So, my dealer overfilled my oil when I took it in for service. It's probably not by much but it's enough to make me uncomfortable. I was thinking about pulling off and draining the oil filter to remove about 1/2 qrt. I would take it to the dealer to fix but I have a trip planned this weekend and am slammed at work this week.

I've never done that on this car and wanted to run my intended procedure by you guys. I'd be using a traditional oil filter strap to remove the filter. Then drain the filter and re-install. In my past cars I've re-installed filters by lubing the ring with oil and turning until contact and then turning an additional quarter turn.

I guess my questions are... do I need new o rings... these have been on the car about 2 days with 11 miles put on it. And is that sounds about right for the re-install procedure.

It's either this or buying a long slender tube and trying to syphon some out.

 

If it's overfill that concerns you, I would drain it via the pan plug. Just did it recently. Too embarrassed to share how it got overfilled, but I loosened the drain plug, let it drip. It's just a bit trickier because I have a protective cover over the bottom of the engine (it has a hole in it for the drain plug). Of course, being impatient, I then gave it one extra twist and it dropped out. But, wearing surgical gloves (I get them at Costco and always wear them when servicing the car), I plugged the hole with a finger and then fished out and reinstalled the plug. Went quite well, and I got a good laugh out of my ineptness out of it. Worst case is that you drain too much and you have to re-fill with fresh. But I would not mess with the filter unless you intend to replace it.

 

i thought about that but I don't have a new crush washer or torque wrench to ensure I get it back properly. I'm also afraid of letting too much out. And then run the risk of the opposite problem.

 

The crush washer is not a must, though preferable. And if you loosen the filter, in theory you'll need a new rubber seal for it. Re the risk, I'm with you but it's easy to go down to Kragen or some other store and buy fresh. No biggie, but I just don't like messing with a sealed filter unless it's going to be replaced. They are pretty flimsy and getting them to seal is trickier than the drain plug.

 

Gotcha- well I guess I'll stop on my way home and grab a torque wrench and 8mm hex socket. What's the torque on the drain plug anyways?

 

Just saw a DIY thread that states 37ft lbs for the drain plug. That seems high to me. Can someone confirm that.

 

37ft lbs for the drain plug and 18.5 ft. lbs for the filter.

 

Any torque wrench brand/model preferences?

 

+1

Quite easy, as Verde said. I'd use a clean container, carefully unscrew plug all the way without dropping it, collect about a quart, screw the plug back in, wipe clean. No need for a new crush washer and I very much doubt that you need a torque wrench. Warm up the engine, check the level, add a cup if it's lower than you want, check again.

Other easier option is to get a larger syringe and a piece of polyethylene tubing that fits over the nipple and suck it out of your fill tube.