread don't look very long. How do you guys catch the oil from the filter? A second container? Two steps?

[2017EX_imp]

My post is #2, and I use the same pan with round plastic grid that Nortoon pictured and uses in post #1. After all the old oil is drained from the crankcase, I clean the drain bolt, crankcase surface, and screw the drain bolt back in ( with a new crush washer ) finger tight ( the last steps are screwing on a new filter to proper snug, and tightening the drain bolt ). Next I slide the pan over to below the oil filter, and remove the filter. Something else that is handy about this pan, is that once the old filter is removed, it can stand upright with the open end of the filter against the plastic grid in order to drain all the old oil out of the filter. While researching what to buy, some of the reviews I read on the recessed flat pan area type of pan/container designs indicated that it resulted in some oil splash. On the other hand I have not found the large round open mouth grid design to have any splash. Although the pan I use shown in post #1 does result in an additional step ( sliding the pan over for filter removal ), I am very satisfied with the round opening/plastic grid design.

[Nortoon_imp]

I use the same method as 2017 EX. The oil filter ends up in a Ziploc bag after being drained. It is taken to Canadian Tire with the Honda jug of dirty oil for recycling. Many of the companies that do oil changed will recycle these things.

[2017EX_imp]

Since there seems to be some interest in this tool, and how it sits under our bikes, I thought I would post a little more information and a couple of pictures. The brand is Scepter, 7 quart model, and made in Canada ( not China or Taiwan for a change!). Dimensions previously given for length and width are pretty accurate. It can be found on Amazon, Pep Boys, and Walmart among others. Mine came from Pep Boys for $11 shipped.

The large round opening on the top with plastic grid and large green storage cap, is 6.5 inches in diameter. The plastic grid can be lifted out for cleaning, or use without the grid. However as I noted earlier, the grid is very handy for catching the drain bolt/crush washer, and can also be used to drain the oil filter stood open end down on the grid. Total height to the top of the large mouth opening is 5.5 inches.

The picture of the container, green drain cap facing forward under my bike, has the drain bolt centered over the grid with the back side of the container container resting against the center stand. From the drain bolt seat, to the face of the grid, is about 3 inches. I usually break the drain bolt loose with a socket, then use an open end wrench to finish drain bolt removal. I found it a lot easier to clean any oil off an open end wrench, than a socket and ratchet handle.

Leak check filled with water first when new, dont over tighten the screw on caps, and you will love this tool. It also states on the container "Always transport and store with large ( green ) cap facing up". As Nortoon said, and I do as well, better to transfer the old oil into a disposable container for transport to a recycle location, than in this container. The only things to clean up will then be a plastic funnel, and an open end wrench.