Rant / Why is the oil drain plug in the SIDE of the oil pan?

[Troll]

So, like the anal-retentive nutjob I am, I decide to change the oil in my truck today at 1,100 miles. I've changed oil and filters on dozens of cars and done the job dozens (?) of times.
Today I see something I've never seen before. The drain plug threads into the SIDE of the oil pan, not the BOTTOM. I'm looking at it thinking about where to position the oil bucket. I get it about where I think it might end up and I was way off. When I removed the plug, the oil literally shot out at about a 90* angle to the floor and almost hit the inside of the tire on the passenger side. Now, WTF would you put the drain plug in the SIDE of the pan for???
I quickly shoved the bucket over where it was shooting out, but there was, at least a quart of oil on the floor already. I know I'm not an engineer, but I have lots of common sense. I just can't figure out for the life of me why they would put it on the side???
RIDICULOUS!!!

[97LaserRed]

That's why gm sucks

[u1arunit]

It's on the side of the pan so when you scrape the bottom of the pan on a rock or whatnot you will not break the plug off and lose all your oil.

[pRojekt02GT]

It's on the side of the pan so when you scrape the bottom of the pan on a rock or whatnot you will not break the plug off and lose all your oil.

jus go all out and rip the whole thing off!

[u1arunit]

jus go all out and rip the whole thing off!

Well that is an option too. LOL

[INSANELY CRAZY]

It's on the side of the pan so when you scrape the bottom of the pan on a rock or whatnot you will not break the plug off and lose all your oil.

yep... see ford wasent smart enough to think of doin this.. lol

[Troll]

That's why gm sucks

It's on the side of the pan so when you scrape the bottom of the pan on a rock or whatnot you will not break the plug off and lose all your oil.

I thought this too and it makes wonderful sense, but there's still a piece of the frame that runs directly across the bottom of the pan that would sit right in front of the plug if it came out the bottom.

I def. spent way too much time under there staring at it and MF-ing Obama for buying GM.

[07v6vistablue]

My Superduty has the oil filter right above the front pumpkin. Oil all over it ever oil change! I would love to make engineers that designed them work on these disasters they call vehicles!