Oil change tactics

[westslope]

I always pour a bit of new oil into the engine when the plug is still out in order to rinse the old oil out. At the same time, I rock the pathfinder sideways. Perhaps 1/5 of a litre at a time. Usually within minutes, the dripping oil starts to run clear. At that point, I stop rinsing new oil through, screw in the oil plug (plus washer), lubricate and twist in the oil filter, and then fill it up with ~3.2 litres of oil. (WD-21 engine)

 

It strikes me as a positive to thoroughly evacuate the old oil as is feasible or cost effective. Do others do this? Is there a better way of ridding the engine pan of the used oil?

 

Or do you like to leave a little used oil so you can better read the dip-stick?

 

One can tip the vehicle over to the passenger side to facilitate draining the oil pan. Any other tips?

[sewebster]

I would probably just change my oil a bit more often... you will never get rid of all the old oil and it sounds to me like pouring it through is probably an inefficient way of getting it out? (i.e. you waste a fair amount of good oil to remove a small amount of "bad" oil).

[adamzan]

I just let it drip out for 30 minutes or more if I have time. My oil does not go dark in the 5000kms that it stays in my engine, comes out almost the same color it went in!

 

I have heard that changing it while the motor is still warm is a good way to get more contaminates out but I have not seen any proof of this.

[5523Pathfinder]

I usually let my engine warm, then change the oil. I let it drip until there is little coming out. You are never going to get 100% of the old oil out. I do performed occasional engine flushes with a machine we have here at my work. I have always tried to change my oil between 3-4000 miles.

[nunya]

besides doing it while the engines warm I dont get that involved. Pull the plug, occupy myself for a feiw minutes, once it's at a slow drip jam the plug back in and add new oil. Nothing against being thorough but I personally don't see the necessity for that much effort unless your trying to ignore a bad headgasket that destroys your oil or something

[5523Pathfinder]

I do let the oil drain over my old filter to check the consistancy of it. If its slow to run off the side, engine flush time or I need to change the oil more often. I use the time to inspect everything underneath and see if anything needs lube or whatever.

[nunya]

i lube my truck way more than i change the oil... i lik elube