Marinucci: Oil change precautions that score points

A neat and tidy oil change should be the rule rather than the exception at every automotive service facility.

Contrary to what some sales and service personnel believe, properly performed maintenance should be invisible to all vehicle owners, especially finicky ones. No matter how cheap the price or how fast the service, oil leaks or burned-oil odors occurring after a job indicate carelessness rather than pride in workmanship. (If motor oil leaks onto a searing-hot exhaust system, it causes a nasty odor.)

To put it another way, my mentors told me that sloppy maintenance was a "two-time loser," because it shows disrespect for the vehicle as well as its owner.

I began changing oil in the late 1960s in traditional, full-service gasoline stations. Post-maintenance oil leaks and unusual odors angered motorists and caused comebacks 55 years ago.

Today, vehicle owners usually react to these conditions the same negative way.

Like those bygone days, some grizzled technicians still think that leaks and odors are automotive facts of life: Sometimes they occur, other times they do not. These shortsighted techs will not spend a moment longer than absolutely necessary to change oil, because it is a low-profit or no-profit job. To them, the task is a necessary evil instead of an occasion to cull more work.

Waiting for the old oil to drain is a perfect time to inspect the vehicle's tires, wheels and undercarriage for legitimate problems. And considering modern vehicles' relatively infrequent service intervals, oil changes are more-valuable service sales opportunities than ever before.

What's more, the camera built into modern cell phones enables techs to document problems for potentially doubtful vehicle owners. As the old saying goes, "Seeing is believing."

Photos are particularly useful for verifying pending problems before a total breakdown occurs that possibly could strand a motorist.

I recommend giving the lowly oil change the respect it deserves by keeping some steps in mind. Some of this column's tips apply to all oil changes, whether the engine has a disposable, spin-on canister filter or a modern, cartridge-style design.

Sometimes, investing in a practical assortment of oil filter service tools helps motivate techs to perform gripe-free oil changes. Non-technicians may be surprised at the variety of oil filter R&R tools available. These tool, which usually are not costly, increase productivity. Oil filter access, you see, may be more limited than expected and changing a filter on a hot engine may be particularly challenging.

What's more, the proper oil filter tool may be invaluable when a tech must remove an oil filter that someone badly overtightened during the last oil change.

Some bosses compile a list of preferred oil filter tools based on suggestions from techs and trusted tool suppliers. Next, they use pegboard to create a centrally located tool display within the shop. Thereafter, each tech is responsible for cleaning an oil filter tool and returning it to the tool board as soon as they have finished an oil change.

Some manufacturers actually provide a torque specification for tightening a new oil filter, but counting turns is the most-common method.

For instance, the filter maker's instructions tell the installer to spin the filter until its gasket touches the engine. Then tighten it an additional three-quarter turn to one full turn.

Some techs simplify this step by putting a highly visible stripe across the end of a spin-on oil filter with a paint stick, tire chalk, etc. Observing the location of this stripe eases the task of counting turns after the filter gasket touches the engine.

After removing the old oil filter, verify that its gasket is attached to it. Occasionally, this seal or gasket sticks to the engine. If a tech overlooks it, the new filter usually leaks because it cannot seal itself effectively against an old filter gasket.

I have solved several leaks on new oil filters by removing them and extracting an old filter gasket that had stuck to the engine.

While some bosses mandate that techs always replace the drain plug gasket, others leave it to the tech's discretion. For years, I habitually have replaced the drain plug gasket during each and every oil change.

Typically, replacing the drain plug gasket is cheap insurance against comebacks due to oil leaks or possibly engine damage. Some service managers emphasize the importance of a fresh drain plug gasket by taping a new one onto each oil filter. They said sticking the gasket to the filter has been a simple, effective reminder to each tech.

Note, many (if not most) drain-plug gaskets do not seal effectively when used a second time, and the used gasket leaks when a tech tightens the drain plug to specification.

Often, panicked workers try to stop the leak by over-tightening the drain plug. Eventually, over-tightening is the ticket to stripping the drain plug threads out of the engine's oil pan.

Always blot up or rinse off any oil that spilled onto the engine. Some techs use common brake cleaner but others use general-purpose cleaners such as Simple Green or equivalent products.

Furthermore, run the engine with the vehicle on a lift to check for leaks. This step has prevented countless catastrophes.

Finally, remember the strategy that some bosses use. Instead of apologizing for top-tier services, they boast about using premium motor oil, high-quality oil filters and new drain plug gaskets.