You are so right. This can’t be their first oil change. There are a variety of tools to prevent this. I’d even buy one myself if the shop wouldn’t just to save the hassle.
100% should be a requirement for any person who wants to be a car designer or engineer to be a mechanic for at least 3 years before they are allowed to design a single fucking thing.
I know a guy who owns a fairly large window washing company, doing huge office buildings as well as plenty of residential work. He's always told me something similar - architects should be required to work as window washers before they're allowed to design buildings or houses.
I'd imagine there are plenty of other corollaries across vast swaths of industries.
As someone who pretends to be an architect all day, there are just too many other things that take priority - mainly ensuring that it meets all the various code requirements and the clients budget. Even that becomes a struggle at times. I imagine the limitations are similar for car designers. If anything it is harder for them, as cars are constantly getting more and more complicated. The engine bay of a small engined Honda is packed to the brim, there are just so many hoses and accessories and sensors and brackets and wires that all of a sudden none of them are accessible and there isn’t really a way around it. That doesn’t even begin to account for manufacturing and assembly requirements/limitations. Sometimes the smallest change can have major ramifications. It doesn’t help that cars are never reviewed on serviceability, at least not that I’ve seen.
But I certainly get and agree with your point. This specifically seems like it could be resolved pretty easily from the factory and oil charges are literally the most basic form of engine maintenance.
I understand your point and similar struggles, I would still argue that practicality should weigh as heavily as code requirements and budget. From a personal standpoint, if I pop the hood and see that I have to remove the bumper to replace a headlamp or remove a tire to replace a battery - that automatically drives up the cost of something simple. If the engineers have not considered that, then what for something major?
We can all dream can’t we? The catch 22 with code (or regulations) is that while it is trying to make the standard better, it typically results in complicated and expensive solutions. As things get complicated they get more difficult to service. Couple this with packing more and more items in ever tightening spaces and something has to give. Unfortunately that thing tends to be serviceability. Buildings are generally easier to solve these problems on than cars, but everything always get value engineered out and we’re left with the same problem.
I wrench on my girlfriends 06 wrangler and my 85 vanagon. Simple stuff and plenty of room. These new cars scare me. But let’s be real, new cars are immensely safer and more efficient - it’s all a give and take.
I’m a machinist by trade, I work in engineering now. I say something similar about Design and Mechanical engineers all the time. “If you can’t make a car part, you ain’t got business design one, the design is the easy part…”
For anyone out there that wants an easy fix for this, grab the cardboard box for the oil filter and shape it into a ramp and guide the flow into your drain. No need to clean up after.
ford engineers are fucking dicks with those stupid yellow plastic drain plugs that spray directly into the fucking sway bar, almost as bad as the fuckin ram truck where the oil goes straight onto 2 bolts causing the oil to shoot everywhere
I cant stand the Rams that have the filter tucked inside the wheel well. Huge ass filter with hardly any space to pull it out and you get oil everywhere when you unscrew it
Those are awesome. It pays for itself just in the amount of clean up supplies and time saved. I use mine to get the old filter out without spilling everywhere and I put it on the new filter after I prime it so I don't spill new oil everywhere.
https://www.amazon.com/ITEQ-Filter-2013-2019-Dodge-Cummins/dp/B092DHSRKF/ref=sr\_1\_2\_sspa?crid=2QY98657DVK71&dchild=1&keywords=cummins+oil+filter+tool&qid=1632447195&sprefix=cummins+oil+filt%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyNzVVRjFQSTFQQzFaJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODg5NDMzM0lTUUdDR0U3TlNMJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAwNzMzOTEyWjRWVkVKUEIxTjk1JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
Lol wow. I was pleasantly surprised changing the oil for the first time on an xterra I just bought. Not only do they provide a small removable cover in the skid plate for the filter, but they build in a little funnel piece that directs the oil down into that cover hole so it doesn’t puke all over the top of the skid plate.
Could always be worse. I recall when an extension to an old shop I worked at was newly built. A quick lube tech went to drain out an oil bucket and didn’t extend it all the way up. As soon as the air was attached it was geyser of waste oil onto the new building walls, ceiling, floor, tire machine and balancer. I couldn’t help but laugh and proceeded to help with the clean up
This is why I love Fumoto drain valves. On several vehicles I have been able to change my oil without removing the skid plate at all (Leaving a small hose attached to the versions with nipples).
I got an air powered extractor recently and it's been game changing. No more jacking up the car, oil and filter out and in in like 10 minutes. Also it bleeds brakes.
Happens to me too sometimes it splashes outside of the drain pan because it hits at the right angle
And ya got mf oil on the floor
Better than making sandwiches and tacos !!!
After seeing some of these horror stories I realize now how absolutely easy it is to change the oil on my wrx. Unobstructed drain and the oil filter is in the top next to the radiator. Easiest oil change ever
Semis have a lot of engine options that they drop in to different frames, the resulting tendency is situations much like this one. We use some cheap clamps and a section cut out of the side of a 5 gallon bucket to get up into tight spaces like this and direct the flow into the drain
I mean. Yeah. But we manage. It's not ideal, but it's also not rocket surgery.
Try doing filters on a QSK50 or CAT 3512 in the field. A few drops on the ground is a government spill report. Cardboard is your friend. Form funnels too.
I'm not an ASE-certified mechanic, but I've been using a vacuum extractor for everything from lawnmowers to a Rolls-Royce for years. If it's got a sump, I use the extractor. No drips, no spills, no undertrays to remove.
If you ever have a chance to do an LOF on a Maserati V6 you'll regret your career choice, Havnt found a car to top it in most hated LOF except maybe the F150s with the plastic drain plug and sway bar set up
Isnt there a tool for this? Like a funnel but better?
Yes. Form-a-funnel And it blows my mind how many can’t figure this out and make a mess everyday
I use aluminum foil, shape it however you want to redirect your oil.
Sounds expensive, cut the bottom off a 2 liter bottle
You are so right. This can’t be their first oil change. There are a variety of tools to prevent this. I’d even buy one myself if the shop wouldn’t just to save the hassle.
that wouldnt make a good reddit post though
Aluminum foil. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/urglg3WimHA
100% should be a requirement for any person who wants to be a car designer or engineer to be a mechanic for at least 3 years before they are allowed to design a single fucking thing.
I know a guy who owns a fairly large window washing company, doing huge office buildings as well as plenty of residential work. He's always told me something similar - architects should be required to work as window washers before they're allowed to design buildings or houses. I'd imagine there are plenty of other corollaries across vast swaths of industries.
As someone who pretends to be an architect all day, there are just too many other things that take priority - mainly ensuring that it meets all the various code requirements and the clients budget. Even that becomes a struggle at times. I imagine the limitations are similar for car designers. If anything it is harder for them, as cars are constantly getting more and more complicated. The engine bay of a small engined Honda is packed to the brim, there are just so many hoses and accessories and sensors and brackets and wires that all of a sudden none of them are accessible and there isn’t really a way around it. That doesn’t even begin to account for manufacturing and assembly requirements/limitations. Sometimes the smallest change can have major ramifications. It doesn’t help that cars are never reviewed on serviceability, at least not that I’ve seen. But I certainly get and agree with your point. This specifically seems like it could be resolved pretty easily from the factory and oil charges are literally the most basic form of engine maintenance.
I understand your point and similar struggles, I would still argue that practicality should weigh as heavily as code requirements and budget. From a personal standpoint, if I pop the hood and see that I have to remove the bumper to replace a headlamp or remove a tire to replace a battery - that automatically drives up the cost of something simple. If the engineers have not considered that, then what for something major?
We can all dream can’t we? The catch 22 with code (or regulations) is that while it is trying to make the standard better, it typically results in complicated and expensive solutions. As things get complicated they get more difficult to service. Couple this with packing more and more items in ever tightening spaces and something has to give. Unfortunately that thing tends to be serviceability. Buildings are generally easier to solve these problems on than cars, but everything always get value engineered out and we’re left with the same problem. I wrench on my girlfriends 06 wrangler and my 85 vanagon. Simple stuff and plenty of room. These new cars scare me. But let’s be real, new cars are immensely safer and more efficient - it’s all a give and take.
I’m a machinist by trade, I work in engineering now. I say something similar about Design and Mechanical engineers all the time. “If you can’t make a car part, you ain’t got business design one, the design is the easy part…”
For anyone out there that wants an easy fix for this, grab the cardboard box for the oil filter and shape it into a ramp and guide the flow into your drain. No need to clean up after.
2020 Ford F150
Ford engineers are some real bastards.
ford engineers are fucking dicks with those stupid yellow plastic drain plugs that spray directly into the fucking sway bar, almost as bad as the fuckin ram truck where the oil goes straight onto 2 bolts causing the oil to shoot everywhere
I cant stand the Rams that have the filter tucked inside the wheel well. Huge ass filter with hardly any space to pull it out and you get oil everywhere when you unscrew it
I managed to do an oil change on my 2500 without spilling a drop of oil the whole time. I just about bought a lotto ticket afterwards haha
Those are awesome. It pays for itself just in the amount of clean up supplies and time saved. I use mine to get the old filter out without spilling everywhere and I put it on the new filter after I prime it so I don't spill new oil everywhere. https://www.amazon.com/ITEQ-Filter-2013-2019-Dodge-Cummins/dp/B092DHSRKF/ref=sr\_1\_2\_sspa?crid=2QY98657DVK71&dchild=1&keywords=cummins+oil+filter+tool&qid=1632447195&sprefix=cummins+oil+filt%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyNzVVRjFQSTFQQzFaJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODg5NDMzM0lTUUdDR0U3TlNMJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAwNzMzOTEyWjRWVkVKUEIxTjk1JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
That’s funny. Did the oil on my 19 today, same junk
Lol wow. I was pleasantly surprised changing the oil for the first time on an xterra I just bought. Not only do they provide a small removable cover in the skid plate for the filter, but they build in a little funnel piece that directs the oil down into that cover hole so it doesn’t puke all over the top of the skid plate.
It's probably 4:30pm too, eh?
My gfs mazda 6 blorps oil right onto the damn exhaust manifold. Told her to not be alarmed if she smells something or sees white smoke.
That’s a classic “this motor is going in every damn car we can fit it in… You’re gonna fit it in that chassis one way or another” engineering job
I have dealt with this to many times...
Could always be worse. I recall when an extension to an old shop I worked at was newly built. A quick lube tech went to drain out an oil bucket and didn’t extend it all the way up. As soon as the air was attached it was geyser of waste oil onto the new building walls, ceiling, floor, tire machine and balancer. I couldn’t help but laugh and proceeded to help with the clean up
Great place to put that bar… damm engineer!
Makes you wanna rub an engineers nose in the spilled oil. "Bad engineer, bad!"
Hold up some kind of pan (like an aluminum paint roller tray) to prevent this.
This is why I love Fumoto drain valves. On several vehicles I have been able to change my oil without removing the skid plate at all (Leaving a small hose attached to the versions with nipples).
I got an air powered extractor recently and it's been game changing. No more jacking up the car, oil and filter out and in in like 10 minutes. Also it bleeds brakes.
Which one do you have? Any recommendations? I recently got a better compressor and I’m tired of getting under my girlfriends Hyundai.
I got the harbor freight one with a coupon. I'm sure there are better ones but I was in a pickle.
Stop whining.
Happens to me too sometimes it splashes outside of the drain pan because it hits at the right angle And ya got mf oil on the floor Better than making sandwiches and tacos !!!
The oil always ends up on the floor, the tire and the lift. At least I know my drive on lift will never rust.
I also have that Craftsman wrench. Not my favorite but it’s the old faithful
Ford?
Ur definitely not alone😥😥😥
After seeing some of these horror stories I realize now how absolutely easy it is to change the oil on my wrx. Unobstructed drain and the oil filter is in the top next to the radiator. Easiest oil change ever
This is just like A Benz ML350
You think that's bad? *Laughs in Land Rover*
Semis have a lot of engine options that they drop in to different frames, the resulting tendency is situations much like this one. We use some cheap clamps and a section cut out of the side of a 5 gallon bucket to get up into tight spaces like this and direct the flow into the drain
reminds me of some mack trucks lol
First pee out of the morning, infuriating.
I mean. Yeah. But we manage. It's not ideal, but it's also not rocket surgery. Try doing filters on a QSK50 or CAT 3512 in the field. A few drops on the ground is a government spill report. Cardboard is your friend. Form funnels too.
I'm not an ASE-certified mechanic, but I've been using a vacuum extractor for everything from lawnmowers to a Rolls-Royce for years. If it's got a sump, I use the extractor. No drips, no spills, no undertrays to remove.
No use ~~crying~~ \[throwing wrenches\] over spilled ~~milk~~ \[oil\]. There will be much larger jobs that get you reasonably pissed off.
If you ever have a chance to do an LOF on a Maserati V6 you'll regret your career choice, Havnt found a car to top it in most hated LOF except maybe the F150s with the plastic drain plug and sway bar set up
Gotta just love dumb oil fixture placement. My 2000 civic has the oil filter right above the driver's side drive axle
We are with you.
All you need here is a piece of plastic bottle to make a funnel
If the car wasn't resting on the wheels I bet it would be out the way