Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Oil change (Read 2460 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Oil change

Yahoo Message Number: 56920
Those of you that change your own oil, what do you drain it in? I don't have a container big enough to hold twenty-some quarts of oil AND fit under the oil pan.

Al Colby

2000 Intrigue 10979

Re: Oil change

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56921
I use two large 5 (or 6?)gal oil pans and elevate one to the height of a 2X4. This sets the spout over the lower pan. When the top one fills up, it drains into the lower pan. I place the whole thing on a drop cloth so I can drag it out from under the MH all at once. I then take the oil to either Walmart or an auto parts store.

Larry, 03 Allure, 30856

I have seen on the internet a 10 Gal oil pan on wheels that will fit under the MH, but can't find the link right now.

Re: Oil change

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56923
I would have changed my own oil except for Speedco.
Full oil change no limit on amount of oil, oil filters and fuel filter from Fleetgaurd all for $149.00. I had them use CAT filters, oil analysis, antifreeze analysis, lube chassis, tire pressure check, very detailed in about 1 & 1/2 hour. I paid $224.00. No fuss, no mess. My Cat C-9 uses 37 quarts of oil .
I have paid over $600.00 for the same service in other shops and not been as pleased as with Speedco's service.
I would not do this service myself as long as I can get this done for this price.

I think they provide a great service, my opinion.

Jock Vargo
2005 Inspire
51428

Re: Oil change

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56927

I installed a Fuotomo drain valve on the oil pan and bought two 5 gal gas cans (plastic) from Advance Auto Parts for cheap. With the drain vale I can fill one 5 gal container at a time and it makes for easy handling (a large pan full of 8+gallons or black oil is a disaster wating to happen), transport and disposal.

Bob (rthandren@...)
'05 Inspire 51178

Re: Oil change

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56928
Hi Jock,

I'm with you on that. I use Speedco also. They also include mthe chassis lube for the price. By the time you purchase the oil, oil filter, fuel filters, you cover over 1/2 the cost.

They also let me go down in the pit to check out the underside of the coach. Plus, the engine oil analysis will alert you to any problems that are in the engine.

Chuck & Mary B

Laughlin, NV

Shelby Dog, Miss Kitty, Mr Lucky Cat

---

Re: Oil change

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56929
Hi Bob,

Watch those dips, speed bumps, amd deep drive entry and exist ramps. I have a friend who had his Fuotomo valve snached out of the oil pan including the threads. A large hazzardous oil spill clean up. Plus it put him down on the side of the road. Had to be towed.

Chuck & Mary B

Laughlin, NV

Shelby Dog, Miss Kitty, Mr Lucky Cat

Re: Oil change

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56933
Like many on the forums, I have been a motorhead since I was six, and that was over half a century ago. Hot rods, motorcycles of all types, farm tractors and equipment, airplanes, boats, 18 wheelers, manufacturing production machinery, diesel pusher RVs, aircraft carriers........wait, not aircraft carriers.
In my humble opinion those "drain valves" are a disaster waiting to happen. Oil is so vital to machinery that I do not want it to have any help getting it out. Especially when the exit is hanging down and easy to break off. Gives me the shutters.
If convenience was that important to me, I would investigate a pump to pull the oil out from topside. If you wanted a permanent install, a port in the oil pan SIDE could be fashioned (might leave a little oil in the engine, not a big deal), or if on the bottom, devise a massive skid plate?
I know they sell a lot of those oil drains, and there have been relatively few incidents with them, but not on my stuff.
Did anyone see the movie "Dune"? Remember that totally crazy decadent emperor that had his slaves fitted with a plug in their heart, so all he had to do was pull the plug to kill them? (Who comes up with this crap, anyway?) I feel one of those drain plugs is just like that on my engine.

I think I watch too much TV, sorry for the rant.

Jack Nichols, 2003 Intrigue, drain plug with witness mark on it.

Re: Oil change

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56935
I think the best reason for doing your own oil changes is that you get a chance (once or twice a year) to get under your chassis and have the time to inspect everything and do perform a preventative maintenance check. It's amazing what you will find, while under there.

Paul Resnick
98 Intrigue

Re: Oil change

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56936
Jack:

The oil drain valve on my C9 is on the lower side toward the front of the oil pan rather on the bottom so I am not that concerned about breaking it off, however I will take your advice to heart and will come up with some armor for it to deflect any stray objects that could hit it.
My toad is a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a four inch lift which included a ΒΌ" thick skid plate under the engine. Had to pull the skid plate to change the oil - a big pain, so I installed an oil drain valve and it works great and the valve can't be knocked off.
This reminds me of a recall I had on my 1999 Ford super duty crew cab for the rear brake calipers. The calipers are nestled inside the wheel and out of harms way, however someone must have had a problem with stones or whatnot being flung up from the front wheels striking the caliper causing it to fail and resultant loss of braking. To remedy the problem Ford installed a heavy curved steel shield on the leading edge of the calipers.
Bob
2005 Inspire 51394

Re: Oil change

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56940
My exact same thought. I'm on my 2nd oil pan as first was crushed by ??? including the drain plug. I am super careful going over speed bumps etc and have still managed to scrape the bottom of the pan and beveled the drain plug. That valve is a disaster waiting to happen.

Ed McManus.......'02 Intrigue....11361

Re: Oil change

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56943
I go to my favorite fast food restaurant and ask If I can have a couple of empty fry oil containers. Most are happy to give them to me. Fry oil comes to restaurants in a 5 gallon translucent plastic container with about a 2.5 in screw-on cap. They are shipped in a cardboard container. The plastic handle is large and comfortable when the container is full and heavy.
I use a large open oil drain pan with a pour neck that is commonly available at Walmart, but it won't hold the 28 quarts coming out of my Cummins ISL. I also put it on an old plastic shower curtain so it is easy to drag out when full.
I loosen the oil pan drain plug. I've found that I can control the flow and also reinsert the plug to stop flow as needed. I find I can put my thumb and index finger ABOVE the drain plug to control it, therefore, I do not get oil in my arm pit. I drain the pan into one of the 5 gallon containers. It takes two containers in all partially full so as not to be too heavy. I then take those to an auto parts store for recycling.
I find that service facilities do not like to pre-fill the oil filter. It takes a while for the oil to soak into the media so you have to keep topping it off. I do it myself because I want oil in the filter when the engine starts.

George Harper
04 Allure
31093

Re: Oil change

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56944

Chuck and Mary B:

I evaluated the Fuotomo valve for a long time and decided it is OK for me and an RV. Off road vehicle not so much. There are other structures that will be hit on the Inspire with a Cat before the Fuotomo valve and I originally put a hose clamp over the valve handle. When I last changed the oil I left it off. I am getting less paranoid - about some things. Others I am getting worse. ;-)
For me it works great. I can very closely control the oil flow so there are no messes. Only complaint is it is slow, slow, slow to drain as the valve orifice is not much over 1/4". Takes a long time to drain 8.5 gallons of dirty oil. But nary a drop got spilled and the back of the Jeep was still clean after bringing the waste oil to Advance Auto. Works for me and the limitations I have on where I can do it without getting in trouble with the neighborhood grumps.

Bob (rthandren@...)
'05 Inspire 51178

Re: Oil change

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56945
Don't overlook the fact that it is cool under there in the summer. Also, you can see everybody but they can't see you. I've learned a few things from my dogover the years.

George Harper
04 Allure
31093

Re: Oil change

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56946

Hi George:

Cat specifically states to NOT prefill the oil filter. The reason they gave is their filters are designed to collect particles smaller than those contained in new oil and they want all oil to go through the filter first. They are not concerned with the second or so it takes to fill with the engine oil pump.
My suspicion is they are more concerned that dummy owners will not carefully fill the filter and thus introduce some nasty stuff. Assuming the flow of oil is the same as what I have observed with an automobile this doesn't make sense to me. In my youth, after installing a set of exhaust headers on my car I started it up to enjoy the racket (no wonder my hearing is shot). Sounded sweet but no oil pressure. I got out the of car and stepped right into the puddle of oil the engine oil pump ditifully ejected through the center of the filter adapter. That would be the same manner of filling a filter manually before installing it on the engine during an oil change. So all the oil would go through the filter before entering the engine unless you filled the filter through those little holes around the outside diameter of the top of the filter.
I don't know what the flow path is for my coach and I can't say what I do as my Cat extended warranty is still in effect.

Bob (rthandren@...)
'05 Inspire 51178

Re: Oil change

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56948

AMEN Paul. Over the years it amazes me the things a tech will NOT tell an owner. Makes one wonder what they are doing under there in the first place.

Bob (rthandren@...)
'05 Inspire 51178

Re: Oil change

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56949

Hi Jack:

Few are as paranoid as me and I am also an unrepentent gearhead, engine/trans yanker fix it when it ain't broke drag racer and overall grease under the fingernails kind of guy. There are many considerations concerning the Fuotomo valve, too many to describe here. The valve is one option for an oil change system. I thought about, evaluated and worried a lot before paying the fairly high price the Fuotomo guy gets for his design. In the end it appears to be a well designed piece of heavy brass and steel but its use is only reasonable under those circumstances that make sense and that the user can be comfortable with. There are many other structures at or below the level of the drain valve including things like the high pressure power steering lines, air brake lines etc that could be downright dangerous to life if broken, not just costly.
I watch where I drive, or try to and the valve getting hit is unlikely, but that's my opinion only and I have only evaluated it for my rig. FWIW I've even run the rig into a professional bus maintenence faciility for an oil change and the tech seemed to have no problem with it - I asked him as part of my research. It's easy to change my mine and replace the original plug - which being at the same level is also open to damage from going over something.
Finally, this is my second Cat engine. (Yikes!) The original was replaced for a number of reasons by Cat the final reason involving the consumption of 6+ gallons of oil in 500 miles - twice. The engine shuts down with no oil pressure. This is obviously not a wise first level of protection but it is there in modern engines nevertheless. On the Cat HEUI system no oil pressure means no fuel delivery through the injectors plus whatever else they have programmed into the ECM to protect the engine.
The original questions was, I believe, about options for changing oil. This is one IMO.

Bob (rthandren@...)
'05 Inspire 51178

Re: Oil change

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56950
Hi Bob,

I used your post for a warning to others considering the valve. Since the engine is behind the rear axle, there is a certain amount of overhang depending on the distance from the rear axle to the rear of the coach. So, not one size fits all. Glad your's works for you.

Chuck & Mary B

Laughlin, NV

Shelby Dog, Miss Kitty, Mr Lucky Cat

Re: Oil change

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56953
Bingo! That's one of the reasons I like to do my oil changes (etc). I have insulated many chaffing hoses and wires (etc) that I found while under the MH. The Speedco deal for $150 sounds like a good deal, but I like to use synthetic Rotella and I can do that for about the same price and end up with better oil protection (IMO). I do my own lubes too and I know I hit ALL the grease fittings. All of this is done in my own driveway at my convenience, not on someone elses schedule + having to drive to another location and then waiting for someone else to do it. I understand why many do not feel up to this task and prefer to have someone else do it. For myself, I'll enjoy doing it as long as I'm willing and able.

Larry, 03 Allure, 30856

Re: Oil change

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 56994
Hi Bob

I think it is a long shot that new oil would contain harmful physical contaminants, but you do have to be careful about contamination especially when going up to the engine when installing. You are right that the oil has to be patiently poured on both sides of the media until the filter is full and saturated.

George Harper
04 Allure
31093
 

Re: Oil change

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 57206
Found this one at NAPA online:

Oil Filter (Gold), Spin-On Lube; 11.364"; 2 1/4-12 Product Line: NAPA Filters
Part Number:       FIL 1748XD
Price:
Price
Unit
:
:
66.99
Each

Features & Benefits       This Is The Extended Drain Version Of The 1748; 5 Micron Warranty       NAPA Filters are Covered by a Comprehensive Limited Product Warranty. NAPA Filters May Pay the Reasonable Cost for Parts & Labor to Repair any System Damaged by NAPA Filters Due to a Defect in Design or Material.
Attributes       Oil Filter Height (Inches) : 11.364" Oil Filter Style : Spin-On Lube

Oil Filter Thread Size (inches) : 2 1/4-12 Flow Rate : 28 - 30 gpm

Gasket I.D. (Inches) : 4.002"
Gasket I.D. (mm) : 102 mm

Media Type : Wire Backed Glass

Oil Filter Gasket O.D. (Inches) : 4.44" Oil Filter Gasket O.D. (mm) : 113 mm Oil Filter Gasket Thickness (Inches) : .425" Oil Filter Gasket Thickness (mm) : 11 mm Oil Filter Height (mm) : 289 mm
Oil Filter O.D. (Inches) : 4.668"
Oil Filter O.D. (mm) : 119 mm
Material Safety Data Sheet
Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040