First time changing the oil without removing the under tray

Gregrobin · 05-13-2022, 04:24 PM

First/Last time I changed the oil the under tray was off for other work I was doing. This time after watching videos online I decided to not remove the tray. The plastic lid/cap/door is missing on mine so there was nothing to remove to get access to the oil drain plug.

What a mess. The oil flowed out onto the plastic undertray and worked it's way back to the first opening near the transmission. Oil all over the garage floor.

Was this just me, I did something wrong, or have others experienced this? I did not flow smoothly into the oil container, it hit the under tray and sprayed.

C4maro · 05-13-2022, 05:11 PM

Yeah your tray must be on wrong or something, they wouldnt design a car with a oil drain plug access that allows it to leak all over the under tray.

TheMidnightNarwhal · 05-13-2022, 05:14 PM

I had no issues draining mine with the tray in place through the access panel. Although I think I only had jacked the front idk if yours was to or jacked level.

IllSic_Design · 05-13-2022, 05:35 PM

I always drain mine with the under tray on, no issues here.

Gregrobin · 05-13-2022, 10:25 PM

Front was on jack stands, rear wasn't

studio54 · 05-14-2022, 02:12 AM

Weird

I also had no issue with undertray on, with ramps on front

Is your tray hanging or missing some screws?

Gregrobin · 05-14-2022, 11:44 AM

Tray looks good, not sure what happened. As soon as I removed the plug oil started hitting the plastic and going everywhere.

BMWdmk · 05-14-2022, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

Tray looks good, not sure what happened. As soon as I removed the plug oil started hitting the plastic and going everywhere.

It happed to me on my 135i. The tray it self was bubble shaped and wasn't flat anymore. I just ran without it

mj6234 · 05-14-2022, 12:35 PM

You should jack it up from the driver's side since that is the direction the drain points. If you jack it up from the passenger side, it is going to be a mess.

C4maro · 05-14-2022, 02:18 PM

Stick your finger in the drain hole and make sure there isnt a chunk of metal obstructing flow

Gregrobin · 05-16-2022, 08:12 AM

My drain plug faces the passenger side.

I thought I got all of the oil cleaned up with a bunch of towels reaching up into/over/under the tray. Not so much, oil stains on the garage floor now.

Spyro235 · 05-16-2022, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

My drain plug faces the passenger side.

I thought I got all of the oil cleaned up with a bunch of towels reaching up into/over/under the tray. Not so much, oil stains on the garage floor now.

Soak in concentrates simple green, scrub at it. Pressure wash. Should look like a new floor. The sooner you hit with simple green, the better.

Gregrobin · 05-16-2022, 08:32 AM

Thanks, I used Grease Lightening, did a little but not enough. Even tried some engine degreaser. I will pick up some simple green.

05-13-2022, 04:24 PM	#1
Gregrobin Captain 585 Rep 603 Posts Drives: 2008 E93 335i Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Vir ginny ya iTrader: (0)	First time changing the oil without removing the under tray First/Last time I changed the oil the under tray was off for other work I was doing. This time after watching videos online I decided to not remove the tray. The plastic lid/cap/door is missing on mine so there was nothing to remove to get access to the oil drain plug. What a mess. The oil flowed out onto the plastic undertray and worked it's way back to the first opening near the transmission. Oil all over the garage floor. Was this just me, I did something wrong, or have others experienced this? I did not flow smoothly into the oil container, it hit the under tray and sprayed. __________________ VRSF Performance Intake Kit / XS Power Charge Pipe V2 / ARM 5" Intercooler FMIC / MHD Stage 2 V10 / FTP N54 PCV Valve / VRSF 3" Catless Downpipes / xHP Stage 1
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05-13-2022, 05:11 PM	#2
C4maro Private First Class 82 Rep 184 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Yeah your tray must be on wrong or something, they wouldnt design a car with a oil drain plug access that allows it to leak all over the under tray.
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05-13-2022, 05:14 PM	#3
TheMidnightNarwhal Major General 2822 Rep 6,395 Posts Drives: 11' 335is DCT Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Gatineau, Quebec iTrader: (0)	I had no issues draining mine with the tray in place through the access panel. Although I think I only had jacked the front idk if yours was to or jacked level.
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05-13-2022, 05:35 PM	#4
IllSic_Design Colonel 2125 Rep 2,759 Posts Drives: 12 E92 328i Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Northern California iTrader: (1)	I always drain mine with the under tray on, no issues here.
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05-13-2022, 10:25 PM	#5
Gregrobin Captain 585 Rep 603 Posts Drives: 2008 E93 335i Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Vir ginny ya iTrader: (0)	Front was on jack stands, rear wasn't __________________ VRSF Performance Intake Kit / XS Power Charge Pipe V2 / ARM 5" Intercooler FMIC / MHD Stage 2 V10 / FTP N54 PCV Valve / VRSF 3" Catless Downpipes / xHP Stage 1
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05-14-2022, 02:12 AM	#6
studio54 Captain 205 Rep 714 Posts Drives: n54 Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: belgium iTrader: (0)	Weird I also had no issue with undertray on, with ramps on front Is your tray hanging or missing some screws? __________________ beter laat dan nooit
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05-14-2022, 11:44 AM	#7
Gregrobin Captain 585 Rep 603 Posts Drives: 2008 E93 335i Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Vir ginny ya iTrader: (0)	Tray looks good, not sure what happened. As soon as I removed the plug oil started hitting the plastic and going everywhere. __________________ VRSF Performance Intake Kit / XS Power Charge Pipe V2 / ARM 5" Intercooler FMIC / MHD Stage 2 V10 / FTP N54 PCV Valve / VRSF 3" Catless Downpipes / xHP Stage 1
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05-14-2022, 12:35 PM	#9
mj6234 Private First Class 34 Rep 109 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: US iTrader: (0)	You should jack it up from the driver's side since that is the direction the drain points. If you jack it up from the passenger side, it is going to be a mess.
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05-14-2022, 02:18 PM	#10
C4maro Private First Class 82 Rep 184 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Stick your finger in the drain hole and make sure there isnt a chunk of metal obstructing flow
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05-16-2022, 08:12 AM	#11
Gregrobin Captain 585 Rep 603 Posts Drives: 2008 E93 335i Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Vir ginny ya iTrader: (0)	My drain plug faces the passenger side. I thought I got all of the oil cleaned up with a bunch of towels reaching up into/over/under the tray. Not so much, oil stains on the garage floor now. __________________ VRSF Performance Intake Kit / XS Power Charge Pipe V2 / ARM 5" Intercooler FMIC / MHD Stage 2 V10 / FTP N54 PCV Valve / VRSF 3" Catless Downpipes / xHP Stage 1
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05-16-2022, 08:32 AM	#13
Gregrobin Captain 585 Rep 603 Posts Drives: 2008 E93 335i Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Vir ginny ya iTrader: (0)	Thanks, I used Grease Lightening, did a little but not enough. Even tried some engine degreaser. I will pick up some simple green. __________________ VRSF Performance Intake Kit / XS Power Charge Pipe V2 / ARM 5" Intercooler FMIC / MHD Stage 2 V10 / FTP N54 PCV Valve / VRSF 3" Catless Downpipes / xHP Stage 1
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