For those of you with mighty vacs do you just dump out the extracted fluids or do you do some sort of rinse and clean?
If you do rinse and clean what is your process?
If you do rinse and clean what is your process?
Cleaning a mighty vac.
- Thread starter Drew7a
- Start date
Dump it out. My fluid extractors often have warnings or cautions about the use of solvents in their literature. I don't want issues with the seals and parts, so, extract the fluid, dump it out, and leave it at that.
I begin cleaning the Mityvac 7201 with brake clean through plastic tube. I know I'm doing against the mfg's warning, but it's been OK for the last 5+ years. I only use my Mityvac 7201 for fluid transfers (diff & T-case) since it doesn't work (extraction) for any of my cars.
I have never cleaned our MityVac; I just flip the switch and pump the oil into a recycle container.
I would love to use it as a filler for differentials, etc, but that would require a through cleaning.
I love my MityVac; never thought I would even use one...
I would love to use it as a filler for differentials, etc, but that would require a through cleaning.
I love my MityVac; never thought I would even use one...
I don't clean mine as I only use it to extract with.
For filling diffs and stuff, I have a funnel I attached to a half inch OD hose which I run through the wheel well so I can pour standing up.
For filling diffs and stuff, I have a funnel I attached to a half inch OD hose which I run through the wheel well so I can pour standing up.
I drain it completely after each use. This includes all the lines. My Schwaben has warnings not to use cleaning fluids.
I let mine suck up a large tumbler of hot Dawn water after a particularly nasty power steering fluid extraction. Took the brown film off the inside of the tubing and container.
Which Mightyvac?
I have the metal handheld and do wipe it down after each use, if brake fluid gets in the cylinder, I disassemble, clean with water, dry and use silicone grease on the seal. Its ~20 years old and still functional.
I have the metal handheld and do wipe it down after each use, if brake fluid gets in the cylinder, I disassemble, clean with water, dry and use silicone grease on the seal. Its ~20 years old and still functional.
Yesterday I purchased a fluid extractor from Harbor Freight that is similar to the Mighty Vac. The initial intent was to draw off some oil in a vehicle and replace it with HPL EC30. The secondary purpose is to pull oil samples for the lab without actually draining the oil. A case in point here is my 2017 C-Max Energi with 12K miles on the oil vs. a 20K recommended OCI. In any event I am wondering how to clean it well enough to avoid cross contamination of samples. Suggestions I have found online thus far include the following:
- Warm soapy water. Dawn and Simple Green were each mentioned a few times.
- Brakeleen was mentioned
- Denatured alcohol was mentioned
- Acetone was mentioned
- Several references combined either alcohol or acetone followed by the hot soapy water treatment
I've never cleaned mine beyond sloshing spent oil around to get some of the junk off the bottom. I feel like taking samples is not a good use for this tool as you'll never get it clean enough to take non-contaminated samples without ruining the seals.
I spray it with brake cleaner. I'll only use it another dozen times before I die, so no big deal.
Pull a sample with one of these. Use new line to avoid contamination.
Oil Analysis Sampling Pump - Accurate Oil Extraction of Various Engine Oil
https://a.co/d/ibGkS5g
Use the Mityvac to remove oil for disposal.
Oil Analysis Sampling Pump - Accurate Oil Extraction of Various Engine Oil
https://a.co/d/ibGkS5g
Use the Mityvac to remove oil for disposal.
I get as much of the fluid as I can out of it. Then wash it out with Simple Green and water. I have mine for about seven or so years with no problems from cleaning it that way.
Thanks. I'll have to look at that vs the cost of solvents. Pulling samples was a secondary consideration and I am reaching the point where there is little left to learn from UOAs where the manufacturer's recommendation isn't exceeded. A UOA costs about the same as an oil change on a little four banger, so why bother?
I would get a normal oil sample pump if you need to pull samples between oil changes. You use new tubing and sample container for reach sample and almost no oil touches the pump if you take the sample properly.
Does the product in the link you provided mate right up with a Blackstone sample bottle?
You can get one directly from Blackstone. I've had one for years, they supply the tubing which is easily replaced at your local hardware store, it's refrigerator defrost drain tubing, very inexpensive.
I bought one of these on Amazon. It didn't come with the tubing needed to reach the sump. The instructions are printed in a two point font that I need to use a magnifying glass to read. It seems that it will accept tubing from 3/16 to 5/16-inch. That's a pretty broad range. What size and type of tubing do you suggest?
