The huge thread on oil extractor pumps

biko

Most car I've had have the oil filter underneath so I had to jack car up anyway.
An extractor would be handy though for overfilling extraction.

corkgsxr

Wibbs wrote: »

I've heard this so many times, but clearly it must depend on the model of engine and sump design, because on mine(Honda B18) it takes more out than the standard method and I've tested this a few times. How? Warm engine, remove sump plug, let engine drain, then let the jack down so sump is level, make a pot of tea, come back a half hour later, replace sump plug, then use the oil hoover and every time it pulls another eggcup or so out. Now in fairness it's a near 20 year old engine design so maybe on later engines the sucker leaves oil in, but mates who aren't luddites like me with their recent engines(mercs/beemers/VWs/Fords) seem to get similar results to me. IIRC aren't some newer cars coming without sump plugs so this is the only method?

what cars come without a sump plug?

Wibbs

AFAIR the Smart car is one.

MidlandsM

The oil extractors are also excellent for sucking petrol and diesel out of tanks of cars........i have one I use for that only, as the narrow hose gets down into the neck and into fuel tank on modern cars a lot handier than some other fuel transfer hose yokes.......

BrensBenz

MidlandsM wrote: »

The oil extractors are also excellent for sucking petrol and diesel out of tanks of cars........i have one I use for that only, as the narrow hose gets down into the neck and into fuel tank on modern cars a lot handier than some other fuel transfer hose yokes.......

And the bilge water in boats that the pump won't reach;
And the "just to be safe" extra oil that your son added to his engine, putting the oil level off the scale;
And, with the addition of a homemade adaptor, draining a central heating radiator without mess and stress;
And scaring the life out of Jaws as you drain his aquarium, etc.

The list is endless. Forget steam-cleaners, buy an oil sucker!

jimgoose

I'm sold. Gonna pick me up one of these.

MidlandsM

BrensBenz wrote: »

And the bilge water in boats that the pump won't reach;
And the "just to be safe" extra oil that your son added to his engine, putting the oil level off the scale;
And, with the addition of a homemade adaptor, draining a central heating radiator without mess and stress;
And scaring the life out of Jaws as you drain his aquarium, etc.

The list is endless. Forget steam-cleaners, buy an oil sucker!

ahhhhhhhhhhh, very good other uses there!

Blazer

anyone use these on an bmw e60?
Am I reading it right? It extracts through the dipstick?
I'm a lazy old sod and looking for an easy way to do mine

jimgoose

Blazer wrote: »

anyone use these on an bmw e60?
Am I reading it right? It extracts through the dipstick?
I'm a lazy old sod and looking for an easy way to do mine

They extract through the filler cap.

Wibbs

jimgoose wrote: »

They extract through the filler cap.

How would it get to the bottom of the sump through the filler cap? Is the cap on those engines connected directly to the sump maybe?

unkel

Apart from the E39, all cars I've changed the oil in had the filter underneath so I had to go down and dirty anyway

Undertrays are the invention of the devil!

Wibbs wrote: »

remove sump plug, let engine drain, then let the jack down so sump is level

Do you go under the car only supported by a jack? :eek:

I use steel ramps these days myself, find them very handy. But obviously the car is not completely level when you drain the oil. Solution: change oil often

Wibbs

unkel wrote: »

Do you go under the car only supported by a jack? :eek:

Jayzuz no U, paranoid I am, so axle stands and the wheels I've taken off under the sills and even then I keep praying to a god I doubt exists every time I'm under the car.

unkel

Wibbs wrote: »

Jayzuz no U, paranoid I am, so axle stands and the wheels I've taken off under the sills and even then I keep praying to a god I doubt exists every time I'm under the car.

I'm the same

If I wasn't an atheist, I'd be praying to God too

Do you bother getting the car off the axle stands and lowered down to get the car level (and get a little bit more oil out)? Only to have the car back on the stands to close up the sump (and fit the filter if applicable)?

Wibbs

Oh yea, if I'm changing the oil the usual way, I drop the car back down to level, sometimes even raise it on the side opposite the drain hole to try and get it all out(even then I find the sucker will pull some oil still remaining).

blastman

Just wondering, will these pull the oil from the filter as well, so you can get it off with minimal (or even no) leaking?

Wibbs

Never tried as I take the filter off first, but I doubt it, they're just sucking from whatever's in the sump.

v240gltse

hi

any one have any good/bad experience with the Alpin 72539 extractor as I seem to be getting lazier and lazier :D:D and I want to get myself a new extractor as my seely unit seems to have gone west

tia

brendan

darragh o meara

blastman wrote: »

Just wondering, will these pull the oil from the filter as well, so you can get it off with minimal (or even no) leaking?

Unfortunately there will always be some oil in the channels of the engine and the filter is one of those areas. In my Passat I usually suck all the oil out and then do the filter and whereas its not completely empty, its not majorly full either.

irish bloke

OSI wrote: »

Doubtful, as you don't have a dipstick :P

Huh??

I have the bonnet up on my E60 right now with the dip stick in my hand.

Am I missing something here or is that the auto box??

Blazer

irish bloke wrote: »

Huh??

I have the bonnet up on my E60 right now with the dip stick in my hand.

Am I missing something here or is that the auto box??

same for me..I have manual as well

rovoagho

Although some trannies do have dipsticks, they're talking about engine oil.

BMW started removing the dipstick during the E60 run, so some engines have them, some don't. If you don't have one, you get the level from iDrive.

Wibbs

*luddite* WT everlivin F is wrong with a bloody dipstick? Oh no. lets complicate things cos we can and charge you more for the silliness *luddite*

Ronnie Beck

Wibbs wrote: »

*luddite* WT everlivin F is wrong with a bloody dipstick? Oh no. lets complicate things cos we can and charge you more for the silliness *luddite*

The only thing wrong with them is that people don't know how to use them. With the new iphone generation i imagine the numbers will only increase.

irish bloke

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

The only thing wrong with them is that people don't know how to use them. With the new iphone generation i imagine the numbers will only increase.

Grandad, is that you Grandad??

JohnBoy26

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

The only thing wrong with them is that people don't know how to use them. With the new iphone generation i imagine the numbers will only increase.

Surely Apple will introduce an oil level checker app to account for that problem

ian87

rovoagho wrote: »

Although some trannies do have dipsticks, they're talking about engine oil.

BMW started removing the dipstick during the E60 run, so some engines have them, some don't. If you don't have one, you get the level from iDrive.

I have idrive and a dipstick in my e90. The level on the computer is often way out compared with stick. I'd be wary tbh

woody33

Is anyone here using an oil extractor pump instead of draining the sump? I've seen mechanics using them but it seems to me the sump method would be much better.

biko

Woody, I've added your question to a recent thread on these yokes with pro and con arguments.

woody33

Cool, thanks.

JohnBoy26

woody33 wrote: »

Is anyone here using an oil extractor pump instead of draining the sump? I've seen mechanics using them but it seems to me the sump method would be much better.

It's probably better but I can't see how it's ''much better''?

visual

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

It's probably better but I can't see how it's ''much better''?

Because it actually drains all the oil as designed. The drain plug can also be magnetise and metal filings can be cleaned off.

The only reason to use a pump is laziness. I'm aware garages are doing this to save time and you have to ask if they are bothering putting a car on the ramps if the filter can also be changed from the top. I would question how much of an inspection can be carried out without looking underneath.

lomb

Ive made 4 wooden ramps with a chainsaw, some planks and a pack of patio decking screws. Cost about 30 quid in timber and screws and good fun to make.
I drive the car up onto the ramps so its level and this way the undertrays come off in a few minutes anyway.
I also trust my life to these ramps whereas I wouldnt on the steel tube ones that could let go. Wood can hold boats and trains as strong in compression.
Better than the pump as the filter is usually under anyway. I use a 10 liter paint can for collecting the oil so can do a car without any spills.

http://www.ttforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=678572

enumbers

All garages have these but generally not for servicing. Normally used for drain out overfilled oil.coolant, brake fuild etc. Handy for bleeding diesels that haven't got lift pumps. Not any quicker than taking out the drain plug as the car is on the lift anyway.

Mech1

Great yokes for bleeding out diesel, bleeding brakes, removing fuel etc.

JohnBoy26

visual wrote: »

Because it actually drains all the oil as designed. The drain plug can also be magnetise and metal filings can be cleaned off.

But even draining the oil from the sump nut will not remove all of the oil from the sump, there will always be a drop left over no matter what method you use. As for your other point about magnetic sump nuts, very few cars are fitted with them so I don't know is that a very valid point.

visual wrote: »

The only reason to use a pump is laziness. I'm aware garages are doing this to save time and you have to ask if they are bothering putting a car on the ramps if the filter can also be changed from the top. I would question how much of an inspection can be carried out without looking underneath.

As has been said by other posters, garages use them for a host of different things. I don't get your point about using it to save time as I think draining from the sump plug usually takes less time to do.

visual

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

But even draining the oil from the sump nut will not remove all of the oil from the sump, there will always be a drop left over no matter what method you use. As for your other point about magnetic sump nuts, very few cars are fitted with them so I don't know is that a very valid point.


As has been said by other posters, garages use them for a host of different things. I don't get your point about using it to save time as I think draining from the sump plug usually takes less time to do.

Yes and garages always do the right thing and don't take short cuts.

corkgsxr

lomb wrote: »

Ive made 4 wooden ramps with a chainsaw, some planks and a pack of patio decking screws. Cost about 30 quid in timber and screws and good fun to make.
I drive the car up onto the ramps so its level and this way the undertrays come off in a few minutes anyway.
I also trust my life to these ramps whereas I wouldnt on the steel tube ones that could let go. Wood can hold boats and trains as strong in compression.
Better than the pump as the filter is usually under anyway. I use a 10 liter paint can for collecting the oil so can do a car without any spills.

http://www.ttforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=678572

If a steel one is made right its much better than wood. And lighter

For big boats they use steel frame and line the face with wood to prevent damage.

enumbers wrote: »

All garages have these but generally not for servicing. Normally used for drain out overfilled oil.coolant, brake fuild etc. Handy for bleeding diesels that haven't got lift pumps. Not any quicker than taking out the drain plug as the car is on the lift anyway.

As far as I know bmw use it for oil.

Might be just for the service at your home/work deal

Wibbs

visual wrote: »

Because it actually drains all the oil as designed. The drain plug can also be magnetise and metal filings can be cleaned off.

The only reason to use a pump is laziness.

As I said earlier: I've heard this so many times, but clearly it must depend on the model of engine and sump design, because on mine(Honda B18) it takes more out than the standard method and I've tested this a few times. How? Warm engine, remove sump plug, let engine drain, then let the jack down so sump is level, make a pot of tea, come back a half hour later, replace sump plug, then use the oil hoover and every time it pulls another eggcup or so out.

On the basis of my experience with my car I have no issue with using oil extractors. YMMV.

Plus I'd add that if people are doing their own oil changes and because of laziness put them on the long finger, I'd rather they use the oil extractor and replace the oil and filter more often. Even if it left quarter of a liter of old oil(and it doesn't) far better 3 changes like that to one "proper" way.

Yamanoto

I'm wondering whether an oil extractor would be suitable for use on the sludge-tastic Saab 9-5.

As the dipstick's affixed to the bottom of the oil filler cap itself (no separate dipstick ingress), is the tubing likely to have unimpeded access to the bottom of the sump?

Try using it on the new Audi's with no dipstick.

I used these pumps before and they didn't remove all the oil,always between 0.5-1.0l left.

It was handy to take as much as possible out as cleanly as possible though.

I used them on the old model caddy, new model, B6 A4 and B 5.5 passat. All with the same results, inc the Prius.

biko

Yamanoto wrote: »

I'm wondering whether an oil extractor would be suitable for use on the sludge-tastic Saab 9-5.

As the dipstick's affixed to the bottom of the oil filler cap itself (no separate dipstick ingress), is the tubing likely to have unimpeded access to the bottom of the sump?

Tbh, for the Saab I'd go with a regular method, just to be certain I get everything out.
Oil filter is underneath anyway so you need to hoist car up to get to it.

unkel

biko wrote: »

Tbh, for the Saab I'd go with a regular method, just to be certain I get everything out.
Oil filter is underneath anyway so you need to hoist car up to get to it.

+1

Very easy job too, no bottom cover plate or anything. I used ramps that I just drove the car up onto. Open oil filler cap, undo sump screw and let oil out then take out filter (near sump). Leave for an hour, come back, new filter in, screw back onto sump and the car is ready for fresh oil

Repeat every 5-6k miles or every year, whichever comes first

Mr Benevolent

Oil extractors are great, used one on Sunday with no issues on my car. Takes longer to clean up afterwards then it does to get the oil out. Turns out that my extractor's tube fits very snugly in the dipstick pipe, which means that the dipstick becomes an extension of the extractor tube. Very handy, and the last bit of oil can be extracted using a smaller tube.

gooner99

This might be a silly question.In a garage they use a lift,so the car is level. Same goes for the extraction pump providing you park i the level.But if you use axle stands or ramps I guess the car is not level when draining the oil.So what % would you say is left over by using.....

1) ramps
2) axle stands
3) extraction pump

unkel

Most sumps I've worked on have the plug on the back side of the sump (so away from the front wheels) or on the side of the sump but again away from the front wheels and not on the very bottom of the sump

So in those cases with the front of the car up higher, it would drain out more than if the car was level

Ronnie Beck

The renault ones are on the bottom of the sump. Got a bit extra out alright by taking out the stands and lowering the car flat. Onlt one i've ever seen on the bottom apart from a lawnmower .

On other cars I've never had a level surface to work with so I normally raise one side of the car up and down with the jack to get more out but this was more due to a slope across the width of the car. As unkel says leaning back is fine but if it's off to one side a bit will sit in the corner.

jimgoose

<Whomp>

I bought one of these vacuum extractors on Saturday morning. It's a Sealey, 6.5l capacity and identical to the below:



€98, apparently on offer and down from €135, at a local motor factors. It operates via the dipstick hole, and comes with two sizes of tube to cater for most everything. The tube is inserted in the dipstick hole and pushed down to the bottom of the oil-pan, or as close as. Then you give the thing six or eight pumps to build up a vaccum, and it reefs the oil out of there neat as you like. The vacuum pulled about 3.2l out of the Xsara in "one go", and another third of a litre or that way came out of the old oil filter and the little suppeen immediately behind it.

In short, it works brilliantly and I am quite chuffed with it.

Stevo11

Handy
http://www.conrad.com/ce/en/product/854215/Mannesmann-Oil-Suction-Scavenge-Pump-12V?queryFromSuggest=true

I bought mine from conrad a few years ago (similar to the above but came with used oil collector).

stimpson

Wibbs wrote: »

As I said earlier: I've heard this so many times, but clearly it must depend on the model of engine and sump design, because on mine(Honda B18) it takes more out than the standard method

Wibbs - do you use the dipstick hole to do yours? I've got a B16A and the tubing won't fit down the hole.

aero2k

Yamanoto wrote: »

I'm wondering whether an oil extractor would be suitable for use on the sludge-tastic Saab 9-5.

As the dipstick's affixed to the bottom of the oil filler cap itself (no separate dipstick ingress), is the tubing likely to have unimpeded access to the bottom of the sump?

biko wrote: »

Tbh, for the Saab I'd go with a regular method, just to be certain I get everything out.
Oil filter is underneath anyway so you need to hoist car up to get to it.

Sorry folks, only just saw this.

I had a '94 Audi A6 and my extractor as pictured above would drain every drop. When I got a Saab 9-5 Aero, I found that it left about 2 litres. I did the sump removal and clean as recommended in all the forums to prevent the dreaded sludging, and I found there was a baffle plate preventing the tube from reaching the bottom of the sump. Pity, as it's a great gadget.