Kirk G
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- Jan 9, 2012
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So, the last time my car was serviced, they changed the tires, changed the oil and filter and checked the alignment.
Now, It's about time to change the oil and filter again (which I normally do myself under the car) and I discover that they've put the oil filter on so tightly, that I can't get it off... no way, no wrench, no how.
So, I search for my oil filter wrench, and discover that the wife has "cleaned up" the basement tool area, and basically hidden (stored) everything in a new place (shelves, cubbies, hooks, pegboard) according to her understand of what it is. Basically, I can't find anything cause it's not where I left it, nor is it with the other things I would need. I can't find my oil filter wrench. But I can find the 5 gallon oil jug, the drip pan, funnel and socket set.
So, I get under the car with the socket set, rags, oil catch pan, gloves, and change the oil, but NOT the filter, since it won't come off.
I find only two of the three quarts of oil that I've got to replace the oil (normally 4 with a filter change) since she's hidden the jugs and bottles in new locations.
I get the oil changed, and realize I have only two quarts in the last of the 5 quart jug, but add it to the engine...and since I can't find the third and fourth.... I give up.
I drive the second car to the car parts store, and buy two individual quarts of long life oil of the right value, and get home.
I open one quart and add it to the motor (total now 3 in the engine) when my wife magically comes up with the other quarts that she has hidden next to the coolant ("all the jugs were the same color, so I put them all together").
I finish up, check the dipstick, and find the level is just at the bottom dimple on the stick, indicating just enough to operate the car. I clean up and put things away where I WANT THEM, and go into shower, clean up and relax.
I've complained loudly to my wife that I can't find the oil filter wrench, and so will have to change the filter either in 6 months, or 3,000 miles at an oil change place. While I'm showering, she goes around in the basement tool area but can't find where she's put the filter wrench, but comes up with an OLDER style that is made of orange plastic (like a giant reversible socket) that doesn't fit tea cup style filters. So it's of no service to me any longer.
I tell her that I needed one that looked like a tea cup made out of metal... or an old jello mold, and she disappears.
Two minutes later, she returns with the missing oil filter wrench. She had taken it and stored it in the kitchen, cause she thought it was some sort of tart mold or cookie cutter or could be used to mold jello.
So, it's too late to change the oil filter today, but I'll try to find time over the next weekend to consider using it to remove and replace the oil filter.
MY QUESTIONS ARE:
1) I assume that I must drain the oil out of the engine before attempting to remove the oil filter, right? Otherwise, it might be at a level where it would flow out of the oil filter mount and down the side of the engine into my catch pan.
2) If the car hasn't been run very much or very long (read, under 15 miles total over the week, and only for short errands), then the oil will have circulated, but not picked up much particular matter or debris. It's still relatively clean oil, but technically, used oil. Can I safely remove the old filter, drain it of left over oil into the catch pan, replace a new oil filter onto the motor, close the drain plug AND REUSE MY 'new' MOTOR OIL INTO THE MOTOR AGAIN?
3) I don't want to waste the 3 quarts currently in the car, but with the change of the oil filter... a fourth NEW quart of high mileage oil AND the 3 quarts I've just drained out of the engine will bring the dip stick level back to the top dimple...making it a complete change and maximum level recommended.
I can't afford to be wasting $20 of oil, but I don't want to risk my ten year old car by recycling the oil I drain this weekend back into the motor if it's going to hurt it.
What would you do?
Is there anything wrong with my plan to temporarily drain the oil, replace the filter now that I have the proper oil filter socket, and then reuse the same oil plus a fourth quart fresh?
Now, It's about time to change the oil and filter again (which I normally do myself under the car) and I discover that they've put the oil filter on so tightly, that I can't get it off... no way, no wrench, no how.
So, I search for my oil filter wrench, and discover that the wife has "cleaned up" the basement tool area, and basically hidden (stored) everything in a new place (shelves, cubbies, hooks, pegboard) according to her understand of what it is. Basically, I can't find anything cause it's not where I left it, nor is it with the other things I would need. I can't find my oil filter wrench. But I can find the 5 gallon oil jug, the drip pan, funnel and socket set.
So, I get under the car with the socket set, rags, oil catch pan, gloves, and change the oil, but NOT the filter, since it won't come off.
I find only two of the three quarts of oil that I've got to replace the oil (normally 4 with a filter change) since she's hidden the jugs and bottles in new locations.
I get the oil changed, and realize I have only two quarts in the last of the 5 quart jug, but add it to the engine...and since I can't find the third and fourth.... I give up.
I drive the second car to the car parts store, and buy two individual quarts of long life oil of the right value, and get home.
I open one quart and add it to the motor (total now 3 in the engine) when my wife magically comes up with the other quarts that she has hidden next to the coolant ("all the jugs were the same color, so I put them all together").
I finish up, check the dipstick, and find the level is just at the bottom dimple on the stick, indicating just enough to operate the car. I clean up and put things away where I WANT THEM, and go into shower, clean up and relax.
I've complained loudly to my wife that I can't find the oil filter wrench, and so will have to change the filter either in 6 months, or 3,000 miles at an oil change place. While I'm showering, she goes around in the basement tool area but can't find where she's put the filter wrench, but comes up with an OLDER style that is made of orange plastic (like a giant reversible socket) that doesn't fit tea cup style filters. So it's of no service to me any longer.
I tell her that I needed one that looked like a tea cup made out of metal... or an old jello mold, and she disappears.
Two minutes later, she returns with the missing oil filter wrench. She had taken it and stored it in the kitchen, cause she thought it was some sort of tart mold or cookie cutter or could be used to mold jello.
So, it's too late to change the oil filter today, but I'll try to find time over the next weekend to consider using it to remove and replace the oil filter.
MY QUESTIONS ARE:
1) I assume that I must drain the oil out of the engine before attempting to remove the oil filter, right? Otherwise, it might be at a level where it would flow out of the oil filter mount and down the side of the engine into my catch pan.
2) If the car hasn't been run very much or very long (read, under 15 miles total over the week, and only for short errands), then the oil will have circulated, but not picked up much particular matter or debris. It's still relatively clean oil, but technically, used oil. Can I safely remove the old filter, drain it of left over oil into the catch pan, replace a new oil filter onto the motor, close the drain plug AND REUSE MY 'new' MOTOR OIL INTO THE MOTOR AGAIN?
3) I don't want to waste the 3 quarts currently in the car, but with the change of the oil filter... a fourth NEW quart of high mileage oil AND the 3 quarts I've just drained out of the engine will bring the dip stick level back to the top dimple...making it a complete change and maximum level recommended.
I can't afford to be wasting $20 of oil, but I don't want to risk my ten year old car by recycling the oil I drain this weekend back into the motor if it's going to hurt it.
What would you do?
Is there anything wrong with my plan to temporarily drain the oil, replace the filter now that I have the proper oil filter socket, and then reuse the same oil plus a fourth quart fresh?