I am a MAN !!! - I Changed My Own Oil !!!

JohnnyCash · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:12 pm

I'm demoralized. Trying to do my first ever oil change, but I can't get the fill plug off.

It's the plug that you reach through the hole in the skid plate, right?
Do you turn it counter-clockwise to get it off?

I was pulling so hard my shoulder hurts now. I don't have the best angle to it because my jeep is not jacked up, but I was still pulling pretty darn hard on it.
I'm using a pretty small socket wrench and a 13mm socket. Do I need to go buy a different tool?

Are there some tricks to getting it off? I know nothing about tools, so keep that in mind if giving me any advice.

Also do I have to have a new crush washer to put on. (I read that on some oil instruction page).

JohnnyCash · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:47 pm

Man........I'm getting pissed !!!

I just tried again, and I just about lifted myself off the ground trying to get the fill plug off. It won't budge.

So I'm laying under the passenger side.
I'm pulling the wrench towards me.
That is the correct way if I want to loosen it right?

adamkrz · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:58 pm

Counterclockwise to remove the drain plug, If I were you I would have a garage do your first oil change, If your having trouble with taking your drain plug off you'll have much more problems with the oil filter wich is very tight from the factory and much harder to reach..

riptricket · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:00 pm

i get it from the drivers side... just take your wrench and put an extender on it and i use a 1/2 inch socket(fits it perfectly) and then i go counter clock-wise... and it comes off fairly easily

Edvalencia · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:00 pm

Are you talking about the oil drain plug?

It's the nut located on the oil pan. A socket + ratchet should get it out.
It unscrews counter clockwise. Be careful not to over tighten it or you'll damage the pan. Maybe use an extension, if your skidplate gets in the way.

I usually do the following:
Unscrew the oil fill cap, which is located under the hood (big black cap)
Unscrew the oil drain plug and let all the oil drain out.
Screw the oil drain plug back on

Remove the old oil filter. This is the hardest part, as there isn't much room.
An oil filter wrench comes in handy at this point.

Install new oil filter
Fill new oil
Go wheeling

JohnnyCash · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:01 pm

adamkrz wrote:

Counterclockwise to remove the drain plug, If I were you I would have a garage do your first oil change, If your having trouble with taking your drain plug off you'll have much more problems with the oil filter wich is very tight from the factory and much harder to reach..

This isn't the first for my vehicle..........just the first for me.
I'm going to home depot to buy a new tool.
I am going to change my own oil if it kills me.

riptricket · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:04 pm

ohhh also cool trick someone on here told me... if you take a 2liter coke bottle, cut the top off of it and cut about half-way, you can use it to turn your oil filer off and no mess!!! it worked perfectly for me!

Guest · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:23 pm

I'd call the last people that changed my oil and yell like hell if the drain plug is that tight.

new crush washers every oil change are Hondas/Acuras and Hyundais/Kias IIRC...Toyota has a replace-when-needed one, which is usually every oil change. Nobody changes them though...

the KJ has a rubber seal, so just reuse your current drain plug...and call your stealership and yell at them. your filter is going to be tighter than hell, too.

something you could get is a 3/8" breaker bar, to get more leverage.

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:30 pm

if you're mad now, wait till you get to the oil filter....if it is the original mopar one, its gonna take a while to get it loose. First time i changed mine i crush the filter, stabbed a screwdrive through it and had to battle forever to get it off.

InCommando · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:35 pm

Stabbed a screwdriver through it....ah, that brings back memories...or nightmares.

Just relax, have a cold whatever, & try again. We've all been there in one way or another.

Brake cleaner does wonders for removing oil that has sloshed everywhere.

JohnnyCash · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:13 pm

I got a new wrench. I have no idea if it will be useful or not, but I didn't know what to pick. Cost $20. It's called an extendable flex head ratchet.

And guess what? As soon as I walk out of home depot with it the sky just opens up with the hardest rain I've seen here in a month. I'm so pissed now I might just go lay out in a puddle of water to do this.

I don't care at this point. I'll buy every tool in home depot if I have to.

JohnnyCash · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:44 pm

Just when I was comtemplating going somewhere and asking them to loosen it, it finally broke loose. I couldn't believe it. Now I'm back inside warming up because I'm all wet and it's pretty cold out.

Next question: Will the oil come out the hole in the skid plate, basically straight down from the plug, or will it shoot somewhere else?

Just wondering where to place my oil pan to catch it all.

riptricket · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:46 pm

it goes from the hole in skid, but remember physics... pressure inside will make it not drain straight down at first, but flow at an angle(towards the back of the kj) and then straight down.

JohnnyCash · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:20 pm

Step 1 complete: Surprisingly it all came right thru the hole in the skid plate. Didn't miss a drop. Going to give it about 20 minutes to drain now.

Next up: THE FILTER !!!

Also decided to start drinking now.
Currently on beer number one.

So once I replace plug and replace filter, I then pour 5 quarts of oil in the fill hole. Then I close everything up and I just start it up and let it run for 5 minutes. Check for leaks and if none, I'm done.

Is there anything important that I'm missing?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:21 pm

Haha, so in other words it usually ends up on top of that skid plate so have some rags or paper towels ready!

The first oil change in my liberty was pretty rough too. Ended up with a big decking nail in the side in the cup wrench and through the oil filter. I didnt think that thing was going to come off.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:41 pm

If and when you get the old oil filter off, run a light coating of oil around the rubber seal on the new one and HAND TIGHTEN it only.

Joe Jeeper · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:03 pm

Changed mine tonight had to take oil fill cap off with strap wrench, the light film of grease I put on didn't help. Joe

JohnnyCash · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:48 pm

I did it !!!!

I feel like I just upped my man status by about 15%.
That had been bothering me for years.

I'll probably be checking my oil every day now for 2 weeks since I'm not totally confident I screwed everything back on tight enough......or too tight.

One thing I thought was interesting was that after 30 minutes there was still oil dripping out. When you get it done by oil change places they wait for what.........30 seconds???

I was also wondering why Jiffy Lube always revs my engine. Was I supposed to do that for some reason?

By the way............it only took 6 hours:)

Guest · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:26 pm

Congrats! Always a great feeling of accomplishment when you do something you've never done before.

you only need to get the filter and drain plug SNUG. it shouldn't take much effort at all to loosen the drain plug/filter off.

you'll never get all the little tiny drippings out of the engine's oil pan...it won't hurt to have a little leftover oil in there. it's not enough to amount to anything.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:22 am

Good Work CASH, so what's next on the list? :lol:

I am a MAN !!! - I Changed My Own Oil !!!

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