Changing Oil - Drain or Pump it out?

Tony Soprano.

Was going to change the oil tomorrow on my Saab 1.9tid. But I've come across horror stories on the sump plug. It's the Fiat engine also fitted to the Opel Vectra/Astra 1.9cdti and the Alfa 159 1.9 jtdm.

Apparently it's some sort of metal/plastic thing and can be very, very to get off, and easily rounded.

So then I learnt of a pump that sucks the oil out from the top. This would be a handy item, as an oil change can be a bit of a pain for me. So are they as effective as draining from the bottom, getting all the oil out? And roughly how much for a good one?

Thanks.

corkgsxr

No, they can do damage and leave sludge in the engine.

Just use a proper ratchet

Tony Soprano.

corkgsxr wrote: »

No, they can do damage and leave sludge in the engine.

Just use a proper ratchet

I won't be getting one of them then. Out with the axles stands tomorrow.

Thanks for the advice.

unkel

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

I won't be getting one of them then. Out with the axles stands tomorrow.

Good man - it's the only way to do a proper oil change

Make sure the car is super sturdy on the axle stands. I had to use a hammer myself (hitting the spanner) to get the sump nut moving on my 9-5 last month. You'd want to be confident that the 1.5 tonne above you won't fall on top of you

Henry Ford III

A sump plug is a threaded bolt. It's been that way for decades and works perfectly. Why would anyone want to redesign that? Just wondering.

CJhaughey

Henry Ford III wrote: »

A sump plug is a threaded bolt. It's been that way for decades and works perfectly. Why would anyone want to redesign that? Just wondering.

Ask the pricks that designed the VAG stretchy bolt that galls the alloy sump threads after 10 changes.
They should be, and for the most part are simple, its when some designer that never changed oil himself takes it upon themselves to redesign a proven concept that the trouble starts.
OP if you are worried about the plug failing in the future, look at getting a Fumoto valve and fitting it, then you need never worry about a failed plug again.

Tony Soprano.

unkel wrote: »

Good man - it's the only way to do a proper oil change

Make sure the car is super sturdy on the axle stands. I had to use a hammer myself (hitting the spanner) to get the sump nut moving on my 9-5 last month. You'd want to be confident that the 1.5 tonne above you won't fall on top of you

Good advice. I always get the scares when I'm under. I'd have a few other supports as well as the axle stands. Can never be too careful working under a car, especially my 9-3 with the low profiles.

Henry Ford III wrote: »

A sump plug is a threaded bolt. It's been that way for decades and works perfectly. Why would anyone want to redesign that? Just wondering.

I've no idea. But this plug is supposed to be crap quality and very easily rounded. You think they'd just redesign it? I assume another 13mm from another car would not do i.e. they're not standard, but specific to each engine?

Tony Soprano.

CJhaughey wrote: »

Ask the pricks that designed the VAG stretchy bolt that galls the alloy sump threads after 10 changes.
They should and for the most part are simple, its when some designer that never changed oil himself takes it upon themselves to redesign a proven concept that the trouble starts.
OP if you are worried about the plug failing in the future, look at getting a Fumoto valve and fitting it, then you need never worry about a failed plug again.

That looks unreal handy. Think I'll get one. Why don't manufacturers just fit something like this to the car first day? It look so simple. Excellent.

Notch000

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

That looks unreal handy. Think I'll get one. Why don't manufacturers just fit something like this to the car first day? It look so simple. Excellent.

cause every knacker & drunk student would go round messing and emptying oil out all over the shop

corkgsxr

Notch000 wrote: »

cause every knacker & drunk student would go round messing and emptying oil out all over the shop

True that, and unplugging electric cars

anthony4335

Most garages suggest that you replace the sump nut/plug every second go.

Mycroft H

anthony4335 wrote: »

Most garages suggest that you replace the sump nut/plug every second go.

What? I've never replaced one. Perhaps the copper washer? (and even then I've never bothered too much with them)

unkel

anthony4335 wrote: »

Most garages suggest that you replace the sump nut/plug every second go.

Not the nut/plug, just the washer

unkel

BX 19 wrote: »

What? I've never replaced one. Perhaps the copper washer? (and even then I've never bothered too much with them)

Beat me to it

And yeah, if the new kit doesn't come with a replacement washer, I'l re-use the old one...

Nonoperational

Sucked the oil from an Alfa 156 for about 6 years now. Nearly 150k miles and hasn't missed a beat and still going strong.

Katunga

the sump plug is there for a reason to drain the oil from the sump.

CJhaughey

Tony Soprano. wrote: »

I've no idea. But this plug is supposed to be crap quality and very easily rounded. You think they'd just redesign it? I assume another 13mm from another car would not do i.e. they're not standard, but specific to each engine?

The problem is the size of the head vs the thread size, they round easily when tightened too much.
The size of the head is a way of stopping hamfisted monkeys Gorillas from cracking the sump by overtightening the bolt.
The head rounds before the sump cracks.
Sump design in some engines leaves a lot to be desired, in fact the PSA 1.6 HDI that gives so much trouble with turbo failure is a good example in the Berlingo.
The plug is recessed in the steel pan in a little recess stamped into the sump that actualy means the sump can never fully drain, there will always be quite a bit of oil left in the sump.
And needless to say the oil left in there is probably holding the worst of the particles in the engine.