"Must-have" Oil Change items.
 

I thought I'd whip up a post about things that I've found help make oil-changes easier. Anyone chanigng their oil should have the basics:

Ramps
Wrenches
Drain Pan
Funnel
Shop Towels

Note: a filter wrench should NOT be on your list unless your filter is too awkward to reach by hand. Oil filters should be hand-tight only and should never require tools to remove or install. After lubricating the gasket with oil, the filter should be spun on until it stops against the block and then turned 1/2 turn further. That's it. I've never needed a filter wrench to remove a filter on any of my Subarus. Factory installed filters and ones from previous owners were removed by driving a philips screwdriver into the filter and levering it off. All filters I installed using the method above NEVER leaked and come off using just my hand.

Now, some items that might not be immediately thought of, or even known about:

Gloves: Rubber exam gloves make clean-up a lot easier. Plus you won't leave messy fingerprints on your door handle or steering wheel when you back the car off ramps. You can get these at any auto parts store. I recommend getting the powder-free nitrile ones.

Drip Pan: I like the Blitz metal drip pan. It fits between the ramps and catches any spills that escape the drain pan. Because it's metal, it cleans up easily with shop towels and is very durable.

Transport Jug: I used to transport my old oil in a sealable drain pan, but it would leak and was awkward to carry; not to mention just dirty. Makeshift jugs like detergent bottles and the big 5qt oil jugs are a pain to refill from a pan and don't always hold enough. So I picked up a 12qt transport jug. It holds two oil changes, has a large opening to make filling it easy, and it seals up tight. It's so much cleaner and easier bringing my old oil back to the parts store to dispose of.

Fumoto Oil Valve: This thing... I can't believe I waited so long to get one of these. The Fumoto Oil Valve (pn# F-108 for the BRZ/FR-S) is a godsend for changing oil. No wrenches, oil-covered hands, crush washers, or re-torquing needed. Just lift the lever from it's l ocked position and turn it 90 degrees to open, then back to close. BRZ/FR-S owners will want the regular F-108 or F-108S valve, not the F-108N as the nipple is flush with the skid plate and might get torn off on a good hit.

Filter magnet: Not really an oil *change* item, but something that can prolong the life of your engine. It's a powerful magnet that attaches to the side of your filter. It will attract metal particles and hold them to the side of the filter. Because it's magnetic and not another filter, it can attract and hold particles below the filter's threshold (20 microns usually). Those using the Subaru 130 filters (Purlator PL14459) will want the FilterMag SS300, and those using the Subaru 160 filters or the Purolator PL14612/610 on their other Subarus will want the FilterMag SS250. These have much more surface area to grab particles than a magnetic drain plug, and will see every drop of oil that runs through the engine. Oil flows from outside the filter media to the center of the filter and out the large hole in the middle. So these will capture metal before it reaches the filter media.

I hope this helps out any DIYers here like me that prefer to change oil themselves rather than let someone else do it.

if you don't have a transport jug another option is to get a 5 gal bucket from a local hardware store. just make sure you also get the top for it. it's a little less expensive also...

True, but you'll have to put it in one of the seats if you've only got a BRZ to haul it. The jug I linked will fit in the trunk.

Would the new short nipple Fumoto valve work?
 

Do you think this Fumoto valve will work?

http://www.qwikvalve.com/fumoto-f108s-valve.html

That looks good. It's really short, so I'd be mindful of the hose possibly falling off when draining, but it could work.

But I don't think the regular valve will be that bad to have either. The drain plug in the FA20 oil pan points down more than sideways, so it'll drain cleanly.

Great post Draco. So the fumoto valve without the nipple...does that cleanly rest within that little cutout in the underbody panel? I was turned off by this at first till I actually got under my car and saw that cut out...if it's decently protected under there, I'd be much more apt to pick one up.

Definitely. The nipple on the F-108N is easily an inch long, so the regular valve will have an inch of clearance. Anything that would hit the valve would do serious damage to the rest of your car and possibly high-side it. A damaged oil pan would be the least of your worries.

5 Gal bucket and top fits in the trunk... standing up. i mean it's only slightly cheaper than the 12 qt container, so it's not a big deal. it just means you don't have to empty it as often. plus i throw all my used hydraulics in there. and log it on the side.

also i have the f108s. it comes with a plastic attachment for the hose connection. basically a removable 3/4 inch nipple.

Strange, I'm pretty sure I had to lay my 5gal wash buckets down in order to fit in the trunk.

Cool think about the removeable extension for the F-108S. I might switch to that one at my next change.

This statement. My 5 gallon wash buckets had to be laid down in my trunk.

Why not use the 5 quart jug that some oil comes in? You mentioned a funnel in your post so why not use it to pour the old oil in the jug? You get rid of trash and oil at the same time

ahh. i know what it is. i don't have anything in my trunk. all trunk stuff was removed...
i gotta stop making assumptions about stuff like that... i wonder if a 3 gallon would fit?

If you want to get another funnel, that's fine. I'd rather not use my filling funnel for dirty oil. There are obviously other options out there. I don't always have 5qt jugs available for the brand/weight oil I want. The 12qt blitz jug is worth the $6 to me, personally.

Good post. I've had the fumoto valve on my wrx and it makes changing oil way better. Just got my valve for the BRZ and will be installing it this weekend when I change my oil. Thankfully for folks in San Jose we don't need to transport our oil. We can leave it outside with our recyclables and it gets picked up.

Oh I use a filter wrench, I tighten down one full revolution after the gasket makes contact and then back it off a 1/4 turn. I keep wanting to just use my hand, as I've read many people do that, but I just can't get myself to do it.