Method and apparatus for changing oil in an internal combustion engine

Claim 1

An apparatus for changing oil in an internal combustion engine having a lubrication system including an oil pan reservoir, the oil pan reservoir having a lowermost region generally near a drain opening, a dipstick for gauging an oil level within the oil pan reservoir passing through a dipstick aperture within the engine, and a valve cover generally disposed on the engine having an oil filler opening extending therethrough, the apparatus for changing oil comprising: a spent oil removal device removably insertable in the dipstick aperture and a fresh oil introduction device removably connectable to the engine at a position remote from the dipstick aperture, said spent oil removal device comprising: a) a tube engageable through the dipstick aperture having a first end positionable adjacent to the lowermost region of the oil pan reservoir and a second end external of the engine; b) pump means in communication with said second end of said tube for drawing spent oil from the oil pan reservoir of the engine; and c) receptacle means external of the engine for receiving and storing spent oil drawn from the oil pan reservoir of the engine through said tube; and said fresh oil introduction device comprising: a) a coupling member removably engageable with the oil filler opening in the valve cover; b) a fresh oil conveying conduit having a first and second end, said first end attached to said coupling member; c) means for conveying fresh oil to the engine, said means being in fluid communication with said second end of said fresh oil conveying conduit; wherein said coupling member further comprises: a) a plug having first and second opposed walls with a tapered, deflectable side wall extending therebetween; b) a connector conduit passing through the first and second opposed walls of the plug, said connector conduit having a first end disposable within the valve cover and a second end external of the valve cover and engine connected to said fresh oil conveying conduit; and c) means for compressing said first and second walls to deflect said tapered side wall into sealing engagement with said valve cover opening.

Claim 2

An apparatus for changing oil in an internal combustion engine having a lubrication system including an oil pan reservoir, the oil pan reservoir having a lowermost region generally near a drain opening, a dipstick for gauging an oil level within the oil pan reservoir passing through a dipstick aperture within the engine, and a valve cover generally disposed on the engine having an oil filler opening extending therethrough, the apparatus for changing oil comprising: a spent oil removal device removably insertable in the dipstick aperture and a fresh oil introduction device removably connectable to the engine at a position remote from the dipstick aperture, said spent oil removal device comprising: a) a tube engageable through the dipstick aperture having a first end positionable adjacent to the lowermost region of the oil pan reservoir and a second end external of the engine; b) pump means in communication with said second end of said tube for drawing spent oil from the oil pan reservoir of the engine; and c) receptacle means external of the engine for receiving and storing spent oil drawn from the oil pan reservoir of the engine through said tube; and said fresh oil introduction device comprising: a) a coupling member removably engageable with the oil filler opening in the valve cover; b) a fresh oil conveying conduit having a first and second end, said first end attached to said coupling member; c) means for conveying fresh oil to the engine, said means being in fluid communication with said second end of said fresh oil conveying conduit; wherein said coupling member further comprises: a) a plug having first and second opposed walls with a tapered, deflectable side wall extending therebetween; b) a connector conduit passing through the first and second opposed walls of the plug, said connector conduit having a first end disposable within the valve cover and a second end external of the valve cover and engine connected to said fresh oil conveying conduit; and c) means for compressing said first and second walls to deflect said tapered side wall into sealing engagement with said valve cover opening.