How to Clean the Oil Pickup Screen Without Removing Oil Pan
Have you ever noticed that your engine has been making more noise than usual? Or maybe it’s been using more oil than normal. Chances are, the issue is with your oil pickup screen. Inevitably, your car will eventually accumulate sludge and gunk in its oil system. This can cause serious damage to your engine, so it’s important to clean it out regularly.
One of the most difficult parts to clean is the pickup screen located inside the oil pan. This article will show you how to clean the oil pickup screen without removing oil pan. This is a quick and easy process requiring only a few simple tools. So let’s get started!
10 Steps to Follow: How to Clean the Oil Pickup Screen Without Removing Oil Pan
Step 1: Locate the Drain Plug Underneath Your Car
Remove the drain plug underneath your car. Use a container to catch any oil that comes out, and put it in an appropriate recycling bin. Pour some of the old oil onto the old rag so you can clean off the pickup screen without getting the new oil dirty too quickly.
Step 2: Clean off the Pickup Screen
You can use a small screwdriver to help you clean off the pickup screen. If there are any stubborn pieces of sludge or scum still on there, see if they’ll come off with some light scraping with the screwdriver’s tip under running water. Reassemble the faucet and check your work After everything is clean, put the aerator and handle back on. Turn the water back on and check to make sure there are no leaks or other problems.
Step 3: Reinstall the Drain Plug and Refill Your Oil
After putting a few drops of new oil on the pickup screen to help it lubricate itself, you should re-tighten the drain plug underneath your car. Use your old rag to wipe up any excess oil that spills onto the floor, then add enough new oil to the car to refill the oil tank. To help your engine run smoothly, put a few drops of oil onto the pickup screen that sits underneath your car. This will help to lubricate the engine and make it run more smoothly. You should also re-tighten the drain plug after adding the new oil.
Step 4: Look Underneath Your Car for Oil Leaks
If you notice any oil leaks when you drive your car or when it has cooled down in the following few days, it’s likely coming from the area around where you removed your drain plug. Use a pair of rubber gloves to avoid getting oil on your hands, and clean off the affected area with an old rag until no more oil seeps out. A few days after you’ve driven your car and it’s cooled down, check your oil level with the dipstick. If it needs a little more oil, carefully add it until the pointer reaches its top mark on the dipstick.
Step 5: Clean off Your Hands
Use dish soap to clean any excess oil off of your hands, then rinse them in cool water for at least 30 seconds before drying them with a towel. If you have hand wipes available, use one to get the remaining oil off of your hands after cleaning them with soap and rinsing them with cool water. When you’re finished with your project, make sure to wash your hands with soap and cool water for at least 30 seconds before drying them with a towel.
Step 6: Wash Oil Screen Using Old Rag
Use the dish soap that you used to clean your hands, and apply it to your old rag. Wipe down all around the oil pickup screen until it is free of any dirt or debris. Make sure you don’t miss spots because this could lead to engine damage due to lack of lubrication. Remove the oil drain plug from the bottom of the oil pan using your ratchet and socket. The drain plug is usually located on the side of the oil pan. Place the catch pan under the oil pan to catch the used oil as it drains out.
Step 7: Remove the Oil Pan Drain Plug
Make sure that your drain pan is underneath your oil pan before you remove the drain plug. It might still be difficult to see it through all of the oil, especially if you’ve added new oil since removing the old oil and draining it into a recycling bin.
Step 8: Extract Old Oil from Drain Pan
You should now have an excess amount of old oil in your drain pan. Pour it back into the recycling bin so you can re-use it for one of your car’s oil changes later on. Put the plug back in after doing this.
Step 9: Drain Out the Solvent
Use a couple of paper towels to get any solvent and oil residue off of your old rag, then pour the solvent into an appropriately marked container. Once it has evaporated or soaked in well, you can throw away your old rag.
Step 10: Enjoy Your Clean Oil Pickup Screen
Put your drain plug back underneath your car once you’ve cleaned off the oil pickup screen, and tighten it down to give yourself a newfound peace of mind about engine lubrication while you drive for hundreds of miles without worrying about breaking down because of lack of oil.
Some Helpful Tips and Suggestions:
1. If you are having trouble prying the assembly out of the oil pan, make sure you use a flat head screwdriver to pry. Make sure not to damage any gasket or mating surfaces because this could result in an oil leak later on.
2. When cleaning your pickup screen I would recommend that you put it into a container filled with a cleaning solution and let it soak for a few minutes (or overnight, depending on how dirty the oil screen is).
3. If using a commercial cleaner make sure to follow all safety precautions and wear protective eyewear and gloves. This will ensure you do not get burned or come in contact with chemicals that may be harmful to your health.
4. Never dip your bare hands into the cleaning solution because this could result in chemical burns, possible amputation of fingers, or other injuries.
5. Do not use wire brushes to clean out your pickup screen because this will result in scratches/grooves which may accumulate dirt and oil more easily (which can reduce engine performance).
6. If you can’t get all the oil and grease out of your engine, try replacing the gasket on the pickup screen.
7. Make sure to keep plenty of paper towels or rags around in case you make a mess while trying to clean out your pickup screen.
Conclusion:
Oil pickup screens can become clogged with sludge and debris, which can prevent the engine from getting the lubrication it needs. Always consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual when it comes to maintenance procedures. Although this method of cleaning the oil pickup screen is not specifically mentioned in most manuals, it has been proven to be an effective way to clean the screen without removing the oil pan.
By following these simple steps on how to clean the oil pickup screen without removing oil pan, you can save yourself some time and hassle when it comes to maintaining your car or truck. Have you tried this method for cleaning your oil pickup screen? Let us know in the comments below!
