Oil change cleanup advice and a story

[txtroutbum]

This forum has already cost me money...now I've made a mess! Rookie mistake...

I'm soliciting your best "get the oil off the garage floor" advice...kitty litter?

Here's the story: I got a '05 4Runner a few months ago with about 20K miles after driving my '93 to 195K. After lurking here on the forum, and having a bad experience at a quick lube place, I decided I'd start changing my own oil/filter, and go with Mobile 1 synthetic.

Hit WalMart, got the oil, oil wrench, oil drain pan, etc. Ordered the Toyota filters and gaskets from PartzNet, and I'm ready to go.

The drain pan is the enclosed kind of catch pan, with a little plug in the center that you pull out and the oil flows inside. I got all my stuff together, and crawled under. First issue I encountered was there wasn't enough clearance between the top of the drain pan and the bottom of the engine for me to get my socket in there. I messed around and finally figured I could loosen the drain plug with the wrench, then finish by hand to allow the drain pan to be in the right spot.....so, in I go, loosen the drain plug, drop it into the drain pan, and it plugs the drain hole, and i quickly have oil overflowing the drain pan, all over the garage floor! i was able to fish the plug out, and let the remainder of the oil drain into the pan....Dang! what a Dumbass!

The good news is the filter, etc all went very easily, and the cleanup was ok with lots of newspaper.

If you have a favorite trick for getting that last bit of oil out of the concrete, pass them on...

and feel free to mock me....but I've got fresh Mobil 1 and Toyota filter for less than a "quick lube" shop....

 

[toto]

Congrats on doing the job yourself!
I almost had a similar overflow situation with the 4Runner - I wasn't prepared for 7 quarts of oil to come out (V8), and it barely fit in the drain pan!

I've used Oil-Dri in the past to clean up... just keep grinding it in a little bit and changing it every couple of days. For little spots, Brakleen helps get the oil into solution so you can mop it up with a rag.

 

[txtroutbum]

P.S. It cleaned up fine with some cat litter, and I've ordered a Fumoto valve

 

[4Stunna]

For the really bad spills that have been sitting long. You can use merodic acid. That is the strongest stuff I have ever heard of. Please chime in if you guys know of anything stronger because I still have a little spot....on concrete that is

 

[greasefingers]

If you do have the vehicle up on stands (and there is no reason for this) then there is very little room. Just loosen the bolt two revolutions with the ratchet. Then place the catch pan under there. Remove the bolt now with your fingers. Oil will spill over your fingers. No biggie.

 

[jeober]

The "fun" part is hanging onto the drain plug when the oil coats your hand burning hot. There's a fine line between the warm oil desired for draining and hot oil that hurts.

 

[txtroutbum]

4bummer, looks like from your avatar photo, you could stand up under that ride and change the oil!

My 05 has been runnin' smooth since the oil change...the cleanup was a cinch, and the next change will go even smoother...now I just gotta get a grease gun and get the driveshaft (oops I meant "propeller shaft") lubed up....

Thanks for all the input....

 

[greasefingers]

I change my oil cold. I remove the plug then go side for lunch or battle with my son on a PS2 game, then I back outside and complete the job.