Not sure if this is of any interest in this thread..but here goes. Monday I changed the oil pan gasket on 97. I drained the oil, took out all the bolts and found you have to loosen the level sensor..(at least it didn't break). Once I lowered the pan I was surpirsied...there was about a 1/2 quart still in that baby and it'* not dented up or anything.

Now with the speed that these shops push cars through ...we know they don't let it drip or even hardly finish draining. You drive in..someone is underneath and they drop the plug. Most finishes coming out and they replug it. How much do you suppose is still draining off the parts of the motor?

That'* why I've always gone with the theory that you need to change the oil hot. I usually make my parts run the day of the oil change, then once I'm home, immediately get to work.

The idea behind this theory is that all the "gunk" hasn't had time to settle to the bottom of the pan/engine parts, and hot oil flows better, allowing it to come out faster (again, so nothing settles). If you've got a big enough catch basin, yank the filter at the same time, for the same reasons.

Make sense???

I do the same thing.

Furthermore, I try to do it on a Friday night and let it drip over night. Longest I've let it drip is 2.5 days! ...over the weekend!

I actually just took PJ'* car to the oil change place. I couldn't get it up on ramps, and I wasn't entirely sure how to jack it. So, I made her give me money and I took it to the place closest to us. I talked to the guy the whole time he was doing it. He even asked me to come down and have a look, at that time he showed me all the parts that are "safe" to jack on etc. Also the best way to get at the oil filter (if you have ever worked on the 2.4L you would understand) While down there he put the drain plug back in...way too soon IMO. Don't tell PJ that though.

Meh. It'* just a Grand Am......

But...it'* MY Grand Am...