Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:15:32 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Strategy for low-mess oil drain.
In-Reply-To: <1311219045.18706.20.camel@TheJackUbuntuNetbook>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
I would say simply drain the oil and add back only as much as you need..
I deal with draining the oil by using a flat oil draining catch tank I
got at Walmart. It is black, flat, and has an indented side with two
holes with plugs. The end of the tank has a cap. When standing on it's
end, this thing look like a big bottle with a cap. To use it I remove
the two side plugs, lay it flat under the engine oil drain, and remove
the oil plug, allowing it to drop onto the indented surface. The oil
drains into the two holes and into the tank, while the drain plug is to
large to go through. When done, I simply put the oil plug back in place.
Then I move this flat tank over slightly and remove the oil filter,
allowing it to come down to rest on the indented surface of the tank.
When all the dripping is mostly done, I slide the tank out of the way,
and put on the new filter. Once out from under the van, I put the plugs
back into the holes in the tank, dispose of the filter, and add new
oil. Then I wipe the side of the tank and haul it to my FLAPS for
disposal. Once emptied out, I bring the tank home ready for the next oil
change.
John
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
On 7/20/2011 10:30 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
> (Number 287 In A Continuing Series Of Knucklehead Questions)
>
> I used to change the oil in my aircooled every 1,500 miles. I got so I
> didn't make much of a mess. Unscrewed the drain plug, let it drop onto
> the screen on the used oil catcher, and sat back until the drool of oil
> tapered off to drips.
>
> So after hearing that my oil is likely to run cooler if the oil level is
> between the halfway mark and the "fill" mark on the dipstick (mine's
> halfway between the halfway mark and the "full" mark) I'd like to drain
> a bit of the oil.
>
> But my former strategy won't work here: I have to cram that plug back in
> after dropping only a pint or so.
>
> Do I have to bite the bullet and just reach into the stream and hope to
> get the plug started before too darn much oil has sluiced down my
> sleeve, or is there a smarter way?
>
> Wait, wait -- I can just drain all the oil and then re-fill the thing.
> Duh.
>
>
> --
> Rocky J Squirrel (Jack Elliott)
> '84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> '74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
> Bend, OR
> KG6RCR
>
>
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