[Rookie84]

So I changed the oil today, and was thinking that it should take about an hour since it was my first time. Oh boy was I wrong. It ended up taking THREE HOURS And there are black marks all over the garage from oil spill ownage.

So I first went to auto parts store to buy a pair of Rhino ramps. I drove the car on the ramps, which barely clearly and won't be usable w/o wood block when I put on Cusco lip Then removed the diffuser, which went great. Coming from G35 that had a diffuser with eleventy billion bolts and tabs, it was a breeze. Then the problem began... I spent some time finding right socket for the drain plug, and then the plug was on way too tight so it took 10 minutes of swearing and flexing my muscles to remove it... then the oil was flooding out of the hole, which was totally unexpected as it was very violent flow To make things worse, I placed the drain bucket way out of position. So I spent good 15 minutes cleaning up the mess. Then while it was draining, I filled the new filter with oil, and went ahead to remove the old one, only to find out I had a wrong filter socket... it was way too big. So I drove to auto parts store AGAIN and got the right one, came back, which took almost 30 minutes. Then I removed the filter, and oil splashed out. Another cleaning session... Finally I got the filter in, and put the diffuser back, but the front center hole was out of alignment because I put the rear bolts in first like an idiot... after struggling to try to get it aligned, I gave up and removed the diffuser again... then put it back on. Done! 3 hours gone.

I did learn more about my STi and feel good about changing the oil myself. Hopefully I can do it in 1/6 of time when I do it next time, since I won't be making all those damn stupid mistakes again

[rasetsu]

Yes, the cherry popping oil change on the STi is a bit more challenging than it should be. Because everything was on so tight, it took me 2 hours with no parts runs to do the first change. The rate at which the oil gushes out is quit suprising.

[turbojoey]

wow

[booSTi561]

^+2... Everything that could have gone wrong in a oil change... did.

To make life 10 times easier on you (and because I feel bad), I decided to give you this link...

http://www.fumotovalve.com/

[Got2Boostit2]

Originally Posted by booSTi561

^+2... Everything that could have gone wrong in a oil change... did.

To make life 10 times easier on you (and because I feel bad), I decided to give you this link...

http://www.fumotovalve.com/

Ha Ha... Good one....I was thinking the same thing as I read this thread!
Get the valve with the nipple, it will be so much easier!
Have been changing oil on my cars with Fumoto for so long and such a veteran....did my friends STi and totally forgot about the "oil splash" drain so I spent an extra 20 minutes cleaning the drain, floor and back side of his tires. My recommendation to him......^^^^see above link!

Blue

[pantag]

+1 for the Fumoto valve.

PS: I hope you drove back to the store with a different car and not your STi. lol

[Endless_STi]

Sorry to be such a noob, but is this the one I should get?

F105 N(w/Nipple)

[booSTi561]

^ that is the correct model.

[flytojungho]

Originally Posted by Endless_STi

Sorry to be such a noob, but is this the one I should get?

F105 N(w/Nipple)

i got one without nipple but it doesn't matter.. btw, i can just turn the filter without the filter tool...

[arkleseizure]

Just did my first one this weekend too, and it went pretty smoothly. Had all the tools, and the Fumoto valve to install. Only thing that surprised me a bit was the rate at which the oil poured out when the drain plug was removed. USE NEWSPAPERS! Luckily, I had a bunch spread out, so there was minimal impact to my parents garage, and my clothes.

I like that the dealership had simply cut out part of my splash guard to get to the oil drain plug...of course, I have no idea how they removed the filter with the guard still there. I HOPE they've been replacing the filter...

[520]

yah i just did mine for the first time yesterday. Only took me an hour. I just used a big ass adjustable wrench to get my filter off, but i had the same ordeal with getting the drain bolt off and i spilled a buncha oil in the driveway. I used a 3 ton jack and just jacked the car up so no need for ramps or anything.

i also dont have the splash gaurd on my car.

[1FSTSTI]

you could have taken another 10min at the autoparts store making sure you have the right tools for the job. That could have saved you a good chunk of your time there. So you drove your car onto the ramp. IMO the car should be even to get the most of the old oil out as possible.

Good luck next time

[osbjmg]

I pretty much did the same thing. I think I had to go to the auto parts store twice!

How often do you change the fumoto valve washers?

[pantag]

Originally Posted by osbjmg

How often do you change the fumoto valve washers?

I guess when they start to leak...

[Rookie84]

I was thinking about getting a Fumoto valve but decided to go ahead and change w/o it this time. I don't drive that much and probably do oil change every 4 months or so, so I was like... eh, I can deal with the drain plug. But I'm ordering one before my next change is due after all the mess today

I'm not too worried about being on level surface as little bit of old oil won't do any damage.

Oh, and I drove to the parts store in my brother's G35 , which used to be mine(we traded cars). Let's just say that I need protune soon... as I felt that I maybe should have kept the car(the G now is turbo'd and the suspension have been upgraded with springs, shocks, and sway bars). But that is after about $11k have been spent... I know I will have a better car in the end.