CMNT's oil adventures

CMNTMXR81 · October 21, 2002

First off, I would like to address my oil consumption issue...or LACK THEREOF!! Saturday morning (after the truck sat all night) I checked the oil. It had been 1,500 miles since I changed it and consequently checked it. NOT A DROP BURNED!!! It was still well above the "FULL" line! And this was with regular cheapo Valvoline 10W-30. Checked it Sunday morning before changing it, it was slightly less than Saturday, but then again, I had just ran it (less than 2 minutes before) and the day before trailered and moved my sister and was carrying a lot of weight, but it was still ABOVE the "FULL" line.

Onto the meat of what I'm posting this for, ALL 8.1 owners have a bitch loosening their oil filter due to it's placement above the driveshaft u-joint and right up next to the exhaust manifold flange.

Last oil change (1,500 miles) I had such a hard time, I actually BROKE my oil filter wrench trying to loosen it (to no avail mind you) so I left the filter on and went looking for new oil filter tools of destruction.

So I went to Snapon.com and ordered me two "claws" (2 different sizes).

Less than 20 seconds after sticking it up to the filter, the filter was off in my oil drain pan.

I highly recommend purchasing this tool, you don't need to get your hands up there, no banging fingers on exhaust flanges, and no manuvering with your hands around the u-joint. LIke I said, 20 seconds was all it took to remove that S.O.B.

Here are some pics of the filter and tools;

On the filter itself, all the scrapes on it are from the previous time trying to get the old wrench to work. The indentations are from the claw yesterday.

bummed-n-Md · October 21, 2002

Excuse my ignorance, but what necessitated changing the oil after only 1500 miles?

Do you do a lot of 'abusive driving' (excessive stop and go city driving, excessive dusty conditions, etc)?

If the oil is well above the full line, isn't that consudered over filling and doesn't that cause 'other' engine problems (like foaming oil etc)?

I'm not trying to start anything, I'm just confused....

Also, thanks for the tip on the oil wrench, it will come in handy when I start doing my own.

Bummed...

bcfitzsimons · October 22, 2002

CMNT-you know what else works well? A socket-style filter wrench with a socket extension, and a pair of welding gloves. That $8 pair of Craftsman welding gloves has been a Godsend. No more burnt forearms or hands.

Fitz.

CMNTMXR81 · October 22, 2002

BC, I had one of those socket styles but it didn't work to well. As soon as I'd put pressure on it, it'd slip. I also have about 4 or 5 pairs of Snap-On mechanic's gloves but I hardly wear them cause I hate wearing gloves when working on cars. I'm just not as comfortable wearing them and I'm impervious to burning my hands, so I don't find it an issue.

Why do I change oil so soon? I'm anal retentive and a preventative maintainance freak. Why do I overfill? Always have. The only potential problem could be the seals, but I'd rather have a seal leak than run my bearings dry.

And yes, I do drive it hard.

I also changed the Camaro's Sunday and it probably didn't even have 1,000 miles on it since last change. But since I plan to dyno it next Saturday as well as prep it for winter storage, I figured, why not. I was out there already.