Oil and Filter Change

"Mark A" > wrote in message
news
> "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote in message
> news:KZKdnT_Dft-
>> Always use the highest API rating available, currently SM for gasoline
>> engine passenger vehicles.
>>
>> Ray O
>
> If you are going to use an oil that is better than recommended by the
> manufacturer, then you might as well quit fooling around and use a full
> synthetic from a reputable brand like Mobil 1 (and some others). If you do
> that, you don't have to bother with checking API ratings etc.
>

That logic makes sense, although I'm pretty sure that most automakers
specify API grade SM, which is what most, if not all, of the oil on the
shelves in auto parts stores is.

> Using a full synthetic is usually cheaper in the long run for about 75% of
> the people (with the major exception being people who lease a car for 3
> years or less and do not purchase it when the lease is over).
>
> Of course, this will cut down on sales of new cars, and reduce employment
> in the auto business..

We used to say "thank heavens for people who have to have the latest and
greatest new Toyota or business would suck" :-)
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Ray O wrote:

> ....API grade SM, which is what most, if not all, of the oil on the
> shelves in auto parts stores is.
========

Today I saw Royal Purple oil at a store with an older API SL rating.
Saw a couple other brands like that, too, but can't remember who they
were--probably Napa house brand and one other brand.

"Built_Well" > wrote in message
anews.com...
>
> I'm going to follow BadGolferMan's lead, and start
> changing my own oil.
>

[snip...]

> Use the correct size wrench to loosen (turn counter-clockwise) the oil
> drain plug. Use a shop rag to protect your hand from the hot oil. Keep
> a steady inward pressure on the plug to avoid the hot oil from running
> down your arm. If oil seems too hot to touch, allow the oil to cool.
>
From which reference point is this counter-clockwise direction referenced?
Facing the front of the car, or facing the rear of the car (when underneath
the car)?

It may seem like an obvious question, but no oil change manual or
instruction set I have seen ever actually qualifies this. It seems
important, though, because turning counter-clockwise from the wrong
reference point would actually be turning more clockwise.

[snip...]

On 10/11/07 5:34 AM, in article
, "Daniel W. Rouse Jr."
> wrote:

> "Built_Well" > wrote in message
> anews.com...
>>
>> I'm going to follow BadGolferMan's lead, and start
>> changing my own oil.
>>
>
> [snip...]
>
>> Use the correct size wrench to loosen (turn counter-clockwise) the oil
>> drain plug. Use a shop rag to protect your hand from the hot oil. Keep
>> a steady inward pressure on the plug to avoid the hot oil from running
>> down your arm. If oil seems too hot to touch, allow the oil to cool.
>>
> From which reference point is this counter-clockwise direction referenced?
> Facing the front of the car, or facing the rear of the car (when underneath
> the car)?
>
> It may seem like an obvious question, but no oil change manual or
> instruction set I have seen ever actually qualifies this. It seems
> important, though, because turning counter-clockwise from the wrong
> reference point would actually be turning more clockwise.
>
> [snip...]
>
>

That's just silly. The reference point is facing the head of the bolt.

"Mark A" > wrote in
:

> "news" > wrote in message
> news:vxgPi.10148$1y4.2341@pd7urf2no...
>> I prefer to now use a pair of disposable gloves. Less mess, less
>> used oil goodies under my fingernails. The oil's not THAT hot,
>> you're not soaking in it, you're just removing the filler plug.
>>
>> The funny thing is the reason why I started wearing disposable gloves
>> when working on cars... kids. When my first kid started teething two
>> years ago and wanted to chew on my knuckle... it couldn't be if I
>> just came in from the garage, and even then... blech...
>>
>> Kids do the weirdest things to you...
>>
>> Ray
>
> From the NIH (National Institute of Health):
>
> "Warning: continuous contact with used motor oil has caused skin
> cancer in laboratory animal tests. Avoid prolonged contact. Wash skin
> with soap and water. Launder or discard soiled clothing."
>
>



That's from the "maximum tolerated dose" approach the alarmists love to
use.

They probably kept the lab rats' skin coated with used motor oil for months
at a time solid, then one or two them came down with skin cancer.

I wonder how many of the animals would have contracted cancer if the oil
had been painted on, left there for a half-hour, then washed off with soap
and water. And done only three or four times a year.


--
Tegger

"E Meyer" > wrote in message
...
>
>
>
> On 10/11/07 5:34 AM, in article
> , "Daniel W. Rouse Jr."
> > wrote:
>
> > "Built_Well" > wrote in message
> > anews.com...
> >>
> >> I'm going to follow BadGolferMan's lead, and start
> >> changing my own oil.
> >>
> >
> > [snip...]
> >
> >> Use the correct size wrench to loosen (turn counter-clockwise) the oil
> >> drain plug. Use a shop rag to protect your hand from the hot oil. Keep
> >> a steady inward pressure on the plug to avoid the hot oil from running
> >> down your arm. If oil seems too hot to touch, allow the oil to cool.
> >>
> > From which reference point is this counter-clockwise direction
referenced?
> > Facing the front of the car, or facing the rear of the car (when
underneath
> > the car)?
> >
> > It may seem like an obvious question, but no oil change manual or
> > instruction set I have seen ever actually qualifies this. It seems
> > important, though, because turning counter-clockwise from the wrong
> > reference point would actually be turning more clockwise.
> >
> > [snip...]
> >
> >
>
> That's just silly. The reference point is facing the head of the bolt.
>

I don't think it is silly, here's why.

If I put the car on ramps and then go under the car, I can have my legs
pointed facing the front or the rear of the vehicle. Looking up and applying
a socket to the bolt... it's going to make a difference from which reference
point is the counter-clockwise direction.

Similarly, if I could get the car high enough on a hydraulic lift so that I
could stand under it, I could look up at the head of the bolt facing the
front or the rear of the vehicle.

That's why I asked. The above response failed to sufficiently answer the
question.

So, is the reference point facing the head of the bolt and facing the front
of the vehicle? Or facing head of the bolt and facing the rear of the
vehicle?

Daniel W. Rouse Jr. wrote:
> "Built_Well" > wrote in message
> anews.com...
>> I'm going to follow BadGolferMan's lead, and start
>> changing my own oil.
>>
>
> [snip...]
>
>> Use the correct size wrench to loosen (turn counter-clockwise) the oil
>> drain plug. Use a shop rag to protect your hand from the hot oil. Keep
>> a steady inward pressure on the plug to avoid the hot oil from running
>> down your arm. If oil seems too hot to touch, allow the oil to cool.
>>
> From which reference point is this counter-clockwise direction referenced?
> Facing the front of the car, or facing the rear of the car (when underneath
> the car)?

It is from the central axis of the nut or bolt when look at the bolt.

> It may seem like an obvious question, but no oil change manual or
> instruction set I have seen ever actually qualifies this. It seems
> important, though, because turning counter-clockwise from the wrong
> reference point would actually be turning more clockwise.

All bolts and nuts are either right-handed or left-handed. Right-handed
bolts are the common ones. After 10 years of taking apart engines during
college and high school, I can assure you that there are very few
left-handed ones in cars. I think I ran into them a few times, but very
rarely.

The only time I can remember threads being left-handed has to do with
certain gases, so that you can't connect things wrong and take things
apart accidentally.

Jeff
> [snip...]
>
>

"Daniel W. Rouse Jr." > wrote in message > So,
is the reference point facing the head of the bolt and facing the front
> of the vehicle? Or facing head of the bolt and facing the rear of the
> vehicle?

Clockwise is referenced from the presented face (of the clock). Same for
bolts,
oil filters, and the like. Doesnt matter whether you are lying down,
standing, or
walking a tightrope.

"Daniel W. Rouse Jr." > wrote in
:


>
> So, is the reference point facing the head of the bolt and facing the
> front of the vehicle? Or facing head of the bolt and facing the rear
> of the vehicle?
>
>



The reference point is that of an imaginary observer who is always able to
face the bolt head, with the threaded portion of the bolt pointing away
from him. This observer is supposed to be able to always face the bolt head
square-on no matter which direction the bolt is actually pointing, or what
parts happen to be in the way.

If the top of the bolt turns to the right (clockwise) to tighten for such
an observer, the bolt is "right-hand thread". If the bolt turns the other
way to tighten (counterclockwise), it's "left-hand thread".

99% of the bolts you'll encounter in normal servicing will be "right-hand
thread". That left over 1% can be a killer!


--
Tegger

In article >,
"Daniel W. Rouse Jr." > wrote:

> "E Meyer" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> >
> >
> > On 10/11/07 5:34 AM, in article
> > , "Daniel W. Rouse Jr."
> > > wrote:
> >
> > > "Built_Well" > wrote in message
> > > anews.com...
> > >>
> > >> I'm going to follow BadGolferMan's lead, and start
> > >> changing my own oil.
> > >>
> > >
> > > [snip...]
> > >
> > >> Use the correct size wrench to loosen (turn counter-clockwise) the oil
> > >> drain plug. Use a shop rag to protect your hand from the hot oil. Keep
> > >> a steady inward pressure on the plug to avoid the hot oil from running
> > >> down your arm. If oil seems too hot to touch, allow the oil to cool.
> > >>
> > > From which reference point is this counter-clockwise direction
> referenced?
> > > Facing the front of the car, or facing the rear of the car (when
> underneath
> > > the car)?
> > >
> > > It may seem like an obvious question, but no oil change manual or
> > > instruction set I have seen ever actually qualifies this. It seems
> > > important, though, because turning counter-clockwise from the wrong
> > > reference point would actually be turning more clockwise.
> > >
> > > [snip...]
> > >
> > >
> >
> > That's just silly. The reference point is facing the head of the bolt.
> >
>
> I don't think it is silly, here's why.
>
> If I put the car on ramps and then go under the car, I can have my legs
> pointed facing the front or the rear of the vehicle. Looking up and applying
> a socket to the bolt... it's going to make a difference from which reference
> point is the counter-clockwise direction.
>
> Similarly, if I could get the car high enough on a hydraulic lift so that I
> could stand under it, I could look up at the head of the bolt facing the
> front or the rear of the vehicle.
>
> That's why I asked. The above response failed to sufficiently answer the
> question.
>
> So, is the reference point facing the head of the bolt and facing the front
> of the vehicle? Or facing head of the bolt and facing the rear of the
> vehicle?

Are you trolling? If you don't know the difference between clockwise and
counterclockwise, take your car to jiffy lube. You can lie under the car
with your legs sticking out in any direction you want, clockwise is
still the same direction. Seriously. Try it.