oil changes

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454cid

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So today was oil change day on the Volvo....I've been meaning to do it for weeks. I think I had over 12K miles on that oil and filter.

Any ways.... I thought I'd share a few things I did. I'm sure I'm not the first to do this, and they're not ground breaking, but might feel like it if you're not doing them. It seems I ALWAYS end up spilling some oil and getting the pan in it, so the oil makes most of a circle (of oil) on the floor/driveway. Today was no exception, when the filter came off, it dribbled oil in between the two pans I had. However, since I don't like crawling around on rough cement, I had a large piece of vinyl flooring rolled out. This piece is large enough such that not only is there room for me to lay on, but the pans are on it too. I'm not sure if I've ever purposely put it under the pans before, or not.

The mess is still a pain to clean since oil spreads, but none of it is on the driveway. The pans got set aside to drain, and I'll deal with those later. The driveway is no dirtier than it was before. The vinyl cleans up with foaming bathroom cleaner from the dollar store.... may actually be Scrubbing Bubbles from Dollar General. I got the idea of using it to clean the vinyl from people using it to clean engines on Youtube. I've been using it to clean grease and oil off my scrap vinyl, and I don't think I've actually tried cleaning an engine compartment with it, yet.

So.... a large piece of old vinyl flooring, a bungee cord to keep it rolled up when not in use, and foaming bathroom cleaner are great accessories to an oil change.

Oh, and a couple of rocks out of the landscaping because the vinyl wants to roll back up on me :cool:
 

HotWheelsBurban

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I use the 4x4 sheets of cardboard, that separate the layers of case pack bottled water, for this purpose. If you don't make too much of a mess on it, you can reuse the sheet, if it's too grungy, you can trash/recycle it. Most grocery stores keep these sheets by the area where the water is. I get mine from the Walmarts I service. If I'm not too greedy, I can get a sheet or two without them saying anything.
The stores use these to lay in the bottom of the cardboard baler machine, to make the bottom of the bale smooth. The aluminum wires they use to make and fasten the baled cardboard go in the machine a lot easier if the bottom layer is smooth. I made a few bales while I worked at Walmart on the night shift, stocking; all of us were required to know how to make them since we generated a lot of the store's cardboard.
I usually keep a couple sheets in the back of the Burb. They make good covers for the cargo area, cover up what you may not want others to see. Just weigh them down with something if you drive around with all the windows down....
 

Caman96

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I use a large piece of cardboard too, I’m pretty good at keeping it to a minimum, but it usually happens when oil filter comes off. Last time I experimented with using a medium sized freezer baggie over the filter, sealing it as much as possible, then turning it off. Still spilled a bit. Might try it again.
 

454cid

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I've used cardboard, and still do for other things besides oil. The thing with the vinyl is that it can be cleaned right away if you find yourself needing to be were the oil/grease is already spilled. It also doesnt absorb the oil.
 

BNielsen

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Usual stuff, pull drain plug let drain, but I put a piece of plastic rolled up and perched under the oil filter, take a screwdriver and punch a hole in said filter, and let it drain. Then you can remove the oil filter without causing a minor environmental hazard
 

454cid

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I use the 4x4 sheets of cardboard.

That's a pretty good piece. I think my vinyl flooring is larger, but the cardboard I have is just a box from a box fan. I've also got a smaller piece of vinyl that I use on occasion.

I've also got a roll of fancy thick carpet but I don't use it much for fear of getting oil on it. It was something I bought at an auction years ago that was left over new carpet from someone's bathroom remodel. It cost me $2 for several pieces. I think I got rid of the other pieces... at least I haven't seen them recently.
 

454cid

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Usual stuff, pull drain plug let drain, but I put a piece of plastic rolled up and perched under the oil filter, take a screwdriver and punch a hole in said filter, and let it drain. Then you can remove the oil filter without causing a minor environmental hazard

Hmm, I've always been adverse to putting holes in filters, but I've only heard it done on stuck filters for more leverage. I never thought about it for drainage. Maybe I'll try that next time.
 

BNielsen

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Hmm, I've always been adverse to putting holes in filters, but I've only heard it done on stuck filters for more leverage. I never thought about it for drainage. Maybe I'll try that next time.
It helps, I feel like it spins off a little easier too but that could just be a placebo effect of not dumping 87,000 gallons of oil on the front diff.
 
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