Hi, i did my first oil change on my STi (04) the other day. my question is this. how do you keep oil from going everywhere when you unscrew the filter?

i have a fumoto valve now, and that thing rules. But taking the filter off i still managed to make a mess. whats the work around for this???

TIA

-Aaron

...poke a hole in the bottom of the filter with an awl and let it drain for a bit....

Hi, i did my first oil change on my STi (04) the other day. my question is this. how do you keep oil from going everywhere when you unscrew the filter?

i have a fumoto valve now, and that thing rules. But taking the filter off i still managed to make a mess. whats the work around for this???

TIA

-Aaron


Do you drain the oil pan first? I just loosen up the filter enough to let oil seep a little but only after draining most of the oil through the fumoto.

Let your pan finish draining, replace the plug (or close the fancy-pants valve :lol: ), then slide your drip pan/catch basin/whatever over under the filter...spin it loose a few turns till it starts dripping, and leave it be for a while (southeast Ga here, we takes our times :banana: )...after it stops dripping, take her all the way off.

Keep your hand clean with a disposable glove, or slip it inside one of the zillions of WalMart bags we all have lying around!

yeah i drain the whole pan first, but there was ALOT of oil that was coming out of the filter when i was taking it off. i like the poking a hole idea in it the most, but its hard to get the catch pan in the right place underneath....

ill prolly be poking a hole in that filter.

Do you drain the oil pan first? I just loosen up the filter enough to let oil seep a little
Exactly... it's not that hard. Just unscrew it very carefully until the only SLOWLY seeps out. If you unscrew it quickly of course it'll spurt everywhere.

Do you have babies in the household?
Borrow a diaper from Junior and wrap it around the oil filter and then unscrew the filter with the diaper around it.

I just use a LARGE drain pan from Discount Auto. Drain pan first>unscrew filter about one turn and let drain untill done> unscrew using walmart bag around filter>tie bag shut and drop in garbage. Usually I have no oil spillage at all.

But taking the filter off i still managed to make a mess. whats the work around for this???


As you've probably figured out, there is no way to get the filter off without oil seeping out of it and making a mess. This is how all the cars I've owned have behaved. As suggested above, I find letting most of it dribble out is the best option, keeping a wide pan underneath and some blue paper rags handy.

Use synthetic, and change it every 5k or more.

Paul

thanks for all the great info guys. unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) i dont have any babies around so no diapers. Ill just let the oil seep out then use a bag over it to take it off.

and yes, i always use mobil one and oem subaru filters :)
http://www.409industries.com/ImageHosting/STi/stifilters.jpg

thanks for all the great info guys. unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) i dont have any babies around so no diapers. Ill just let the oil seep out then use a bag over it to take it off.

and yes, i always use mobil one and oem subaru filters :)
http://www.409industries.com/ImageHosting/STi/stifilters.jpg

Jesus christ... I bet you make yearly expeditions to costco.

How much did that cost?

I just use a LARGE drain pan from Discount Auto. Drain pan first>unscrew filter about one turn and let drain untill done> unscrew using walmart bag around filter>tie bag shut and drop in garbage. Usually I have no oil spillage at all.


umm, yeah...i'm pretty sure dropping the used filter in the garbage is not the proper method of disposal.

So what is? I don't know of any places that take dirty filters to recycle. I drain them as best I can them toss them. I would be happy to dispose of them a different way.

My town takes in used oil and they also accept used filters at the recycling facility.
Maybe it's a good idea to ask the recycling facility at your town.

i usually take my used filters to pep boys or to my city's household hazardous waste disposal center

Jesus christ... I bet you make yearly expeditions to costco.

How much did that cost?

heh, naw, i just go to walmart everytime i need to change my oil. Get the 5 quart jug of mobil 1 10w30 for about $25. The cost of those filters was about $60 for a dozen, it was in a vendor classifieds...

And if you have a Subaru Mastercard, your daily purchases can go towards your Subaru parts too.
I have a couple dozens of oil filters at home bought with Subarubucks coupons.

I put a plastic grocery bag over my hand, then over the filter, then unscrew- keeps the oil in the bag ;). The other trick I use because I have a skidplate, it to cut about 2" off the bottom of a washer fluid jug and set it on the plate :).


Brian

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Damn, I think the local subaru dealer charges twice that much.

I put a plastic grocery bag over my hand, then over the filter, then unscrew- keeps the oil in the bag .

x2

-Charles-

I use a zip lock sandwich bag (one of the big ones) for the filter. Just put it over it, unscrew, and "Zip", done, not a drop spilled!

umm, yeah...i'm pretty sure dropping the used filter in the garbage is not the proper method of disposal.


What do you think they do with them at the lube chains? Granted most of them are crushing them in a press, but they go into the dumpster. The EPA actually has a guideline for this, you're required to smash them or let them drain for a set amount of time. If you're poking a hole in it, let it sit and drain a while, and trash it. Couldn't be any more oil than is left in the bottles when you toss them.

i forgot about this thread! anyway, yeah i did the bag trick next time around, and everything went well.