1st Oil Change on Badlands

[MaxVelocity]

Great write-up! I did my first oil change at 1150 miles this past weekend. I don't have a filter cutter but I did notice some shiny flakes that came out of the bottom of the sump, but nothing I'm concerned about at this point. I plan to do another change at 5,000.

That factory installed filter was a pain to loosen - I think they install them with a dry gasket. I need to find a metal cap-style wrench as the composite one I have was not up to the task.

One other thing to add - the back two holes on the skid plate are slotted so the bolts don't need to be removed completely, only loosened about halfway, which keeps the rear of the plate supported while the other bolts are removed. Then the the skid plate can be slid forward off of the rear bolts. I found this really helps when re-installing the skid plate.

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[69cuda340s]

At least at dealer you get a top notch tech who will do everything right.

 

[Mark S.]

That factory installed filter was a pain to loosen - I think they install them with a dry gasket. I need to find a metal cap-style wrench as the composite one I have was not up to the task.

The three-jaw wrenches work great for removing tight filters. It fits on the end of a ratchet extension. The jaws are held closed by a spring and spread apart to fit different-sized filters. Because of the way they attach to the base, the jaws squeeze tighter when you turn the ratchet to loosen the filter. One caveat, they only work for removing a filter; you can't use it to tighten one.

One other thing to add - the back two holes on the skid plate are slotted so the bolts don't need to be removed completely, only loosened about halfway, which keeps the rear of the plate supported while the other bolts are removed.

Great point! I'll add this to my write up. Thanks!

 

[MaxVelocity]

Great point! I'll add this to my write up. Thanks!

I didn't realize they were slotted until I went to re-install the skid plate. My plan was to use a cutoff wheel and slot them myself....but then I noticed the factory was one step ahead of me!

 

[Mark S.]

If you really want to know what's going on with your engine/ oil , send it in to Blackstone labs .
https://www.blackstone-labs.com

If I had found anything of note in the filter I would certainly have begun a series of oil analysis. Since I didn't really see anything alarming I probably won't bother with the cost.

Keep in mind that oil analysis is really only useful if there is something grossly wrong, or to spot trends. In other words, sending in a random sample doesn't really tell you much unless something is really wrong, and by wrong I mean the kind of problem you don't need oil analysis to know there's something wrong.

Many fleet operators use oil analysis to spot changes in contaminant levels or metal content from one oil change to the next. Trending changes can identify developing problems, and in some cases you can effect early repairs that might prevent much bigger repairs down the road. To get this kind of data, however, you need to send in oil samples regularly.

 

[MaxVelocity]

This is the style of wrench I like, but years ago when I started changing oil on our Focus with the FL-910S I bought a composite style which doesn't grip as well as the metal versions I have for other filters. I particularly like this model because it allows the option of using an end-wrench if space is limited:

https://www.amazon.com/CTA-Tools-2481-76-Millimeter-Heavy-Duty/dp/B007S8LZ6K/ref=psdc_15708821_t4_B00KMUMN4Y?th=1

 

[sajohnson]

From the gumpy old guy... ?

Reminds me of something I saw about oil change instructions for women vs men:

Oil Change instructions for Women:

1. Pull up to Dealership when the mileage reaches 5,000 miles since the last oil change.
2. Relax in the waiting room while enjoying a cup of coffee.
3. 15 minutes later, scan debit card and leave, driving a properly maintained vehicle.

Total Cost:
Oil Change: $39.95
Coffee: Complementary
TOTAL: $39.95

Oil Change instructions for Men:

1. Wait until Saturday, drive to auto parts store and buy a case of oil, filter, kitty litter, hand cleaner and a scented tree, and use your debit card for $50.00.
2. Stop to buy a case of beer, (debit $24), drive home.
3. Since you have beer you may as well have one.
4. Jack truck up. Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands.
5. Find jack stands under kid’s pedal car.
6. Alleviate frustration with another beer.
7. Place drain pan under engine.
8. Spend 30 minutes looking for correctly sized socket and ratchet.
9. Give up and use crescent wrench.
10. Consider beer, realize you are behind schedule and decide against.
11. Reconsider beer, realize it's Saturday and there is no schedule: Beer!
12. Unscrew drain plug.
13. Splash hot oil on you when plug falls in drain pan.
14. Cuss.
15. Crawl out from under truck to wipe hot oil off you and put kitty litter on spilled oil.
16. Have another beer while oil drains.
17. Spend 30 minutes looking for oil filter wrench.
18. Give up; crawl under truck and hammer a screwdriver through oil filter and twist off.
19. Crawl out from under truck with filter dripping oil everywhere from holes and cleverly hide it in trash to avoid environmental penalties.
20. Drink a beer to celebrate your inventiveness and cleverness.
21. Install new oil filter making sure to apply a thin coat of oil to gasket surface.
22. Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine.
23. Remember drain plug from step 12.
24. Scramble to find drain plug in drain pan.
25. Realize it's too late and drink a beer to calm down.
26. Put kitty litter on 1st quart of oil now on floor.
27. Crawl under truck to install drain plug and get kitty litter in eyes.
28. Wipe eyes with oily rag used to clean drain plug.
29. Bang knuckles when stupid crescent wrench slips off the drain plug as you tighten it.
30. Engage in cussing fit (you know from experience it really helps with the pain).
31. Throw stupid crescent wrench (this ALSO helps with the pain).
32. Cuss for additional 5 minutes because wrench hit truck and left dent.
33. Realize it's time for beer.
34. Clean up hands and bandage as required.
35. Beer.
36. Dump in five fresh quarts of oil.
37. Beer.
38. Lower truck from jack stands.
39. Beer.
40. Test drive to check for leaks.
41. Get pulled over and arrested for driving under the influence; truck is impounded.
42. Call loving wife, make bail.
43. 12 hours later, get truck from impound yard. Note there are no oil leaks under it. Success!

Total Cost:
Parts: $50.00
DUI: $2,500.00
Impound fee: $75.00
Bail: $1,500.00
Beer: $20.00
TOTAL: $4,145.00

But you know the job was done right!

Good one Mark -- I'd never heard that before.

Recycling the old oil could be added in there. The last time I got rid of our old oil it had been a while and I had about 20 gallons. Most places (incl. county recycling) only take 5 gallons. I found a local quick lube place that would take it all. It was in 5 gallon containers and I put them in trash cans to be safe. Everything went smoothly, but that could easily be written up as a massive hazmat spill, with huge clean-up costs and fines...

 

[Mark S.]

Recycling the old oil could be added in there.

Absotively! Recycling the oil has become more and more of a headache. The days of pouring the oil down the local sewer drain like your old redneck neighbor are long gone. Aside from the potential fines, it's just really bad. Everything that goes into that drain eventually finds its way back into our water supply, so just don't do it.

I usually buy five-quart jugs when I change my oil, and the used oil goes back into the empty jug. When I have three or four jugs I take 'em with me to Wally-world the next time I get groceries.

 

[RSH]

Recycling the used oil is one of reasons I don't change my own oil anymore. I used to keep the old oil around until I had a decent amount to take for recycling. Typically either during storage or transportation somehow spillage would occur, also over the years fewer and fewer businesses would take the used oil, bottom line I just got tired of dealing with it. Fortunately I have not had an issue when getting my vehicles serviced.

 

[fourthgear]

If I had found anything of note in the filter I would certainly have begun a series of oil analysis. Since I didn't really see anything alarming I probably won't bother with the cost.

Keep in mind that oil analysis is really only useful if there is something grossly wrong, or to spot trends. In other words, sending in a random sample doesn't really tell you much unless something is really wrong, and by wrong I mean the kind of problem you don't need oil analysis to know there's something wrong.

Many fleet operators use oil analysis to spot changes in contaminant levels or metal content from one oil change to the next. Trending changes can identify developing problems, and in some cases you can effect early repairs that might prevent much bigger repairs down the road. To get this kind of data, however, you need to send in oil samples regularly.

Thats the point , to send samples in regularly , much more info than disassembling an Oil Filter , though thats not a bad idea for seeing large particles , which is what a filter is for .

 

[69cuda340s]

I am at 1,659 miles did oil change today:

 

[sajohnson]

I am at 1,659 miles did oil change today:

Interesting that only 2 of 4 of the plate mounting bolts have what appears to be Loctite on them.

Also, is there a plastic piece that has to be removed?

 

[RSH]

Now that's a cool setup. I'd change my own oil if I had that in my garage.

 

[sajohnson]

Now that's a cool setup. I'd change my own oil if I had that in my garage.

It is nice to have a lift, but sometimes it's almost as easy to just jack up the front end and stick a couple axle stands under there.

It depends on the vehicle -- how much clearance there is and the ease of access to the filter and drain plug.

Take our old RAV4 for example, everything is right there. Getting it on the lift OTOH is kind of a hassle. It has a short wheelbase so it has to be positioned just right to get the arms under it. Then they may have to be adjusted depending upon which vehicle was on there last.

Don't get me wrong, it IS nice having a lift, but there are some things that are easier with a floor jack. Like swapping summer and winter tires. Just jack up one whole side and then the other. No getting the car positioned just right and fiddling around with the lift arms.

Something I need is an oil drain can like that. Then I'd be more inclined to use the lift for oil changes.

 

[69cuda340s]

Also, is there a plastic piece that has to be removed?

On a Badlands once skid plate removed that all that is needed.

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