The Ford Barn

Ed in Maine · 11-09-2013, 03:12 PM

A few days ago I drained the oil and let the car sit dripping a couple of days. I like to change the oil in the fall and put the car up for the winter with clean oil in it. Today I dumped 4 quarts of oil into the filler tube out of the 5 quart container. I checked the dip stick for a final top off and there wasn't any oil on the stick. I managed to dump 4 quarts of new oil into the sump pan right on top of the old oil! Am I the only one who does stupid things like this?? Ed

zzlegend · 11-09-2013, 03:15 PM

Am I the only one who does stupid things like this?? Ed

Nope.

Patrick L. · 11-09-2013, 03:25 PM

Nope too. You're not losing it, you didn't start it up.

ken ct · 11-09-2013, 03:27 PM

Nope I did it once when I was younger than that. Forgot to put the drain plug back in. What a mess on the garage floor 5 qts. of clean oil. LOL Only did it once. ken ct.

wrndln · 11-09-2013, 03:42 PM

I to did that on a modern car (not the model A yet) - a 69 GTO when it was almost new. What a mess. It usually only happens once unless you really are loosing it!
Rusty Nelson

Brentwood Bob · 11-09-2013, 03:56 PM

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At least you didn't start it up. On a modern you can make a real mess if you were to, say, drive around the block after an oil change with the filler cap off. Easy to do.
You got off lucky.
Bob

hardtimes · 11-09-2013, 04:01 PM

Hey Ed,
Ha, ha ! Yeah, I think that you've lost it

! But, guess what? I've found what you lost and am using IT to it's full extent

!
What you did good ...is not compound IT,eh

By compound it..example.. drain old oil , put pan plug in, check dipstick YIKES looks overfull...WAY OVERFULL (suspicious..so did not start up

). Call someone smart and am asked..which dipstick did you check ? Ooops, checked transmission dipstick...and that's where new oil put

.
Instructions received....OMG do not touch anything..be right over. Ah well, all's well that ends well. The names of those involved will not be used to protect the, ah..er..those losing IT

ford3 · 11-09-2013, 04:44 PM

the one thing i taught my employes at the shop is, never walk away from the car when changing oil till your done, plug in pan and oil in engine, its very easy to get distracted and forget to finish the job, that also goes for anytime your working on a car, pick a place where you can safely leave the job where no damage will be done

Gino · 11-09-2013, 05:41 PM

I leave the keys in the ignition of my coupe when it is in the garage. When I change the oil I take the keys out and put them on the bench. Little reminder is all.

ford3 · 11-09-2013, 06:13 PM

a good idea Gino, any thing to help minimize mistakes

tudoor · 11-09-2013, 06:19 PM

I never had it! So I can't loose it!

Bill Cal. · 11-09-2013, 06:30 PM

About 45 years ago I lent my 29 coupe to a friend that lived a couple hundred miles away as his car was broken and he had a wife, kid and a job. A couple of weeks later he called to say it had blown a head gasket so I bought one and hitch hiked north arriving about dark. We quickly changed the gasket out on the street and decided may as well change the oil while we were at it.Pulled the drain plug and went in the house to have a cup of coffee and warm up while it drained. Came out put 4 quarts of oil in it in and took it for a hard drive so we could retorque the head nuts.
Returned and as the headlights lit the fresh oil in an overflowing pan on the street in front of his house the engine froze. Never have done that again and still drive the same model a.

QGolden · 11-09-2013, 06:31 PM

First oil change I ever did "on my own" I failed to spin on a new filter. My older brother caught the error when he happened by while was just starting the motor, I was about 12 and he about 16.

Ted Duke · 11-09-2013, 07:53 PM

Ed,
Think of it this way. You flushed the engine real good.

Ted
P. S. If you overhaul a carburetor on a 1966 IH and forget to set the float level, and start it with the air cleaner off, so you can adjust the idle, it can (will?) overflow and catch fire. But don't ask how I know.
P.P.S and I was only in my 30's then. I threw freshly dug dirt on it and saved the truck but had to rebuild the carb. Funny now!

glenn in camino · 11-09-2013, 08:03 PM

Haven't done that, but several times I've forgotten to close the petcock before trying to refill the radiator. I'm 71 too.

DougVieyra · 11-09-2013, 08:06 PM

The only thing you lost . . . was your inhibitions to 'speak up'. Each and every one of us can now give a sigh of relief - "Oh, thank God, I am not the only one ! "

I turn 73 next week.

tuneman · 11-09-2013, 08:10 PM

Looks like you have plenty of company!!! Including me.
I now clean my plug and then set it on the head near the fill tube in plain site!!!

1crosscut · 11-09-2013, 08:12 PM

Had a young man do some "community service" at my place of work instead of spending time behind bars. He came into my office one morning very worried about his very new mustang as it was leaking oil out of the air filter etc... and wanted me to take a look. Sure enough oil was all over the engine, underside of the hood and on the pavement. I pulled the dipstick and it had oil all the way to the top. I asked him when he last checked the oil. He just shrugged his shoulders and said "never"... he figured since he had been driving it for a while thought he should fill it up with oil. Engines don't like 10 quarts of oil.

huddy · 11-09-2013, 09:11 PM

I did it on a airplane, left the filler cap loose that is. IO-520 Continental, huge 6 cyl engine (520 cu in, holds lots of oil!). Took off and immediately noticed oil spreading over the cowl. Went around & landed immediately. Only lost a few ounces but it took years for the seams in the sheet metal to stop weeping. The worst part was I was giving the wife her first ride in this plane. It did not encourage confidence in the pilot/mechanic.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 11-09-2013, 09:26 PM

I only FORGOT something IMPORTANT ONE time------------------------UUUUUH!------what was it????????????????????
bILL w.

11-09-2013, 03:12 PM	#1
Ed in Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL Posts: 1,106	I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! A few days ago I drained the oil and let the car sit dripping a couple of days. I like to change the oil in the fall and put the car up for the winter with clean oil in it. Today I dumped 4 quarts of oil into the filler tube out of the 5 quart container. I checked the dip stick for a final top off and there wasn't any oil on the stick. I managed to dump 4 quarts of new oil into the sump pan right on top of the old oil! Am I the only one who does stupid things like this?? Ed

11-09-2013, 03:15 PM	#2
zzlegend Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Reseda, Calif. Posts: 2,188	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! Am I the only one who does stupid things like this?? Ed Nope.

11-09-2013, 03:25 PM	#3
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! Nope too. You're not losing it, you didn't start it up.

11-09-2013, 03:27 PM	#4
ken ct BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: stratford,ct Posts: 5,971	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! Nope I did it once when I was younger than that. Forgot to put the drain plug back in. What a mess on the garage floor 5 qts. of clean oil. LOL Only did it once. ken ct.

11-09-2013, 03:42 PM	#5
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,164	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! I to did that on a modern car (not the model A yet) - a 69 GTO when it was almost new. What a mess. It usually only happens once unless you really are loosing it! Rusty Nelson

11-09-2013, 03:56 PM	#6
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,245	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) At least you didn't start it up. On a modern you can make a real mess if you were to, say, drive around the block after an oil change with the filler cap off. Easy to do. You got off lucky. Bob Last edited by Brentwood Bob; 11-09-2013 at 03:57 PM. Reason: bad finger to brain circuit.

11-09-2013, 04:01 PM	#7
hardtimes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South California Posts: 6,188	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! Hey Ed, Ha, ha ! Yeah, I think that you've lost it ! But, guess what? I've found what you lost and am using IT to it's full extent ! What you did good ...is not compound IT,eh By compound it..example.. drain old oil , put pan plug in, check dipstick YIKES looks overfull...WAY OVERFULL (suspicious..so did not start up). Call someone smart and am asked..which dipstick did you check ? Ooops, checked transmission dipstick...and that's where new oil put. Instructions received....OMG do not touch anything..be right over. Ah well, all's well that ends well. The names of those involved will not be used to protect the, ah..er..those losing IT

11-09-2013, 04:44 PM	#8
ford3 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: oroville calif. Posts: 1,453	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! the one thing i taught my employes at the shop is, never walk away from the car when changing oil till your done, plug in pan and oil in engine, its very easy to get distracted and forget to finish the job, that also goes for anytime your working on a car, pick a place where you can safely leave the job where no damage will be done

11-09-2013, 05:41 PM	#9
Gino Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Falmouth, Ma. Posts: 313	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! I leave the keys in the ignition of my coupe when it is in the garage. When I change the oil I take the keys out and put them on the bench. Little reminder is all.

11-09-2013, 06:13 PM	#10
ford3 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: oroville calif. Posts: 1,453	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! a good idea Gino, any thing to help minimize mistakes

11-09-2013, 06:19 PM	#11
tudoor Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 62	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! I never had it! So I can't loose it!

11-09-2013, 06:30 PM	#12
Bill Cal. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 174	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! About 45 years ago I lent my 29 coupe to a friend that lived a couple hundred miles away as his car was broken and he had a wife, kid and a job. A couple of weeks later he called to say it had blown a head gasket so I bought one and hitch hiked north arriving about dark. We quickly changed the gasket out on the street and decided may as well change the oil while we were at it.Pulled the drain plug and went in the house to have a cup of coffee and warm up while it drained. Came out put 4 quarts of oil in it in and took it for a hard drive so we could retorque the head nuts. Returned and as the headlights lit the fresh oil in an overflowing pan on the street in front of his house the engine froze. Never have done that again and still drive the same model a.

11-09-2013, 06:31 PM	#13
QGolden Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Alton, NH Posts: 1,231	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! First oil change I ever did "on my own" I failed to spin on a new filter. My older brother caught the error when he happened by while was just starting the motor, I was about 12 and he about 16. __________________ It's not what people think they know that will hurt them, it is what they think they know that aint so! -Mark Twain. It is the very things that we think we know, that keep us from learning what we should know.- Unknown

11-09-2013, 07:53 PM	#14
Ted Duke Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fairfield, Virginia Posts: 615	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! Ed, Think of it this way. You flushed the engine real good. Ted P. S. If you overhaul a carburetor on a 1966 IH and forget to set the float level, and start it with the air cleaner off, so you can adjust the idle, it can (will?) overflow and catch fire. But don't ask how I know. P.P.S and I was only in my 30's then. I threw freshly dug dirt on it and saved the truck but had to rebuild the carb. Funny now!

11-09-2013, 08:03 PM	#15
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! Haven't done that, but several times I've forgotten to close the petcock before trying to refill the radiator. I'm 71 too.

11-09-2013, 08:06 PM	#16
DougVieyra Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Eureka, California Posts: 1,716	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! The only thing you lost . . . was your inhibitions to 'speak up'. Each and every one of us can now give a sigh of relief - "Oh, thank God, I am not the only one ! " I turn 73 next week.

11-09-2013, 08:10 PM	#17
tuneman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 264	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! Looks like you have plenty of company!!! Including me. I now clean my plug and then set it on the head near the fill tube in plain site!!!

11-09-2013, 08:12 PM	#18
1crosscut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 1,909	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! Had a young man do some "community service" at my place of work instead of spending time behind bars. He came into my office one morning very worried about his very new mustang as it was leaking oil out of the air filter etc... and wanted me to take a look. Sure enough oil was all over the engine, underside of the hood and on the pavement. I pulled the dipstick and it had oil all the way to the top. I asked him when he last checked the oil. He just shrugged his shoulders and said "never"... he figured since he had been driving it for a while thought he should fill it up with oil. Engines don't like 10 quarts of oil. __________________ Dave / Lincoln Nebraska

11-09-2013, 09:11 PM	#19
huddy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Central NY & Central CA Posts: 316	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! I did it on a airplane, left the filler cap loose that is. IO-520 Continental, huge 6 cyl engine (520 cu in, holds lots of oil!). Took off and immediately noticed oil spreading over the cowl. Went around & landed immediately. Only lost a few ounces but it took years for the seams in the sheet metal to stop weeping. The worst part was I was giving the wife her first ride in this plane. It did not encourage confidence in the pilot/mechanic. __________________ Owning an antique car is "start fixing one thing, find four other things that need fixing." Lather, rinse, repeat.

11-09-2013, 09:26 PM	#20
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: I Think I have "lost it" at the age of 71! I only FORGOT something IMPORTANT ONE time------------------------UUUUUH!------what was it???????????????????? bILL w. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"