Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:41:51 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Strategy for low-mess oil drain.
In-Reply-To: <1311262405.18706.55.camel@TheJackUbuntuNetbook>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
---- Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> I got my present oil catch tank from my FLAPS. Like my old one (for the
> 71 aircooled bus) it lays flat and has a great big opening with a screen
> to catch things I drop like the drain plug. The oil falls through the
> screen into the tank. There is a cover that goes over the screen when
> not in use. The tank stands up on end like big flat black plastic
> bottle. Has a cap on the topside for draining. It also leaks out of some
> hidden opening and all over the garage floor when it is stood up. Less
> than useful, that feature. Piece of junk. I gotta get a better one.
Yours sounds very much like mine. mcneely
>
> -- RJS
>
> On Thu, 2011-07-21 at 10:15 -0500, John Rodgers wrote:
>
> > 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
> > >
> > >
--
David McNeely
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