oil change mistake

[deerefan]

I was changing the oil in my 97 F150 and made a dumb mistake. In my rush, I did not check the old oil filter to make sure the gasket came off with it. I installed the new filter (motorcraft), filled it with 6 qts of oil, checked the level and fired it up. I picked up my tools, took about 2 minutes, climbed in the truck and noticed the oil pressure gauge had not moved and the oil light was on. I immediately killed the truck. Never once did I hear any knocking or valve train noise while it was running but the gauge registered no oil pressure. I traced the problem to the oil filter housing where the old oil ring was still present, causing oil to blow out between the filter and housing. Would this cause me to not have oil pressure or for just the gauge to tell me I didn't? Does it get its reading from the oil filter housing? The motor is a 4.6 just in case. Thanks guys.

 

[JDL538]

I did the same thing on my new, to me an 06 vette last year. I caught it fast but it scared the crap out of me. It didn't hurt anything though.
I have been changing oil myself for more than 45 years and never seen that happen.

 

[Storm56]

I once did the same thing on a 4.3 V-6 Chev. Changed oil, started it up, oil pressure came up. Washed up and hopped in the truck and headed for town. Went about 1 mile when I notcied the low oil pressure. Pulled over found the problem, caught a ride home to get what I needed, changed filter, added oil and away I went. Never had any trouble with the motor either. Good thing it was not my wife or I guarantee the motor would have been toast, she never checks the gauges.

 

[Bird]

I did that in 1957 on a Chevy truck working in my dad's service station. Only lost about a quart of oil before I got it shut off, but you sure check those gaskets from then on.:laughing:

 

[ModMech]

I think everyone who has changed oil more than twice has done this at some point, you didn't hurt anything, not at all.

PS: You do not have an oil pressure "gauge", yes I know there is a gauge-looking thingy with a needle on your dash. You have what is slyly refered to as an "idiot gauge", it either shows oil pressure, or it does not. Therefore, you most likely has a couple PSI of oil in the system but not enough to cause the "gauge" to show.

 

[deerefan]

I think everyone who has changed oil more than twice has done this at some point, you didn't hurt anything, not at all.

PS: You do not have an oil pressure "gauge", yes I know there is a gauge-looking thingy with a needle on your dash. You have what is slyly refered to as an "idiot gauge", it either shows oil pressure, or it does not. Therefore, you most likely has a couple PSI of oil in the system but not enough to cause the "gauge" to show.

Thats good news. Being the motor is relatively new, i would hate to replace it due to my error. You are right about the gauge. I wish it showed psi.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I think you are fine also. You were changing the oil so you had just warmed it up and distributed oil throughout the motor. There was still a film on it even-though you drained it.

I do about 75 to 100 oil changed a year and have not done this one. I always check to make sure I get the gasket. Never left the drain plug out either but have done plenty of stupid stuff like put 12 QTS in a 5 QT system. Do not know what I was thinking. Just opened up a case and started pouring in QT after QT. Figured it out before I started it when my buddy said, wow, how much oil does that car hold. I said Shat!

Chris

 

[schoolsout]

Last time I changed the oil in my ride, I forgot to put the drain plug back in...luckily I had the catch pan under it still...$50 mistake.

 

[MoKelly]

Worst I have done (so far) is to not put the washer back with the drain plug. I finished up and was moving the old oil from the drain pan to containers and found the washer. Not fun but I only have done it once.

MoKelly

 

[Bird]

I saw a neighbor once start to pour the second quart of oil into his lawn tractor before he realized he had not put the drain plug back in.

We had a service station employee who once drained the transmssion on a 1955-56 Oldsmobile, added 5 qts. of oil to the crankcase, and then didn't understand why the car wouldn't back out of the bay.

I changed oil & filter in our 1977 Dodge 3/4 ton pickup one weekend and the next day our younger daughter told me she had to add 2 quarts of oil. I went to check it and found the oil was just so clean that she hadn't seen it on the dipstick so it was 2 quarts overfilled.:laughing: She was not happy about having to crawl under that truck that night and drain that oil out.

 

[LBrown59]

I did the same thing on my new, to me an 06 vette last year. I caught it fast but it scared the crap out of me. It didn't hurt anything though.
I have been changing oil myself for more than 45 years and never seen that happen.

It's a good idea to always run motor for 5 minutes & check drain plug and oil filter for leaks after adding the oil.

 

[Bird]

It's a good idea to always run motor for 5 minutes & check drain plug and oil filter for leaks after adding the oil.

Yep, I probably don't go a full 5 minutes, but I start the engine and immediately start watching underneath to see if there's any leaks, and I watch long enough to be sure the oil has circulated and the oil pressure is up to normal; been doing that ever since I was 16 and working in my dad's service stations.

 

[deerefan]

It's a good idea to always run motor for 5 minutes & check drain plug and oil filter for leaks after adding the oil.

I usually do this, but in my haste to beat the rapidly diminishing day light, I did not. Hence, the mistake. At first, I was mad at Motorcraft for making a bad filter. I used to use mobil 1 but they have gotten pricey. When I found the mistake, I apologized to the motorcraft gods and called myself a few names. In all my years of changing oil, this is the first time something of this nature has happened.

 

[om21braz]

Real easy to commit the same mistake on a Dodge pickup with the Cummins too. Good to hear no permanent damage is present.

 

[EE_Bota]

I am not likely to do the gasket thing, since for some reason, it is my habit to try to get the oil film I need for the new gasket by wiping it off of the old gasket.

Now, I DID leave the drain plug out once, and that made a heck of a mess. I don't have a strategy for that, either. I hope it was a one shot deal, the first time and the last.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. you likely had flow.. but very little pressure.. or at least less pressure than the OP switch wanted. could be 6-16 psi.. if you were at idle you were likely ok as as low as 6 psi per 1000 rpm likely would prevent damage... not to mention there was an oil film on the bearings and journals already.

remember after a rebuild you are running on a thin smear of grease ( assembly lube ) for a few seconds till oil pressure comes up.

if it is really, really bothering you, to the tune of about 30$.. do another oil change and catch some oil for a UOA, and look for wear metals.. that and the cost of the oil change.. walmart oil change plus the uoa should eat about 30$

soundguy

 

[MoKelly]

She was not happy about having to crawl under that truck that night and drain that oil out.

Your daughter checks oil in the truck? Wow. I think that is great. My wife doesn't know oil exists.

MoKelly

 

[Bird]

Your daughter checks oil in the truck? Wow. I think that is great. My wife doesn't know oil exists.

MoKelly

We have 2 daughters, but before I'd let them get their drivers licenses when they were teenagers, I not only taught them to check under the hood and tire pressure, but required them to "demonstrate" changing a tire. They had to actually get the spare out, get the jack, lug wrench, etc. and change a tire.:laughing: Wife is a different matter.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Worst I have done (so far) is to not put the washer back with the drain plug. I finished up and was moving the old oil from the drain pan to containers and found the washer. Not fun but I only have done it once.

MoKelly

My buddy had this kind of happen but his washer/gasket was leaking. He tried to tighten it but did not work. We have a friend who is dumb as shasta and he came over to his house when he was about to drain the oil and put the new washer/gasket he got for it on then pour the oil back in. He said don't drain it. He went and got his shop vac, a wet rag, and a wrench. He took off the oil fill, took the wet rag and wrapped it around it, stuck the shop vac hose in and made a seal then turned on the shop vac. He then told the truck owner to hold it and he would be right back. He climbed under with a wrench, a paper towel, and the new washer gasket. Pulled the plug, wiped it down, put the new washer/gasket on, tightened it up and shut off the shop vac. Did not lose a drop.

He it is we though he was dumb but he showed us. Said it was a trick he learned working at a Jiffy Lube place. Moral of the story, sometimes a idiot can teach me something. LOL.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yep, I probably don't go a full 5 minutes, but I start the engine and immediately start watching underneath to see if there's any leaks, and I watch long enough to be sure the oil has circulated and the oil pressure is up to normal; been doing that ever since I was 16 and working in my dad's service stations.

I do the same. I also back out of my barn once I see oil pressure so I can clean up. If there was a leak I would see it on my concrete floor.

Chris