Some of you may remember my comical/frustrating story at my first oil change on Christmas day. The short of it was, that I was unprepared, even after reading scooby mods, and spilled oil everywhere. The good news is that I think I successfully changed the oil and the filter, and will have a much better idea of what is going on in the future.

My first mistake was to change the filter without removing the undercarriage. Anyone have the best way of removing the undercarriage? Peaty had mentioned cutting out the section under the oil filter. Has this worked for people?

Second, I noticed some oil dripping from the bottom of the car after the change, and I'm a bit concerned it's leaking from the car. One possiblity could be that the oil is dripping from the undercarriage itself, where a considerable amount had leaked onto. The second is that the filter is not on tight enough (I tightened it by hand, with oil covered hands!) I don't think it's coming from the oil drain plug, as there's now a fumoto oil valve there.

ANy helpful hints?

Thanks and happy new years!

It is most likely from the heat shield. However, you can check the level of your oil by looking at the dipstick... make sure you check it after the car has cooled down and the oil has collected in the drain pan.

Dude, no offense meant here, but if you can't remove the 'skid plate' from the car, you should NOT be changing your oil....seriously, no offense meant!

The skid plate is like 5 12mm or 14mm bolts and a couple pop out plastic bolt thingys. Just take the thing off, its like maybe 1 minute do do it.

Now, on to the "leak" (which I don't think is a leak). Check two things: the filter and the drain plug. You may have cross-threaded the filter and/or the drain plug. You may have also tightened the drain plug too tight stripping the bolt or the pan itself.

Both of those are possibilities, though not necessities.

After you have checked both and taken the skid plate off, clean off the skid plate so that you know that its not any oil still lingering and dripping off from your "oil disaster." Then, you can make an informed decision if the oil is still dripping in a couple days or a week later. Then, voila! You either have a leak, or don't.

Hope this helps.

No offense taken and thanks for the quick replies.

I shouldn't have a problem taking off the heat shield, but was a bit unprepared doing so as guides hadn't mentioned it (RS oil change). Any trick to the plastic pop-off bolts? The metal bolts shouldn't be a problem.

Also, has anyone cut out a section of the heat shield for easier oil filter changes?
Thanks.

stick a flathead screwdriver in the plastic plugs side notch and pop it off

Drop the plugs in a bowl of water n clean 'em before ya stick 'em back in. It'll make easier the next time. Mine were all full of rocks and mud and crap.

Youve got to start somewhere. Did you replace the gasket for the oil filter? Dont take this the wrong way but i had a guy ring upo saying there was oil pissingout everywhere after a filter change. he hadnt removed the fgasket from the one he took off. It souinds like you made a bit of a mess and thats all the leak is.

i had a guy ring upo saying there was oil pissingout everywhere after a filter change.

LOL... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Gasket to the oil filter?

That may be the problem. I removed the oem filter with a good twist and pre-filled the replacement filter, and then just screwed it on.

Gasket to the oil filter?

That may be the problem. I removed the oem filter with a good twist and pre-filled the replacement filter, and then just screwed it on.
- rubber ring ad edge of the oil filter...
that is the first thing that makes contact with the car when you screw the oil filter on... (well second after the threads... )

OK, we're approaching the twilight zone here. First, for the newbies, do NOT remove the rubber gasket/ring around the new oil filter you will install. Sometimes, *very rarely* the rubber gasket from the old oil filter comes off and remains stuck to car when you remove the old filter. All you need to do is *look* and make sure nothing is stuck, then wipe off the area so it is clean and ready to make a good seal with your new filter.
Also remember to spread a little bit of the fresh oil around the top of the rubber gasket on the new filter before you install it -- it will help make sure the gasket doesn't stick.
Anytime a fair amount of oil gets spilled, it will collect in various places under the car and slowly drip out over a long time, so you most likely do not have a leaking filter.
Final note: "undercarriage" refers to the whole underside of the car & "heat shield" is something made of metal or other high-temp resistant material to protect something from direct exposure to heat from a hot part; I'm not quite sure what to call that plastic tray underneath, but it's certainly not the undercarriage or a heat shield. ;)

Thanks for all the help!

I'm coming back home from vacation and glad that I didn't screw things up TOO bad!

I started doing my oil changes on ramps and it made them so much more convenient. More space to work and the slight angle helps oil draining from the filter to miss the plastic undertray. Loosen the filter slowly and wait for oil to start draining from around it. Each time it stops, back it off a bit more and more oil will come out. After a few mins, you can remove it with no mess.

My brother always hammered a screwdriver through the bottom of the filter to make a drain hole, but I'm not willing to risk doing that.