Oil changes, I think I am going to start doing it on my own

[HummerJim]

You don't have to take the skid plate off to change the oil. The filter and drain bolt are at the back of the engine and skid plate. I wear a glove because I've cut my hand on the back of the skid plate before taking off the filter and there is someone here that posted using a marine engine suction pump to suck the oil out of the oil dripstick tube and he was very happy with that. I like to get under it and let all the junk drain out of the bottom of the oil pan with the bolt off. I even pour a half quart of clean oil through it to clean out the remaining gunk in the heads and pan before I put the bolt back in.