From: "Steve Ewing" 

On Fri, 30 Jul 2004 11:02:08 -0400, Frank Haber  wrote:

> The only thing I think we've lost is shade-tree repairability, which
> hurts.

I just changed my own oil for the first time in years: truly a painful
experience (the first time).  I got one of those Fram hose-thingies to
replace the drain plug.  No problem there. New oil filter: different size
than the old Civic/Odyssey, so a new wrench: one of those caps that go on a
ratchet.  My floor jack died after 15 years, so a nice (el cheapo)
hydraulic jack.

First, the hydraulic jack, one of those upright-cylinder types, was too
tall to fit under the car.  Break out the car jack to lift it high enough
to get the hydraulic jack under.  Jack it up, and it is only high enough to
fit the safety stands at the lowest level: and the whole purpose of the
hydraulic jack was to lift it higher than the standard car jack (to fit my
fat gut under the car).  So I get the drain plug off and drain away, with
only a little mess: not too windy, so I catch most of the oil.  On with the
Fram thingie, no problem.  Next the oil filter: Damn! the new cap wrench
will not go on the ratchet: the hole is a teensy bit too small. Out with
the Dremel; a little filing, and now it goes on.  Now, the wrench, which
fits fine on the new filter, slips on the original filter!
  Off to the store in the other car (I planned for this: have the
other car ready JIC) to get a generic wrench, and, since the filter is a
bear to reach, a new floor jack, which *does* lift the car high enough that
I can get a good grip on the filter.  Of course the whole point in not
using a generic wrench in the first place is that it is a PITA to use in
the tight confines of a modern engine compartment, and yes it is: 15
minutes later, I get the first trickle of warm oil down my arm.  The rest
is easy.

The *next* time, now that all the kinks are worked out, will be easy.  The
Fram thingy will help: just put the hose in a container, screw it on the
fitting, and walk away for ten minutes (everything I've read online says it
drains a lot slower than just removing the drain plug).  That still leaves
the oil filter, but what are you going to do?   At least I have the
floor jack and the wrench that fits.

And since I use Mobil1 synthetic oil, the local quick-lube costs me $50 a
pop; I will make back the cost of the floor jack and the other sundries by
my third change.

Next big job I anticipate is to replace the wipers (for some reason, I
always have trouble with this).


--
Steve 
http://www.qmss.com/sewing

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