Topside oil changer?

[Jaguar Fan]

What do you guys think about changing the oil in your car by extracting it through the dipstick tube with a vacuum device?

something like this: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200319197_200319197

 

[Keep]

I would be worried that I did not get it all, and knowing my luck the hose would break off in the dipstick tube and I would be screwed!

 

[brockstar]

A vacuum like that is the only we change oil in the boats. Mine is a manual setup, no motor, but it works pretty well.

They are slower in getting the oil out, but not many other drawbacks than that. You do have to make sure its in the deepest part of the oil pan though.

 

[sharage71]

I think that's the way Mercedes and BMW do their service.

 

[cashishift]

I have one.. used to use it all the time.

a few times i checked it afterwards, and very little came out, it did a very good job.

 

[Auzivision]

The guy across the street has one about like this. He bought it for doing his boat, but it works great on everything else.

I changed the oil in 2 power washers, 2 lawn mowers, and an edger in about ½ hour using it. I’m going to use it on my VW as that is standard service procedure for the W12 even though you still have to remove the fender liner to get at the filter.

A word of caution… the switch on the one I used is a three way…. ****, off, blow. One can make a mess really quick with a high power dirty oil squirt gun. Don’t ask me how I know?

 

[chadster1]

I use a Mityvac MV7400 to **** the oil out the top on my 4 wheelers. I tried using it on my '08 Dodge Ram 5.7l hemi and the tube would not make the needed bend to get far enough down to reach the oil. I think it is a good method to change engine oil and transmission fluid IF you can get the oil out the top. The first time you use it on something, I would still remove the drain plug to see how much is left.

I have also used it to **** out brake fluid from the master cylinder and then replace it with fresh fluid. I plan on doing the same for power steering fluid. Its easier than flushing. It might not get 100% of the old fluid out for power steering and brake system but it does make a difference.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I think that's the way Mercedes and BMW do their service.

BMWs don't have dipsticks any more, so it would be pretty difficult.

Personally, I think they're a bad idea - any sludge or debris on the bottom of the oil pan will be left behind.

 

[Zrexxer]

Personally, I think they're a bad idea - any sludge or debris on the bottom of the oil pan will be left behind.

I think it's one of the worst ideas "Ronco" ever came up with. If there's NO other way to accomplish the task, well.... but engines that drain out the bottom flush particulates and combustion by-products out the bottom of the pan as the oil drains. Leaving those behind just re-suspends them when you add new oil.

Yeah, it's a little thing... but little things add up.

 

[epmills]

I work on Mercedes for a living, we don't use them at my dealer. Some of the cars dipsticks run sideways into the block- so no matter what way you put the sucker in it wont get the oil from the bottom of the pan (another 2-3" below the dipstick hole). I guess it really depends on how the engine(s) you plan on using it on are set up, but either way I personally wouldnt use it for reasons already said about sludge and other debries.

 

[uhcrandy]

BMWs don't have dipsticks any more, so it would be pretty difficult.


No Dipsticks? how does that work? How do you check oil levels?

 

[Stuart in MN]

BMWs don't have dipsticks any more, so it would be pretty difficult.


No Dipsticks? how does that work? How do you check oil levels?

You don't. They have a low oil sensor and a warning light on the dash that comes on if you're a quart low. However, that doesn't address the issue of what happens if and when that sensor fails.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

I use it for my Mercedes. Seems to get the same amount of oil out as I get if I drain it from the bottom.

 

[tkrum5]

I have used them on my older BMW's. I have found they do just as good as if i pulled the plug. I read in the instructions that you cannot use them on all cars, due to some have baffles that do not allow you to get to the bottom of the oil pan.

 

[nissan_crawler]

you couldn't pay me enough to use one.

 

[Red Green]

I had one like that without the tank. I ended up throwing it away.

 

[ironroad 9c1]

No thanks, I'll keep doing mine the right and old fashioned way.

 

[fireman]

No thanks, I'll keep doing mine the right and old fashioned way.

That's great as long as you don't own a boat. That is what they were designed for and is the only way to change the oil in the majority of boats. They also work great for lawnmowers, pressure washers etc. so you don't have to tilt the motor to get everything out and make a mess in the process. I don't use mine on my cars but I also have a lift so it's no problem the drain the oil the conventional way.

Jim

 

[e-tek]

You don't. They have a low oil sensor and a warning light on the dash that comes on if you're a quart low. However, that doesn't address the issue of what happens if and when that sensor fails.

That seems like a BAD idea - doesn't it? Where's the back up system - as said - in case of sensor failure?

I use it for my Mercedes. Seems to get the same amount of oil out as I get if I drain it from the bottom.

"Seems to"?? How would you measure that?
But I still agree with you - common sense would say if you get the same amount of oil out, then the same amount of contaminents would come out. Depending on your luck, maybe the (little ) sucker would remove things that opening the drain plug would not!

I have used them on my older BMW's. I have found they do just as good as if i pulled the plug. I read in the instructions that you cannot use them on all cars, due to some have baffles that do not allow you to get to the bottom of the oil pan.

You bet - lots of cars have these baffles, commonly called windage trays.

you couldn't pay me enough to use one.

While I wouldn't use one on my personal vehicles, you could DEFINITELY pay me to use one on others vehicles!!!!

 

[Jaguar Fan]

This is fascinating. About half the responders say it works well, the other half would never use it.

 

[yogitech]

Why go through the hassle of having to wait for the oil to vaccume out? Then, you would have to raise the car to change the filter anyway? Doesn't seem very beneficial for an automotvie application.

 

[Steve from Socal]

As another data point I have been using a vacuum extractor for 8 years and wouldn't go back. Now all my Mercedes are designed for vacuum oil changes, the filter are serviced from the top and the dipstick tube goes to the lowest point in the pan. The vacuum won't **** big chunks up but any particles suspended in the oil will be removed. I have not been involved with new cars for about 4 years but at that time ALL Mercedes vehicles were designed to be serviced with vacuum extraction.

Steve

 

[nissan_crawler]

This is fascinating. About half the responders say it works well, the other half would never use it.

The only time I would consider it an option would be if the car was designed to only have the oil removed that way.

Other than that, I just don't believe it will do as good of a job, plus I'm completely adverse to sticking anything foreign inside an engine that doesn't have to be.

When I change oil on the pickup, I face it up the sloped driveway, and put it on ramps to get the most.

When Id id the car, it was on one side, so I drove it up the sloped driveway, and up one ramp on the opposite side, to drain everything to that corner.

I'm probably more **** than most about it, but it's just the way I like to do it. One of my old vehicles took a bit to get oil pressure going on start, on that one I pulled the fuel pump relay, and cranked it over until pressure showed up, so it wasn't running without oil pressure as long. Unnecessary? Probably, but I preferred it.

Unless it's the only way to do it, it just seems too shadetree to me.

 

[cwstevens92]

No thanks, i havent gotten too lazy to crawl under the vehicle and pull the plug...yet

 

[supertooljunkie]

If I had a boat, or a vehicle that needed one to change the oil, sure I would have one.
I have to get under the truck to change the filter, s-o-o-o I will hold off for now.

Besides $150 will buy tools that I need more than an oil vacuum.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

"Seems to"?? How would you measure that?

You measure it by draining the oil from the bottom and measuring it and then extaracting the oil from the top and measuring it and then comapring the two extracted quantities to see if they are close. In my case they were roughly the same.

 

[TAftw]

That seems like a BAD idea - doesn't it? Where's the back up system - as said - in case of sensor failure?

There is none, because "We build such a great product that it will never fail". Just the general mentality of whoever designs these new cars today .

 

[Benw455]

I would like to try out one. But on my f250 i dont have to jack it up so its no problem. Would like to try it on my sons g6 gxp convertible.

 

[JohnMcD348]

I would probably get one to use on my diffs and ****** but like Benw455, my 15(2500) Dodge Ram and Bronco don't need to be jacked up to get under. They do recommend 15K fluid changes for the diffs and I'm getting close to 25K now. I removed the cover for the first change to make sure there were no bits or pieces in there. Now I'd feel a little more comfortable just sucking it out.

As for some of the comments about the vacuum unit not sucking out large pieces suspended in the oil. I'm just a shade tree mechanic but I would think if you had large bits and pieces, you've got more serious problems.