Anyone use a dipstick type oil extractor?
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Mine is called the Topsider. It's a big blue metal can, like an old-style gas can, with a bicycle pump and hoses.
With the oil warm, not hot, you close it up, pinch off the drain tube with its clip, pump about 30 times. Then slide the drain tube down the dipstick till it stops against the sump, and release the clip.
The oil flows right into the can. While this is going on, you can change your filter and do other maintenance items. After about 10-15 minutes, you'll hear gurgling and see bubbles in the drain tube. I always pinch it off and pump 5-10 more times to get as much oil out as I can.
Once you're done pouring in your new oil (check the dipstick to make sure you're not overfilling), the drain tube and pump come off and you screw on the caps. Now your old oil is secured in metal instead of plastic, and you can drive it right to the recycler.
No, I'm not absolutely sure I'm getting *all* the old oil out. There's no measure on the can, and I have no way to pour the old oil into gallon bottles to check. But it gets most of it -- and many people on mercedesshop.com, who are careful about their cars, agree the suction method gets as much or more as does the old drain method.
I bought mine from George Murphy of Performance Analysis in Tennessee. It cost about $50.00. If this seems like a lot, remember you can use it to suction other fluids too!
-- Paul W.
With the oil warm, not hot, you close it up, pinch off the drain tube with its clip, pump about 30 times. Then slide the drain tube down the dipstick till it stops against the sump, and release the clip.
The oil flows right into the can. While this is going on, you can change your filter and do other maintenance items. After about 10-15 minutes, you'll hear gurgling and see bubbles in the drain tube. I always pinch it off and pump 5-10 more times to get as much oil out as I can.
Once you're done pouring in your new oil (check the dipstick to make sure you're not overfilling), the drain tube and pump come off and you screw on the caps. Now your old oil is secured in metal instead of plastic, and you can drive it right to the recycler.
No, I'm not absolutely sure I'm getting *all* the old oil out. There's no measure on the can, and I have no way to pour the old oil into gallon bottles to check. But it gets most of it -- and many people on mercedesshop.com, who are careful about their cars, agree the suction method gets as much or more as does the old drain method.
I bought mine from George Murphy of Performance Analysis in Tennessee. It cost about $50.00. If this seems like a lot, remember you can use it to suction other fluids too!
-- Paul W.
I used a manual (hand) pump version I bought from Griot's. It worked well when I had a GM car, but not with the Toyotas I had later (Toyota dipstick tube too small and curved too much). I liked the concept, as it was very easy to use and obviously, eliminated the need to lift the vehicle. If you're going to try one, I would definitely get a powered model; the hand pumping gets old real fast. At least with my SC 3.8L GM engine, I was able to suck out every bit as much oil as you'd get out by removing the plug. Since the filter was easily accessible through the passenger side wheel well, this made oil changes a snap. I started using it again with my Infiniti, but I managed to fatigue and break the plastic handle. I can still use it for small extractions, such as the PS reservior, but the broken handle is too painful for a full five qt extraction.
EDITED for typo.
[ April 11, 2006, 04:29 PM: Message edited by: ekpolk ]
EDITED for typo.
[ April 11, 2006, 04:29 PM: Message edited by: ekpolk ]
JHZR2
Staff member
I bought a topsider when I first got my E30 BMW, thinking it would be easier.
I change my oil hot... it still takes a LOT o pumping to effectively pull 5.25 qts.
The pump seal went bad after not too many changes... it cant pull a vacuum anymore.
I bought a shallower, wider oil pan, and its easier to get under the car... the oil plug is on the front of the pan.
I bought a 12V oil pump, which works great for power steering, lawnmower, and other similar sampling needs... it was siezed up after one use, but we opened it up, lubed it and got it moving, and its worked great ever since!
JMH
I change my oil hot... it still takes a LOT o pumping to effectively pull 5.25 qts.
The pump seal went bad after not too many changes... it cant pull a vacuum anymore.
I bought a shallower, wider oil pan, and its easier to get under the car... the oil plug is on the front of the pan.
I bought a 12V oil pump, which works great for power steering, lawnmower, and other similar sampling needs... it was siezed up after one use, but we opened it up, lubed it and got it moving, and its worked great ever since!
JMH
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
I use the 'ghetto pump'. A sturdy 5gal bucket with lid. Drill a 1/2" to 1" hole in the lid for your shop vac hose to butt up to, and drill a 1/4" hole (whatever size aquarium type tubing is) for the dipstick suction tubing to insert through. I use the polyethylene equiv. since it's stiffer and easier to work with for this application. Snap the lid on the bucket, get your dipper in place, fire up the shop vac, stick the vac hose on the 'shop vac hole' and pump away! Works like a champ for most applications. There is an occational dipstick with funky bends where it doesn't agree with. I wouldn't pump gasoline or more volitile liquids with it (kaboom)
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Joel
Joel
I use a $20 electric powered pump on my boat 360ci SBChevy if the hours get too much during the summer. Runs off the battery and makes it a snap to suck the oil out. You can find them at any Marine Store or Overtons etc....
I use one for my boat. Man is it slick. I like heating the engine up to as hot as it will get. Dock the thing, and wait 5 minutes. The plastic tubing that came with my rig is pretty tough. It doesn't mind the heat (so far, at least). It gets pretty much everything out of the sump.
I usually change the oil a couple times a year, but only change the filter at the beginning of the season.
The engine has been singing sweetly since 1984!
I usually change the oil a couple times a year, but only change the filter at the beginning of the season.
The engine has been singing sweetly since 1984!
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