Oil change

[AE82 FXGT]

How does it take for an engine to cool down? I drove my car to get some oil (I had no other way of gettin some) and now my engines at operating temp. I can't get to the filter because it's right behind the exhaust manifold... So how long should i wait to avoid burning my hand?

[ChaosAD]

'bout half an hour

[Elmo]

leaving hood open helps cool it quicker too.

Do it while its still fairly warm though, so that the oil runs out better

[AE82 FXGT]

I'm also having trouble undoing the sump plug. It's done up real tight and its stipped so I can't get anything to hold onto it... it looks like it was 14mm but 14 or 13 won't hold onto it. Any suggestions??

[Elmo]

It should have been a 14. Try getting a 13 mm socket (prefer 1/2 drive as this means it should be a little stronger) and hammer it on (a 13 may not fit, but try a socket that wont fit over the nut)

Or, if you can get onto the edge, use a cold chisel and hammer to tap it round (to start with atleast), a screw driver can work like this, but usually isnt strong enough to make a dent.

Vice grips is another option.

With all options, beware they have potential to let go and cause harm to your knuckles!!

[aliluya]

But i think before you attempt to get it off, you should get yourself a replacement bolt to put back in there ... you wouldn't want to find out that you can't do it all back up afterwards now would you ..

[Caveman]

Vice grips to get the bolt off.

Drain the oil while its hot.

Oil filter should be quite easy to get off. If its too hard to get at from the top its easy to get from the bottom. Just need to remove the shield.

If the filter is suck smash a nut into each side on the top plane and use them with a lever to turn it.

[loose_unit]

If you get real stuck with the sump bolt trushar come see me and ill weld a nut onto the bottom of it Would probably be best to get a new one after that

[$CENSLS1$]

yeah man just file it down to a 13mm or even 12mm and jam a socket on there to get it out

[BlakJak]

Heh, if you're ultra prepared and need to get in close to the manifold to get at the oil filter, set things up so that you can do it first thing in the morning on a weekend... engine cold.

As long as you let it drain for long enough its not too bad. Just need to wait longer as oil is thicker. Everything is cold....

Only did this once, when I had a particularly nasty oil filter problem and nowhere to go to in a hurry...

[Adamal]

I find that by the time you turn the engine off, jack up the car, get the sump bung out and wait for the oil to drain, then the exhaust manifold isn't very hot, so you won't burn yourself.

And yea, best to do the oil hot, as Elmo said. It can be pretty hot, but not really hot enough to burn you.

Another piece of advice, only do the filter up hand tight. It doesn't need to be stupidly tight like some people do. Just make sure you rub a bit of oil around the rubber and it will seal fine.

[Elmo]

If the problem with heat is burning yourself due to contact with hot parts, try loosening the filter when engine cool. Tighten up enough so as not to fall off, or leak, run engine to within operating temp. Then drain. Filter should be loose enough so as not to struggle.

Draining cold oil isnt the best, it leaves so much in there, and tales for ever to drain. So where possible, do it at the least warm.

[Boldy]

yeah I usually drain the oil hot, its no problem your fingers might get a splash but it won't burn. Also jack up the back a tad to get the last few drips out. Also rubber dishwashing gloves work a treat for getting those stubborn oil filters out.

[Ae92typeX]

I'd recommend what Elmo has just said above, but another option is undo the drain plug. leave that draining for 10min, then have a go at the filter with the engine a bit colder. on many cars its in a slightly different position to the plug anyway, so you need to move the drain pan unless its a mega big one.
Once that is off, I usually take the plug off the sump again just to let it continue dripping while I clean up the filter area and fit a new one.

[DVLRCR]

so did you sus it out? instead of a 14, use a 9/16th? i think. one of those english measurement ones might work better. i had a 14 that kept slipping but the 9/16th worked fine.

p.s. might not be a 9/16th but im pretty sure it was...

[Ae92typeX]

so did you sus it out? instead of a 14, use a 9/16th? i think. one of those english measurement ones might work better. i had a 14 that kept slipping but the 9/16th worked fine.

p.s. might not be a 9/16th but im pretty sure it was...

14mm and 9/16 are virtually the same...its actually about.2mm larger.

as suggested, file it down afew sizes, or just file some flats and get the molegrips or a big adjustable if you file the flats enought. Either way, i't be foolish to put the old plug back in.

[AE82 FXGT]

Cheers for the input guys. na, I haven't undone it yet...
I might try filing it down this weekend.
Or I might take up loose_unit on his offer to weld another nut on.

[loose_unit]

he's a brave man

[DVLRCR]

14mm and 9/16 are virtually the same...its actually about.2mm larger.

once again i'm proven wrong

[Ae92typeX]

Corrected is a much nicer term! you'l know for next time, thats how we learn