FE Oil-change tricks

[Supermike]

Ok, so clearly on a 2WD FE, the oil drains all over the crossmember when changing your oil. Annoying. But short of changing the pan (which I'm not able or inclined to do right now), I'm curious if anyone has any "tried and true" tricks to channel the oil away from the crossmember?

I've seen it mentioned to fabricate something from steel (which I have no tools to do), and have also seen mentioned using aluminum foil or bending the "thick" aluminum from a turkey roasing pan. I've also seen this little doohickey referenced, but don't know of anyone using it (is there even room for installing it?).

So anyone have any "tricks" up their sleeve to make this a cleaner process?

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Supermike,

Keith fabbed up a metal tray that sits on the cross member that funnels the oil over the cross member down into an oil catcher.
It's pretty cool. He posted a pic of it in an earlier thread.

I can tell something that does not work too good...
I tried putting a piece of plastic sheeting over the cross member.
It sorta worked for a minute or two...
Then, it fell off and got nasty dirty oil all over the floor, all over me and everything else before I go it cleaned up.
About half the oil ended up on the cross member anyway...

KaptnKA S

[Redcap]

I'm fortunate enough to have a gravel floor in my barn. The place where I do oil changes is extremely well-packed, due partially to repeated oil saturations.

[Supermike]

Hey Supermike,
Keith fabbed up a metal tray that sits on the cross member that funnels the oil over the cross member down into an oil catcher.
It's pretty cool. He posted a pic of it in an earlier thread.

Cool! I'll search for it, but you have a link? I'd like to see that...

Also, know anyone that wants to make/sell some of them?

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Mike,

No, I don't remember which tread it was in...
Someone else was askin' the same question and Keith posted it as a reply...
You might send him a PM. I'm sure he wouldn't mind...

KaptnKA S

[mljjones67]

Hey Mike how close is the drain plug to the cross member? I was thinking you might be able to get one of the those new drain plugs that you screw a hose on. When you screw the hose on it opens the drain plug and the oil drains out. Probably not enough room though??

[Supermike]

Seems like it's pretty tight... I haven't seen one of what you're talking about, though... have a picture or link?

[steveh]

Just use a peice of carboard! Quick and easy!

Steve

[mrsnicks]

Ask and though shall receive!


http://www.jegs.com/i/Fram%20&%20Autoli ... /-1?CT=999


Patrick

[Supermike]

Cool.... thanks! Know if that will fit between the pan and the crossmember ok??

[mljjones67]

Thats the one I was thinking of. I bought mine at wally world for about $15 if I remember right.

[price2757]

Sorry about the poor pic. Used the phone to take it.

This is a quick thing I made out of a piece of galv metal I had laying around. I left a lip on the left to fit under the oil pan. Tuck it under, undo the drain plug and it funnels right down the tube to the catch pan. Quick. Easy. Best of all in my price range. Free

[Supermike]

That's kind of what I had in mind, was a "tray/funnel", made out of metal, that just tucks under the pan and right down to the catch pan. Stainless would be awesome. Wish I could weld...

[price2757]

Wish I could weld too, but you'd be surprised what you can make out of a rusted out rabbit cage and a pair of tin snips!

[ezernut9mm]

don't use any of those contraptions. you don't want your cross member to rust do you? . it does kinda suck though. i don't know what the ford engineers were thinking with this design.