Fumoto valve defective

[joekingcorvette]

I purchased 2 new Fumoto valves. One for my Corvette and another for my Civic. The Civic one won’t even open up. The lever is messed up and won’t work. I am sending it back. I am not too impressed but will keep the one for the Corvette and use it as a test mule.

 

[NJ4Runner]

I purchased 2 new Fumoto valves. One for my Corvette and another for my Civic. The Civic one won’t even open up. The lever is messed up and won’t work. I am sending it back. I am not too impressed but will keep the one for the Corvette and use it as a test mule.

That is surprising. I was skeptical at first about the Fumoto valve lasting a long time. I had one on a Dodge Dakota for 10 years and live in a salt state. I took it off before I got rid of the truck and its still good as new.

 

[joekingcorvette]

That is surprising. I was skeptical at first about the Fumoto valve lasting a long time. I had one on a Dodge Dakota for 10 years and live in a salt state. I took it off before I got rid of the truck and its still good as new.

Good to hear because I kept the one for the Corvette. I have read a lot of good things about them and that is why I bought two right away. I mainly bought them to keep my spillage a little more in control. It seems to me that the smaller flow of oil would make less of a mess. I am excited to try it on the Corvette and if I like it I will re-order one the the Honda Civic. I was really surprised it came locked up when it was brand new.

 

[dlundblad]

I’m certainly the black sheep here, but these things are sketchy. I’ll never use one.

I couldn’t care less where or how good they’re made.. a failure would be catastrophic.

If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, wear gloves or invest in the magnetic drain plug tool on the flexible wire.

 

[bluesmokertdi]

I’m certainly the black sheep here, but these things are sketchy. I’ll never use one.

I couldn’t care less where or how good they’re made.. a failure would be catastrophic.

If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, wear gloves or invest in the magnetic drain plug tool on the flexible wire.

I have a Fumoto on my ML 320, I found the quality to be exceptional, almost to the point of being too good.

The threads were so perfectly machined that it would not screw into the pan unless it was perfectly aligned, the valve itself was "tight" out of the box and took a couple wiggles to get it moving, I assume because of the very high tolerances in the build.

Spray some WD 40 in the valve and try moving it, that should work

 

[AZjeff]

First defective one I can remember hearing about.

I'd probably use the Honda as the test mule, not the Corvette.....

 

[simple_gifts]

There is a 2 cent o-ring on most oil filters. Failure of that is also catastrophic.

What is the point? We should not trust the operation of a simple ball valve?

 

[Lapham3]

FWIW-I have a number of these and some for years with no issues. Appears that quality control didn't catch that one.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I have a Fumoto on my ML 320, I found the quality to be exceptional, almost to the point of being too good.

The threads were so perfectly machined that it would not screw into the pan unless it was perfectly aligned, the valve itself was "tight" out of the box and took a couple wiggles to get it moving, I assume because of the very high tolerances in the build.

Spray some WD 40 in the valve and try moving it, that should work

I tried the WD 40 it's locked up and will not open.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I like the new style because it has the extra bolt as another safety precaution. This style would be almost impossible for the oil to drain out without opening the valve and turning the bolt in the open position. I am going to return the valve for the Honda Civic since WD 40 didn't work.

 

[TheLawnRanger]

I will never forget my cousin's wife's uncle's neighbor's lawyer's gardner's veterinarian's dad had one of these malfunction after hitting a divot while illegally taking a shortcut across a golf course. Not worth the trouble.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I tried the WD 40 it's locked up and will not open.

I have a Fumoto on my ML 320, I found the quality to be exceptional, almost to the point of being too good.

The threads were so perfectly machined that it would not screw into the pan unless it was perfectly aligned, the valve itself was "tight" out of the box and took a couple wiggles to get it moving, I assume because of the very high tolerances in the build.

Spray some WD 40 in the valve and try moving it, that should work

Update: The WD40 must have soaked in and the valve is now operating just like the other new one. I couldn't believe that would make a difference but it did and now it works perfectly and I am going to keep it. THANK YOU SO MUCH BLUESMOKERTDI YOU FIXED THE PROBLEM! AWESOME! I was just getting ready to send it back to Amazon!

 

[bluesmokertdi]

Update: The WD40 must have soaked in and the valve is now operating just like the other new one. I couldn't believe that would make a difference but it did and now it works perfectly and I am going to keep it. THANK YOU SO MUCH BLUESMOKERTDI YOU FIXED THE PROBLEM! AWESOME! I was just getting ready to send it back to Amazon!

NP, great to hear

the valves are tight out of the box to ensure they don't leak

 

[joekingcorvette]

I will never forget my cousin's wife's uncle's neighbor's lawyer's gardner's veterinarian's dad had one of these malfunction after hitting a divot while illegally taking a shortcut across a golf course. Not worth the trouble.

I totally disagree. I don't know how educated you are on the mechanics of the new ones. There is actually like a double safety valve which makes it impossible to drain if you open the valve and don't turn the unit in order for the oil to drain. Besides that, usually when you have a huge oil leak or spill you can smell it burning on the vehicle. I read many reports about these and am very anxious to try them out. I was just surprised mine came locked up but through the help of a forum member I sprayed the WD40 on it and it works now.

 

[Wylie6G72]

I wouldn't be so concerned about it malfunctioning, but I would have night sweats worrying about something striking it, as it would be the lowest object under my car when installed. There's not much chance of my drain plug getting knocked off without also taking a chunk out of the oil pan, but something that actually hangs down like this would not allow me to relax. I'm glad folks like it, and if it's making their lives easier, that's great.

 

[TheLawnRanger]

I totally disagree. I don't know how educated you are on the mechanics of the new ones. There is actually like a double safety valve which makes it impossible to drain if you open the valve and don't turn the unit in order for the oil to drain. Besides that, usually when you have a huge oil leak or spill you can smell it burning on the vehicle. I read many reports about these and am very anxious to try them out. I was just surprised mine came locked up but through the help of a forum member I sprayed the WD40 on it and it works now.

Just jokeking.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I should be all set. I hope to minimize my oil spillage.

 

[MrPlow]

Is the main point of these to make it easier to change the oil? I could see if someone was using one on a track car that never saw stumps or rocks and where one might be more inclined to change oil on a very frequent basis. For Joe-six-pack doing oil changes a couple times a year, is removing a bolt that much of a deal to change the oil? Or is it more of a cleanliness matter in how the oil is drained and contained?

 

[LowMilesLesabre]

I wouldn't be so concerned about it malfunctioning, but I would have night sweats worrying about something striking it, as it would be the lowest object under my car when installed. There's not much chance of my drain plug getting knocked off without also taking a chunk out of the oil pan, but something that actually hangs down like this would not allow me to relax. I'm glad folks like it, and if it's making their lives easier, that's great.

Good point made here, although I think they have some kind of "low profile' versions for situations where you want to avoid the unhappy potential of having your valve whacked off by something you pass over as some vehicles have low ride heights comparatively.

 

[simple_gifts]

Is the main point of these to make it easier to change the oil? I could see if someone was using one on a track car that never saw stumps or rocks and where one might be more inclined to change oil on a very frequent basis. For Joe-six-pack doing oil changes a couple times a year, is removing a bolt that much of a deal to change the oil? Or is it more of a cleanliness matter in how the oil is drained and contained?

So some of them can accommodate a screw on tube attachment; that is good for vehicles which drain out onto crossmembers etc allowing one to redirect the flow directly into the pan.

A simple solution for eliminating a mess.