Dateline: Indianapolis, Indiana -- Do you enjoy doing your own oil changes, but hate the mess when it comes to removing the oil filter? The Oil Filter Diaper is a possible solution. The best news is it’s free, and you probably already have one as near as your refrigerator.

Draining the oil pan is relatively a mess-free job. Just remove the oil plug and let the oil drain into the collection device of your choice. Removing the oil filter - mess free - is another matter altogether. When the filter is removed, oil invariably leaks around the gasket-to-flange area, down the filter sides, and over hoses and onto your garage floor or driveway.

This is where the oil filter diaper comes into play. It is made from a 2-litre soda bottle, preferably empty. Simply cut it to the shape shown in the following photos. The key is to create a U-shaped ledge to slide under the filter, leaving room to spin the filter from above. This ledge should be just long enough to fit the entire length of the filter and then a little bit more to be pressed up against the engine block. The screw cap end is left as a reservoir to collect the oil that will spill from the filter as it is removed.

So let’s see how this works. First, using the tool of your choice, loosen the oil filter until it can be spun with your hand. I guess that would be finger loose as opposed to finger tight. Don’t go too far - we don’t want to break the gasket-to-block seal. The point is just to get the filter loose enough so we can continue to spin it after the oil filter diaper is in place. The photo below shows the shape of the oil filter diaper before slipping it into position.




Now we see the oil filter diaper from the other side after it has been maneuvered into place. Note that it is at a slightly greater angle than the filter itself, the reservoir tip is awaiting oil collection, and the filter is finger accessible from above the oil filter diaper.




Hold the oil filter diaper in one hand, and continue to spin the filter off with the other. When the gasket seal finally breaks, the oil will leak into the oil filter diaper.




Continue to spin the filter and let it drop into the oil filter diaper, just like a big chunk of, well, you know. Then lower everything down and away from the engine block.




Remove the filter and tip it upside down into your oil collection device so it will drain, and tilt the oil filter diaper to drain the collected oil.




Here we see the filter flange. A lint-free rag will take care of the small amount of oil still present on the flange. Don’t forget to partially pre-fill the new oil filter with new oil, and to lubricate the oil filter rubber gasket.




Now we have the new filter in place, and we clearly see a clean area. No runs, no drips, no errors. Ok, I stole that from Krylon.




After a quick wipe off of the old oil, the oil filter diaper even doubles as a funnel. Although the cap lip fits into the oil filler tube pretty snugly, I’d still hold the oil filter diaper in one hand as I poured the oil with the other.



Well, there you go. As they say, “it worked great for me, your experience may vary”. Also, this was on a V8 - I don’t know how well it would apply to the V6.

For those of you who are not adept with scissors, simply log onto are_you_nuts_dude_I_can_make_one_myself.com, where you’ll find them for only $19.95. Shipping and handling extra.

Enjoy!

 

Cool Idea!
You should sell those on EBay! Starting bid : $19.95! no reserve! Oh yeah, patent it too!

 

I will definately make one of these to use the next time I change my oil. This is a great idea and write up. Thanks!

 

Nice write up.. looks like TacoBill has some stiff competition!

 

That's teriffic! What a great multitasking tool. Very nice write-up.

Isn't your name really Ronald M. Popeil? Ronco here we come!

 

Very Cool!!!

 

Great tip...I'm gonna have to try it! Thanks for sharing!!!

 

Great idea! I'm sucking down a two liter bottle of Coke as we speak...

 

Great idea! I tried the aluminum foil paper trick...however, I still had a bit of mess to clean up...Bravo!!

 

Someone has WAY too much time on their hands. Interesting idea though. I can't do it since we don't have 2-liter bottles of anything in the house, and I don't feel like spending $19.95 (plus s/h) to get one off ebay.

 

HAha, cool man. nice to take the time and pics.

I just use a 10"x4" or so piece of cardboard(like the top from the oil box) and fold it in half longways and wedge it under the filter, it acts as a drain funnel into the used oil pan/drain whatever you use.

I did not use anything the 1st oil change as I thought all the oil would clear everything. Boy was I wrong, lol.

 

Very nice idea. Defiinitely goin to try that next oil change.

 

Great write-up!

But, I set the bar pretty high, buddy!

 

I'll have to tell the guy at Jiffy Lube about this idea

 

dumb idea

 

Boltzman, I know your kidding!

 

Cool idea, but I just let the oil go where ever gravity takes it. Once I have the new filter in place, I spray everything that got oil on it with Simple Green, which also drains into the oil catch pan. If you were to look under my car, you'd never know the oil has been changed. Same thing with my wife's Escape that has over 100K on it

 

Just tryin to lighten things up around here. i wouldn't send my worst enemy there

 

applying for a patent is actually a pretty good idea.