Usual Oil Change Mess

[SMSW]

I was living on base at RAF Lakenheath in the late 70s. I had purchased a 1975 Austin Allegro and it was due for an oil change. I went over to the closest auto parts store in Bury St. Edmonds and picked up an oil filter. All was in order to drain the oil. I'd done this on cars for years. No big deal.

I went to remove the oil filter. It's hand tight, right? Nope. And I didn't have an oil filter wrench, so I went knocking on doors of all these neighbors I hadn't met yet. "Hi! I live down the street and do you have an oil filter wrench I can borrow." No one. Finally, one guy said, just put a screw driver through the side of the filter and twist it off. Great!

So I did that. The filter did come off.

I went to put the new filter on...and it wasn't even close to the old filter. It was much smaller and wouldn't even cover the holes where it met with the engine. Now, this was the only car I had...and it is now undriveable. I went back to this guy that I'd never met before and said I was in a bind. I followed YOUR advice...maybe not quite that strong, but... And back in those days, the stores in England closed at 4pm. Time was running out. "Can you take me to the auto parts store before it closes????"

So we got a chance to get to know each other as we spent 45 min going to Bury St. Edmonds and another 45 minutes going home.

Chris

This is why I don't like irreversible procedures.

 

[Sadlsor]

This is why I don't like irreversible procedures.

Isn't that like most of life?
It's irreversible, too.
At least i keep thinking i might do some things differently, if I had the chance... but maybe I would, maybe I wouldn't.
But I surely would avoid a couple of the times I kicked over those oil drain pans...

 

[Big_Jim59]

Isn't that like most of life?
It's irreversible, too.
At least i keep thinking i might do some things differently, if I had the chance... but maybe I would, maybe I wouldn't.
But I surely would avoid a couple of the times I kicked over those oil drain pans...

It's one of the hardest most bitter lessons of getting older. For a long time you think "I've got time to change course, do something different, take up a better profession or maybe change course" and then one day you run out of time. I too would try not to kick the oil pan this time around but with the state of my feet and balance I would more than likely stumble while transporting the open pan across the shop.

 

[Tdinova]

It's a 'Right of Passage'

Your now a biker

 

[Igofar]

Never have to move the bike around from stand to stand, full swing for tools, never a drop of oil on the ground, center stand, or exhaust pipes.