Silly question, is it alright to do an oil change outdoors in the snow?Reason I ask is cuz its damn cold out, about -10 here, and I dont have a shop but prefer to change oil and filter myself. I assume I only need to warm up the engine a little so the oil drains better?Just want to be sure. Everything is set to go, I normally change my oil spring and fall when I had my car but I got my truck in the summer and did a change then so its due now.

 

There is no reason why you can't change your oil in the snow. Just warm the truck up and drain the oil as usual. I would lay some cardboard down on the snow to keep from getting wet. I sure would wait for a warmer day (-10 sucks).

 

I change mine outside here in Ohio, granted it's not -10. Only thing extra I do for a winter oil change is to keep my oil and filter inside the the house, probably doesn't make a difference, just thought my filter gasket would seal better if it was warmer at install time! Just a hangup of mine I guess!

 

I would say this is a good question. It seems sensible you could change your oil outside, just going to be pretty cold out for the mechanic. I am considering doing an oil change outside too, but I might just wait until the shop is free and do it there.

 

Thanks for the replys, I got it done in the evening yesterday, The snow stopped for a bit and It warmed up a little to around -5~ish, kept my oil and filter in the house until I was ready for that stage, was mostly concerned about the gasket on the filter getting frozen and/or brittle. Usually its something I prefer to do when the snows gone though for sure.

 

I have never had a shop to do work in just one that houses my tools. I reccomend warming any engine up to temp before an oil change. wait a few minutes so the filter will cool off some and the oil is not scalding hot. My oil is in my shop so it doesnt get too cold but cold oil flows like crap and sometimes on certain engines you can fill up your valve cover before the oil gets down to the pan and the oil flows out the fill hole. I dont think your gasket is affected by temp much but if that is your routine dont stray from it cause you could mess up and forget something from doing your steps different. have fun in the cold.

 

Hell if gets below freezing, I'm taking it somewhere to get done. lol

 

I wouldnt start it up. Let it sit all night so all the old oil settles do the bottom of the pan so your getting as much of it out as possible.

 

i change my oil... when it is completly hott... summer or winter... i just try not to get burned...if i keep getting burnt i sit with it intill i can do it... and hope not to get burnt buy the oil.... its never been a big issue... sure ive had small little burns here and there...

i think changing the oil after its been sitting all night would have 2 bad reasons not to

when you drain the old cold oil... its going to be slow... and its not going to get all the junk out...

and also when you go to restart the engine after the oil change is done... your going to stack a cold start up... onto a oil change start up.... and thats gotta be bad....

just my 2cents

 

Cold oil doesnt drain that much slower and all that "junk" drains down to the pan with the oil. And when you put your new oil in its lubing some of the top end as it fill up the pan, its no different from a cold start up. And you save yourself from burning your self on a hot engine and your getting all the old oil out.