V6 Oil Change - 6mm Allen Drain Plug in Filter Cap

[Bill_SoCal]

My '06 V6 just hit 40K on Friday and I did the regular maintenance I always do at 10K for my project yesterday afternoon (Saturday):

- Oil

- Oil Filter

- Replaced Air Filter (I know...not due every 10K interval...I still change it. I have this thing with wear contributors such as micro dirt particles)

- Cabin Filter (I change this in the same 10K service cycle)

- Checked Hydraulic Fluid

- Checked Brake Fluid

- Checked Coolant Level

This time when draining my oil I thought I would remove the 6mm plug in the cap and see if I could make less of a mess on the tarp on lay on our driveway when performing the oil changes...my oil changes performed at 10K, 20K and 30K were all done by removing the cap and slowly allowing the half quart of so of oil drain into my oil drain container. It makes nothing less of a mess. I found removing the 6mm plug on the filler cap didn't do much for me in terms of preventing a big mess. I think just removing the entire cap is easier...this has got to be the messiest design for filter removal that I've seen. :cursing:

Anyone have any other good ideas in regard to mitigating the mess? I've heard the dealer uses some kind of plastic shroud that forces the oil over the cross members and right in the drain container from the filter area.

What's easy is the '08 S! I'll submit a DIY with pictures when I do that oil change. I've see the steps listed in the DIY archives, but no pictures yet...

I love the power of my wife's '08 S, but wow is the V6 fun to drive...I actually put the car cover on the Boxster for a while.

Picture above is "Max," my '06 V6 Cayenne. By the way, the grass looks like this right now here in Southern California...mid 80's last week. We got a few sprinkles over the weekend and had to suffer with the weather in the low 70 degree range. Nice change from my business trip in Chicago last week when it was -30 with the wind chill...I'll stay right here where the Boxster can run strong year round.

All the best,

Bill B)

Edited January 26, 2009 by Bill_SoCal