DIY Oil Change [Archive] - Drive Accord Honda Forums

BenjiBoy650

08-23-2005, 11:43 PM

I stole this from "filbert" on Honduh. Great guy, awesome DIY's, he's a pro at writing them. Check out the rest of his site, you can't beat a great guy with such great info and pics :thumbsup: Here's for you anysia, ya need to learn to change your own oil.

http://www.filtsai.com/accord/oil_change/index.php

RTexasF

08-24-2005, 05:47 AM

I put the Fram sure drain on mine last time I changed oil. Now if only I could find a remote kit for the filter.......

n1accord

08-24-2005, 06:51 PM

Contraty to "filbert", another source suggests changing the filter first. This allows you to put your filter into your catch pan for draining before it's full of oil.
(Wish I'd learned this before the time the filter slipped out of my hand and splashed into the full drain pan.) :lmao: . . . wasn't funny at the time.

Chris_B

08-24-2005, 07:01 PM

RTexasF

08-25-2005, 09:17 AM

Here's one alternative to the Fram plug...

Fumoto Valve (http://www.fumotovalve.com/)

https://ssl2.adhost.com/fumotovalve/graphics/valve2.JPG

I'm not sure how well it fits on the Accord but I might try one out.

I've got that on our Corolla and it works like a charm. I didn't go for it on the Accord because it's considerably lower and an extension is required. Too close to the ground for me to feel comfortable.

SSMV6

08-25-2005, 09:53 AM

The plug on the 7th gens are horizontal... adding one of these valves will limit how much oil can come out. It's probably just a few ounces, but I'd rather get as much of the old oil out as possible.

BenjiBoy650

08-25-2005, 10:49 AM

EXLNavi

08-25-2005, 11:57 AM

I'm not putting anything which can open accidentally and deprive my engine of oil...

Is there some sort of safety mechanism to prevent it from leaking accidentally?

Chris_B

08-25-2005, 12:27 PM

When you turn it to the shutoff side, it "falls" into a groove. You have to push up and twist to open it again. Look at the picture again and you will see it.

Pairallel

08-26-2005, 07:07 AM

I don't even change my oil myself any more. When the dealer only charges $25, it doesn't seem to make sense to spend $15 for supplies, waste an hour doing the change, then have to carry around the used oil and find a place to dump it.

But...I did want to mention that Filbert didn't say anything about a drain plug gasket. Isn't there supposed to be a new one put on every time you change the oil???

Chris_B

08-26-2005, 07:12 AM

I believe the suredrain valve he put on comes with a gasket.

RTexasF

08-26-2005, 01:13 PM

The plug on the 7th gens are horizontal... adding one of these valves will limit how much oil can come out. It's probably just a few ounces, but I'd rather get as much of the old oil out as possible.

Mine has to go up on ramps for my ample arse to get under it. All the oil drains out.........and quickly! Refill is 4.5 quarts.

SSMV6

08-29-2005, 02:14 PM

Putting your car on ramps actually helps get MORE oil out since the plug is in the back of the reservoir. :thmsup:

RTexasF

09-05-2005, 07:45 PM

Putting your car on ramps actually helps get MORE oil out since the plug is in the back of the reservoir. :thmsup:

It damn sure helps my fat ass get beneath it to drain oil & change the sloppy filter!!!!!!!!!!!

MasTRE

01-03-2006, 05:31 AM

I don't even change my oil myself any more. When the dealer only charges $25, it doesn't seem to make sense to spend $15 for supplies, waste an hour doing the change, then have to carry around the used oil and find a place to dump it.Sure it does -- I don't think most of the people doing their own oil changes do it for the savings (although it certainly doesn't hurt). Most of us do it to ensure it's done right(tm), and I for one actually enjoy working on my car.

Back to the FRAM Sure Drain. I have one from my totaled Passat which just so happens to be the same size (SD2). How well does it work for you guys? How much longer does it take to drain than not using it? Can it be opened w/o jacking the car up? I would probably do that and then jack the car up for a minute or two (on jack alone) to get the extra bit of oil out, then lower it and then close the Sure Drain. I do filter from top, and since I can't do it with car off the ground I can't use ramps.

I prefer doing it this way:
filter off -> drain -> replace drain plug/close sure drain -> new filter on -> fill

W/o Sure Drain, that means:
filter off -> jack up, place on stands -> drain -> replace drain plug -> lower car -> new filter on -> fill

With Sure Drain it could be this:
filter off -> open Sure Drain, drain -> jack up for 2 minutes to get last drop out, on jack alone -> lower car -> close Sure Drain -> new filter on -> fill

The last one depends on being able to open/close Sure Drain w/o jacking car up.

Accord4Life

01-03-2006, 05:41 AM

I tried changing my oil a few weeks ago. The people at Honda did a great job tightening the bolt so you can't get it off.

MasTRE

01-04-2006, 06:02 AM

I tried changing my oil a few weeks ago. The people at Honda did a great job tightening the bolt so you can't get it off.Breaking bar, my man. Then, if you torque it to spec, you won't need it again. I was lucky in that the handle of my floor jack, which comes apart into 2 pieces, fits perfectly over the wrench I used to break the bolt. Instant breaking bar!

RTexasF

01-04-2006, 12:21 PM

Mine too was tightened by Accordzilla at the factory. In my case a rubber mallet was used on the wrench to "influence" the drain bolt to loosen.

ezshift5

01-04-2006, 12:40 PM

I don't even change my oil myself any more. When the dealer only charges $25, it doesn't seem to make sense to spend $15 for supplies, waste an hour doing the change, then have to carry around the used oil and find a place to dump it.

...I'm parallel with Pairallel. Only my dealer gets $27.50 (geographic differential?) which includes a free token for coffee/hot choc (but no Crown Royal)....

..all the best, ez..

Ralph

01-29-2006, 01:31 PM

...I'm parallel with Pairallel. Only my dealer gets $27.50 (geographic differential?) which includes a free token for coffee/hot choc (but no Crown Royal)....

..all the best, ez..

I would also be down with that, but the closest dealer is still pretty darn far away. :mad: So now I'm <horror> even considering an oil change place. <shock>

Sleepless

01-29-2006, 05:50 PM

AutoZone accepts your used oil at not cost...of course, if you don't have one of those nearby you will have to find a substitute....please do not dump it in an environmentally unsafe way!

And as far as not taking the time to do it yourself. Any credible dealership or oil change business stands behind their work. I have personally experienced issues at an oil change business twice...they were rectified and I did not have to pay a dime. I also know that my Mom had issues with a Honda dealership not reinstalling her drain plug properly in her brand new Accord... needless to say, her engine seized before she arrived home. They replaced the engine with a brand new one. It took some time to get the new engine, but the car is now my sister's and it is still running strong. Bottom line, it is their responsibility to provide acceptable workmanship.

n1accord

01-29-2006, 06:38 PM

AutoZone accepts your used oil at no cost...of course, if you don't have one of those nearby you will have to find a substitute....please do not dump it in an environmentally unsafe way!
I keep used oil in a 5-gal jug. It's good for 4 or 5 oil changes before I have to take it to AutoZone.

I have personally experienced issues at an oil change business twice... I also know that my Mom had issues with a Honda dealership not reinstalling her drain plug properly in her brand new Accord...
For those not inclined to DIY, they are at the mercy of an ocean of incompetence and indifference - - whether it be an oil change, a shoe shine, or a roof on your house. While pearls may still be found, the search can be daunting.

BenjiBoy650

01-29-2006, 10:06 PM

Nearly everywhere excepts your used oil, from Jiffy Lube's to AutoZone's. Just look it up online, you're gonna find something.

Sure I could go to pay some dipshit who knows less than me to change my oil and mess up my car, but why would I do that instead of doing it myself and being able to sleep at night? Sure they'll replace the engine, but I'd have to go without my car for days or weeks. AND THEN, I'd still have to get somebody to actually replace the engine, and that means paying more dipshits to work on my car and screw it up! You think replacing an engine is easy. I've pulled engines, I know what hell I can wreak on a car that's not mine to get the job done. Besides that, we all know they use 25 cent a quart oil and $1.50 oil filters and then they charge you $30 for the whole 15 minutes they spend on your car. I guess the air they put in your tires costs them $28.25??

And besides that we can all see how your Honda dealer stands behind their work. If I were you, I'd have picked up a manual and decided if I could just replace the transmission myself or have a trusted mechanic do it.

leecea

02-01-2006, 11:25 AM

I find it much more convenient to do it myself. Five mins to get it on ramps and draining... go in and do something else... come back and spend 10 mins putting it back together and filling... 5 mins to check and top up the next morning.

I'd never find the time to drive and sit at a dealer or oil change place. That's a big waste.

Years ago I had my oil changed at a dealer (not Honda) and got 5 miles before the filter fell off and stranded me for 2 hours waiting for a tow truck.

n1accord

02-01-2006, 02:55 PM

I find it much more convenient to do it myself. Five mins to get it on ramps and draining... go in and do something else... come back and spend 10 mins putting it back together and filling... 5 mins to check and top up the next morning.

I'd never find the time to drive and sit at a dealer or oil change place. That's a big waste.
All true. You are quicker than I am (perhaps b/c I always change the filter), but it would still be more of a hassle to take it somewhere, plus wondering or having to check if it were done right.

leecea

02-02-2006, 09:05 AM

The filter is an issue and maybe I was being optimistic having not done a change on my new Accord yet. On my Subaru the filter is very easy and quick to remove. On my Ody, it is not and requires more time and occasional cursing!

n1accord

02-02-2006, 09:30 AM

I also have an Ody. I use a 1qt gatoraid bottle with the bottom cut off and cap on the mouth. First loosen the filter. Then slip the bottle over the filter and slowly finish removing the filter. The oil runs into the bottle. Have the new fitler ready to put on and it goes fairly smoothly.
One wrinkle is that I have a stash of the old larger filters that fit nicely with the gatoraid bottle and at some point will have to adjust my procedure.

leecea

02-02-2006, 10:48 AM

jermy4

02-02-2006, 11:39 AM

:thmsup: A cut up plastic milk jug works for me, but is a bit bulky. I will try the gatorade bottle. It sounds like a better fit.

I haven't looked under the front of the Accord yet - any tricks of the trade needed for that filter?
Make sure you have a wrench for the filter. I drained all my oil and couldn't get the filter off so I took my other car and got one that fit it.