Recommend an oil drain pan?

I want to start doing my own oil changes to offset the cost of the staggering amount of pricey oil these engines require, and to keep a close eye on my engine�s health. Does anyone recommend a particular oil drain pan? I�m hoping for something that makes for easier cleanup than the simple bucket style, is low profile, but still big enough for the job.

I use https://www.autozone.com/shop-and-ga...art/700706_0_0 Not quite low enough to get under the car without raising so I jack the car up and put a couple 2x10's under each tire - takes 5 min, keeps the car level and gives me space to work comfortably.

That Flotool one is the best one I've ever had, BUT if you don't want to have to get the car up that high, this Harley Davidson one is great https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/e...pan/p/63795-10 Just know there is a reason not all pans are low profile - if your surface isn't flat, it will spill off the side, and if you happen to drain in a bad spot, it will splash. That said, it's very nicely made and thought out and incredibly thin despite holding 10 qts.

@zbomb and @marlinspike that Flotool is one of the ones I was already considering. Thanks for the confirmation.

Get the deepest pan you can find with more than 12qts! The oil drains at a very high rate and will catch you off guard!

16QTS for the one I linked to, pretty easy to drain back into empty containers. Note, I use a funnel dedicated to that use and do not cross contaminate it with fresh oil. Other tips, depending on oil brand, it may come with foil seal, if it does, fully remove it prior to filling. I had a situation where I only pulled it back from my bottle of Driven XP9 and it separated from the bottle and went into the funnel. Because my fill funnel tapers to a very small final diameter, I caught it but worth extra second to just fully remove. As said above, the force the oil comes out with is unusual, be prepared. Keep the plug pushed up as you loosen by hand until you can pull away in a fast motion. With the pan I linked to, it will come very close to coming over the edge as it overwhelms the drain in the catch pan, also as said above, as long as drain pan flat, it does not spill over, worth keeping an eye on though. Oil fill tubes are fragile if never been replaced, take care when removing cap to not torque the fill tube to point of breakage.

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agree, I've had some nearly Exxon Valdez like moments with the pitched ones including forgetting to pull the plug, and remembering to pull the plug but having the drain plug drop in and act as stopper - problematic as I change the oil hot I'd considered the Harley Davidson one, but from experience I'd drape a piece of old screen over it to knock down the splashing

I use this one. When done, I drain it into a 5 gallon bucket with a lid I put on it to take it to recycle: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BS5XYN3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BS5XYN3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 This one has a pour spout which actually works without making a mess.

The big round ones with a pour spout look like they are good when draining, but a pain to store. I have a tiny garage and a round tub is the worst shape for storage on a shelf. Plus I worry that if I store it on its side, it�s going to drop and make a mess. How do you clean one of those? Is it good enough to just wipe it down with some paper towels?

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I just throw it on the shelf with the other smaller drain pans in it. To clean: * pour into 5 gallon bucket * tip it up so the remaining bit drains into 5 gallon bucket overnight * next day take one paper shop towel, wipe it down and throw out the towel and it's clean * put lid on 5 gallon bucket and take oil to recycle on my next recycle run (our city takes it for free from residents)

I got the Flotool 16qt pan from Autozone and took the advice to put a couple of 2x10s under each wheel. Great advice. It gave enough room to work but kept the pan close enough to avoid splatter. Before using it, I drilled two extra holes in the drain to increase flow, and the pan never even came close to overflowing. I�m planning to use this wood block setup when I do my engine mounts. One question: is it unusual to have a little mayonnaise on the threads of the oil filter housing?

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Cool ! Glad the 2x10 worked out for you... Its much faster for me to get the car in the air using the wood, or if I need higher I use 3" thick pavers that can get to about the height I feel comfy working on jack stands. Jack stands only come out when the wheels must come off.

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I'm picking up this drain pan today for my first oil change. Is there any trick to stopping oil from splashing onto the floor?

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I agree with this selection. My two recommendations: Get one that can accept the flow rate, as what will be coming at you when you get the drain plug off. This one does that, but just barely. Second, there�s going to be �splatter� when it hits the drain pan. Take one of the Amazon shipping boxes you probably get weekly (maybe daily), cut open the top and bottom, set it on this collector so it absorbs the splashing when the oil hits the plastic, so it acts like deep �splash guards� for the sides of the container. 😎

More or less same deal here. Car is lowered so I park on 2x10�s all around and use a low profile 10 qt pan. It�s too flimsy to pour off so I use a drill pump with a short piece of hose to transfer to empty oil jugs for recycling. Pan also has a shelf for the oil filter to drain for later inspection.

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Yah, get it up as close to the engine as possible. Put a big old towel under it, or absorption mat.