Cascade Crew

QwkTrip

I just did the first oil change on the Subaru. When I dropped the oil pan plug the oil flowed out faster than I have ever seen. It evacuated in about 4 seconds and overflowed my catch pan because the oil was coming out faster than it would drain into the pan. I was draining out the OE break-in lube. Is that stuff particularly runny?

BTW, the Subaru was the single most difficult oil change I have ever done in my life! #$%^&*

I have never seen an oil filter so difficult to access. I couldn't loosen it by hand and I couldn't get any strap wrenches on it. I ended up dropping off all the underbody protection which gave me barely enough space to snag the oil filter with a large channel lock plier. I got it off but you can imagine the mess I made in the process. I assume the the Subaru dealer has a special tool to remove the oil filter. It might be worth buying. Why me why me?

85 T/A WS6 · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 7:53 am Post subject:

Most manufactures use extra antiwear additives and coatings in a new engine. Not sure if this will cause what you saw, perhaps a high moly level ?

TecherB · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:48 am Post subject:

Subarus drain fast in part tho the design of the oil pan and the huge drain plug hole(over 14mm big) their should have been an access pannel in the engine cover that has plastic push clips that hold it in plase they look like they have a philips head on them you just unscrew them abit then pull them out. to remove the filter the tool I use fits on to my socket wrench (and use a short extension) the tool has three fingers atached to gears that clamp down on the filter(bought at sears same design as snap-on and saw it at other parts stores with similer design) this is only used to remove because it damages the filter. to tightne it it should be just hand tight and should be easy to remove next time.

did you replace the drain plug gasket?
if not you will need to remove the old one and get a new one or it will mostlikely lead 99% that i have seen that do not get replaced do.

if you need some pictures of the tool that will be easy to take and if you need pictures of the subaru ill do that the next time one come in to the shop.

just let me know.

QwkTrip · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 3:31 pm Post subject:

Thanks, TecherB. I did use the access panel but I ended up removing everything in order to get better access to the oil filter. The tool you have sounds like the slick trick. Can you post a photo? I think I'm making a trip to Sears! Wink

Fortunately, I did replace the crush gasket. First time I've seen that type of setup. I decided to buy the filter from the dealer and they let me in on the secret. Got lucky on that one.

My car was supplied with break-in oil that should be changed at 1000 miles. I notice the 5W-30 I replaced it with is more viscous. I was just concerned that the break-in oil was so light.

TecherB · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:10 pm Post subject:

Ill try to get the pics up tomarrow i might need a little help from the lama to do it.

just incase you cant wait until then the part number on the tool appers to be 47064

TecherB · Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 9:10 pm Post subject:

Here are the pictures of the tools.

(Note: You can read the above, because John is actualy typing this.)

QwkTrip · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:13 pm Post subject:

Thanks!

TecherB · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:22 pm Post subject:

hope you will be able to pick out what you need now. I added in one of the picture some of the ratchets and extensions I use with it.
I dont remember how much it costs but it should not be too much.