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Dear Eric and other experts:
First of all thanks for all the informative videos. I’ve worked on my own cars for years and still have learned much from a professional such as yourself.
So, on to my question. For some time now, I’ve been using a top end vacuum oil changer. It is the kind that functions by inserting a tube into the dipstick and sucking the oil out. The filter is mounted right on top, so it eliminates the need for me to get under the car to remove the oil drain plug.
Now some people (a professional mechanic) have expressed objections to this technique saying that this method would not effectively remove sludge that could be accumulating in the oil pan. He states that this technique was developed for shops to cut costs by shortening the time required for oil changes but is not the appropriate way to change oil.
At any rate, I was wondering if I could get some your input regarding this practice and it’s effectiveness.
Thanks and all the best,
Clay
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Personally, I don’t like the idea of sucking oil out of the top…
As others have said, and I agree, it does not do a complete job of getting everything out the way gravity would…
I suppose you can get away with it if you change oil frequently and the engine is not known to build sludge (unfortunately, many older Toyota engines were known for sludge)… but I would not personally do it…
-Karl
the thing with getting below the car and opening the drain plug is it allows the oil too drain with gravity and all the old dirty sludgy stuff goes with it, HOWEVER if you changing your oil on a regular basis 3,000 miles i prefer, there should be little sludge…
personally i think if you are changing your oil on a regular basis you should have no issue, the biggest thing you can do too keep the engine happy and running like a champ is too keep her tuned up, and change her oil and coolant when needed. and as far as i am concerned if you get all the old oil out, you should pick up the dirty contaminents with it, my advice is make absolutely sure that this device however is picking up oil from every nook and cranny of the pan.
Karl beat me too it, well his opinion differs slightly form mine, though i do agree too some extent that draining from the bottom will be more through…
Some cars actually need it, some cars don’t. I would just drain it through the plug. When I worked for Audi, we ONLY used an evacuator to do oil changes, but the way those engines are designed, thats the best way for it. It takes 5 min, to drain some oil, id just get down there and knock it out.
My brother has a new Jeep with an oil filter on the top of the engine and he’s employed this method. He and I talked about it and agreed that the best balance between thoroughness and convenience is to use the vacuum oil changer mostly, and every third or fourth oil change, use gravity. If nothing else you get to see for yourself how much sludge is built up in the pan and can make your own decision on the frequency of using the drain plug. The other thing to consider is that the oil filter is draining back into the engine, and that’s cool from a convenience standpoint, but they aren’t 100% efficient, so anything not filtered goes…right back into the engine.
As long as you’re changing your oil every 3,000-6,000 miles, you will be the best judge of how well the vacuum system does or does not work.
Every sump drain plug seems to be at the lowest point for as complete a drain as possible.
I don’t think that my dipsticks always point at the lowest part of the sump, so the “suck out” might be a partial drain.
I don’t like leaving behind much of the old oil, and I like the “sweeping” flow of hot oil draining fast from the drain hole.
But, all this is a bit marginal. With good air, oil, and fuel filtration, and nothing falling apart in your engine, then there shouldn’t be much “solids” in the pan.
Why don’t you try using the top end vacuum to remove the oil. Afterwards, remove the bolt from the oil pan and see how much oil comes out. It may surprise you.
Why don’t you try using the top end vacuum to remove the oil. Afterwards, remove the bolt from the oil pan and see how much oil comes out. It may surprise you.
That’s a good idea, and I’ve actually done this (by chance). The car is an E46 BMW 330 with the M54 inline six engine.
I felt it was time to change the crush washer on the drain plug so I loosened it after using the top end oil changer and some oil did come out, but it really wasn’t much at all. Not to digress, but I did find out though that the last person that loosened and reinstalled that drain plug over torqued it (probably with an air wrench) The threads are probably damaged on the plug now because it leaking slightly and I need to replace it with a new one.. boo..
Try replacing the crush washer and torquing the bolt it a little extra bit… sometimes it works… May not last forever but can hold in a pinch…
-Karl
[quote=”MisterSputter” post=104899]
Why don’t you try using the top end vacuum to remove the oil. Afterwards, remove the bolt from the oil pan and see how much oil comes out. It may surprise you.
That’s a good idea, and I’ve actually done this (by chance). The car is an E46 BMW 330 with the M54 inline six engine.
I felt it was time to change the crush washer on the drain plug so I loosened it after using the top end oil changer and some oil did come out, but it really wasn’t much at all. Not to digress, but I did find out though that the last person that loosened and reinstalled that drain plug over torqued it (probably with an air wrench) The threads are probably damaged on the plug now because it leaking slightly and I need to replace it with a new one.. boo..[/quote]
any person caught using a fricking impact gun on a oil pan drain plug in front of me will get a ear full, you NEVER use a torque wrench on a oil pan drain plug for any reason, you strip the threads your getting a new oil pan, and its a sad expensive day!
Some vehicles actually require this. In fact I think Audi just came out with a service bulletin on this very thing on one of their vehicles because of the difficulty in getting to the drain plug. That said, I don’t see how it can harm anything. As long as you’re getting the old oil out and replacing it with new you’re changing the oil. That is the intent of the service after all. As to if it will have an effect on sludge buildup, I doubt it. In fact, there’s still a quart of oil in the engine after an oil change as it is, even using the drain plug. In summary, as long as you’re changing it on a regular basis with the correct viscosity I think you’ll be just fine doing it the way you’re doing it. In fact I think your idea is genius. Well done.
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