Oil extraction is great!

[geetar]

I use the same units and they are far better than the vacuum models.

I now have a USB rechargeable one that should work great for lighter motor oils...

I was sort of told off for not getting the vacuum one on another forum, because apparently you only have to do a few pumps and the rest of it siphons out, but I'd rather not do any manual pumping at all

I understand this was the norm at Mercedes Benz for ages.

Yes, I learned that too. Makes sense because there are two undertrays that need to be removed on this car to get to the sump, and so many screws. Obviously that's not such a problem on a ramp, but at home on the floor, its a bit of a pain.

I use a vacuum type extractor. It sucks everything out, remove the drain plug, and nothing comes out at all. While I still have to crawl under to change the filter, mine is up on 4 jack stands anyhow because I rotate tires at the same time. With the extractor, I don't have the splatter, and "miss the bucket" spill with a regular drain pan, and its easy to pour into a recycle bucket.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LGTGMWN?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_11

That's a good point too, my intention was to extract as much as possible, and then remove the drain to see if anything would come out at the next oil change, but I got too lazy. The best part about this is that the old oil goes straight into the old oil container, ready to conveniently be disposed of.

I use the MityVac extractor and it works great. On my old 2012 Honda Civic I sold it removed all but 2 ounces. I like to change the oil filter every year and do my extractions frequently. It works on my 2025 Ford Maverick hybrid however it will not work on the Corvette or the Ford F-150. I am not sure if it will work on the Toyota Rav 4 hybrid. I agree, it is so easy to change the oil you can do it with a white shirt on without getting dirty but you have to be careful. There is always that drop or two of oil that can get on your good clothes and I don't recommend ruining good clothing for an oil change. Glad it works on your Mercedes.

When you say it won't work on those models, why is that?

Dang! My car ain't got no stinkin' dipstick!

Yah I maintain an E92 as well, the lack of dipstick didn't bother me until now. At least they don't make you remove a whole undertray to get to the sump bolt.

I had a W204 C180 for 10years and used a electric pump like yours. By my measurements it got pretty much all the old oil out. I think they designed the sump with extraction in mind as the sump plug was only accessible after removing the under tray which I very much doubt an MB dealer would bother to do.

Having used both vacuum and electric, I much prefer an electric pump as the oil can be pumped directly into a waste container.

2x undertrays! I think one is slightly under the other so its a pain. I suspect its not getting all the oil out. Supposedly this engine takes 6.1L but I think I barely got 5.5L of fresh oil in.

There have been reports on the Mercedes forums that sometimes vacuum extraction removes more oil than the drain plug. The extractor reaches the bottom of the pan whereas the drain plug is higher.

This is not my experience at least on this engine, with this pump - but I've yet to test it for sure, still new to this.

 

[geetar]

Mercedes sumps and dipstick tubes are designed for this and you won't find one study or test done that doesn't show it does take out as much or more than the plug.
I've been doing this on MBs since the 80's and I tested it. Extracting and then open the plug and you don't get diddly except what was coating the plug. Still doing it today and been telling people on this and other forums to get the cheap 12 volt pump. I run mine from a jump box.
BMW ruined it for us with the no dipstick thing.

I hear you, I still gotta test it out to see for myself, but honestly I don't care if it leaves even half a litre behind. With a 3 - 5k mile OCI and a clean(ish) engine, it wouldn't bother me, especially since I use the same oil product each time for this vehicle so no additives combability issues there.

I did a test on our '13 GS350 F Sport. MityVac'ed out the oil, then pulled the drain plug and even tilted the car for max drain. Let it sit... Far harder test than a normal drain would get. Not even enough to cover the bottom of a smallish plastic drain pan.

Some engines are better suited than others, for sure.

But you're under the car for the filter anyway on that 2GR right?

 

[Zee09]

@geetar

I have 8 extractors and the mix is half and half...the $12 to $17 electric motors are the way to go.
Not going back to vacuum models.

That's the issue....to make statements like they did you should have experience with both....

 

[geetar]

@geetar

I have 8 extractors and the mix is half and half...the $12 to $17 electric motors are the way to go.
Not going back to vacuum models.

That's the issue....to make statements like they did you should have experience with both....

Its too convenient, the jump points for the battery are perfectly placed for this cheap pump to sit near the dipstick tube. Glad you approve.

 

[grasscutter]

I use a vacuum type extractor. It sucks everything out, remove the drain plug, and nothing comes out at all. While I still have to crawl under to change the filter, mine is up on 4 jack stands anyhow because I rotate tires at the same time. With the extractor, I don't have the splatter, and "miss the bucket" spill with a regular drain pan, and its easy to pour into a recycle bucket.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LGTGMWN?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_11

How do you know when you've pumped enough and built up enough vacuum?

 

[JeffKeryk]

But you're under the car for the filter anyway on that 2GR right?

I swap the (stupid) housing filter every 2nd service, or about 9K. The nice thing about about the extractor is it is so clean and easy. The engine holds close to 7 quarts, so filling the drain pan and then into the 5 qt jugs for recycle is a pain. Even when I pull the plug on cars, I MityVac. Funny thing is, I used to say they were stupid and I would never use one. Ha!

The other thing is, if I go to someone's house to service their vehicle, throwing the MityVac in the truck is sooooo convenient. And since it is so clean and easy, there is no excuse to put off the work. I love my MityVac.

 

[loneryder]

Mercedes sumps and dipstick tubes are designed for this and you won't find one study or test done that doesn't show it does take out as much or more than the plug.
I've been doing this on MBs since the 80's and I tested it. Extracting and then open the plug and you don't get diddly except what was coating the plug. Still doing it today and been telling people on this and other forums to get the cheap 12 volt pump. I run mine from a jump box.
BMW ruined it for us with the no dipstick thing.

You are correct. The dipstick tube is barely off the bottom of the pan. When you check the oil you have to remove the stick allowing oil to flow up into the tube so it will register on the stick. Different models have suspension parts under the oil pan and MB didn’t want oil change techs getting oil all over the suspension and bottom of the car.

 

[BHopkins]

Welcome to the oil extraction method. I use a vacuum extractor, but I'm enticed by the idea of the 12vdc pump. It would make an even cleaner process, by putting the drain tube directly into the jug that I would put the used oil in, for recycle.

How are you connecting to the dipstick tube? Are you stuffing the hose down the dipstick tube? Or do you use an adapter like this? I found that using the adapter is not only much easier and less messy, but also results in a more complete extraction of all the oil.

https://www.jbtools.com/john-dow-adp-mcd-mercedes-benz-adapter-for-fluid-evacuator/

BTW, sometimes it feels like you on the other side of the pond get all kinds of cool cars that we don't, over here. We never got a C class wagon. To the best of my knowledge, the only Mercedes wagon we get is the E class.

Dang! My car ain't got no stinkin' dipstick!

I feel your pain. BMW may think that electronic oil level measurement is a better way. But when it comes to oil change time, it doesn't feel like it.

I love my MityVac. 5K, or less, OCI and swap filter every 2nd service. Easy peasey.
View attachment 331283

Careful there Jeff. With the picture of your M3 in the background, someone who isn't familiar with your livery, may think you are making some kind of joke about oil changes on your Tesla.

 

[geetar]

How do you know when you've pumped enough and built up enough vacuum?

I think you'll see the oil siphon out through the clear tube into the tank.

I swap the (stupid) housing filter every 2nd service, or about 9K. The nice thing about about the extractor is it is so clean and easy. The engine holds close to 7 quarts, so filling the drain pan and then into the 5 qt jugs for recycle is a pain. Even when I pull the plug on cars, I MityVac. Funny thing is, I used to say they were stupid and I would never use one. Ha!

The other thing is, if I go to someone's house to service their vehicle, throwing the MityVac in the truck is sooooo convenient. And since it is so clean and easy, there is no excuse to put off the work. I love my MityVac.

Its those jobs for friends and family that this kinda thing really shines for. My floor jack is a two person lift, and with the current condition of my back, I won't be lifting it on my own anymore.

 

[geetar]

Welcome to the oil extraction method. I use a vacuum extractor, but I'm enticed by the idea of the 12vdc pump. It would make an even cleaner process, by putting the drain tube directly into the jug that I would put the used oil in, for recycle.

How are you connecting to the dipstick tube? Are you stuffing the hose down the dipstick tube? Or do you use an adapter like this? I found that using the adapter is not only much easier and less messy, but also results in a more complete extraction of all the oil.

https://www.jbtools.com/john-dow-adp-mcd-mercedes-benz-adapter-for-fluid-evacuator/

BTW, sometimes it feels like you on the other side of the pond get all kinds of cool cars that we don't, over here. We never got a C class wagon. To the best of my knowledge, the only Mercedes wagon we get is the E class.


I feel your pain. BMW may think that electronic oil level measurement is a better way. But when it comes to oil change time, it doesn't feel like it.


Careful there Jeff. With the picture of your M3 in the background, someone who isn't familiar with your livery, may think you are making some kind of joke about oil changes on your Tesla.

I'm stuffing the hose all the way down the dipstick tube until it hits what I assume is the bottom of the pan. Once most of the oil is out, I give it a good jiggle around.

Yeah we do get some nice models, but we miss out on some of the Toyota/Lexus stuff you guys get, especially the bigger stuff. The main reason I jumped ship from Toyota/Lexus is because the only wagon they do here is the Toyota Auris / Corolla or Avensis, which are great cars, but not quite the level of performance and refinement I'd like. Plus they hold their values so strongly that a used one doesn't really make sense (I guess it does make sense because of the reliability, but you could take a chance on that).

We like it, as far as a compact wagon goes:

 

[LouC]

I've been using one on my marine inboard engine (Topsider, vacuum) and it works great. No other way to do it on an inboard engine other than making a God-awful mess!
I also use it to make auto transmission fluid changes less messy.
Here's why it's nice to have an auto transmission with a dipstick:
Next time I'm installing a pan with a drain plug!

 

[BHopkins]

I'm stuffing the hose all the way down the dipstick tube until it hits what I assume is the bottom of the pan. Once most of the oil is out, I give it a good jiggle around.

Yeah we do get some nice models, but we miss out on some of the Toyota/Lexus stuff you guys get, especially the bigger stuff. The main reason I jumped ship from Toyota/Lexus is because the only wagon they do here is the Toyota Auris / Corolla or Avensis, which are great cars, but not quite the level of performance and refinement I'd like. Plus they hold their values so strongly that a used one doesn't really make sense (I guess it does make sense because of the reliability, but you could take a chance on that).

We like it, as far as a compact wagon goes:
View attachment 331317

My experience has been that stuffing the hose to the bottom of the dipstick tube is the least efficient method. You get less oil out. If you don't want to bother with the adapter, another method is to get tubing that is just big enough to fit snuggly inside the dipstick tube. You push your tubing in just far enough to tightly fit in the dipstick tube. MB designs the dipstick tube to extract oil all the way to the bottom, when this method is used.

Try it. I think you will find that you get more oil out that way.

Beautiful wagon. It looks well cared for. Those are the same wheels I have on my E350. They are some of my favorite MB wheels.

 

[Propflux01]

How do you know when you've pumped enough and built up enough vacuum?

The particular one I have runs on air from a compressor. However, the manual ones work the same way. Just stick your tube in, turn on the compressed air source (or pump the manual pump a few times), and once any kind of vacuum is made, the oil will come up. Just like siphoning gas from a car.

 

[Donald]

The oil changes I do are completely safe. No ramps or jack stands required. I can fit under both my vehicles when they are on pavement.

Now I sometimes use ramps so I can get a 5 gallon bucket under my F250 and so I can actually see the Fumoto valve on Crosstrek. I can open the Fumoto valve on Crosstrek by feel but likely to get oil on my hand. I could get a different Fumoto valve to get around that but I am cheap.

I do use an oil extractor for my VP I/O boat engine.

 

[cobalt2010]

Used my cheap Amazon extractor for the first time last month - especially for top mounted oil filter cars, I'll never go back. Though I didn't remove the drain plug to check, it removed 4.86 quarts out of 5.0 so it's safe to say it got the job done

 

[joekingcorvette]

I was sort of told off for not getting the vacuum one on another forum, because apparently you only have to do a few pumps and the rest of it siphons out, but I'd rather not do any manual pumping at all


Yes, I learned that too. Makes sense because there are two undertrays that need to be removed on this car to get to the sump, and so many screws. Obviously that's not such a problem on a ramp, but at home on the floor, its a bit of a pain.


That's a good point too, my intention was to extract as much as possible, and then remove the drain to see if anything would come out at the next oil change, but I got too lazy. The best part about this is that the old oil goes straight into the old oil container, ready to conveniently be disposed of.

When you say it won't work on those models, why is that?


Yah I maintain an E92 as well, the lack of dipstick didn't bother me until now. At least they don't make you remove a whole undertray to get to the sump bolt.


2x undertrays! I think one is slightly under the other so its a pain. I suspect its not getting all the oil out. Supposedly this engine takes 6.1L but I think I barely got 5.5L of fresh oil in.


This is not my experience at least on this engine, with this pump - but I've yet to test it for sure, still new to this.

When you say it won't work on those models, why is that?

It is because there are baffles or obstructions that prevent the tube from going all the way to the bottom of the pan.

I was sort of told off for not getting the vacuum one on another forum, because apparently you only have to do a few pumps and the rest of it siphons out, but I'd rather not do any manual pumping at all


Yes, I learned that too. Makes sense because there are two undertrays that need to be removed on this car to get to the sump, and so many screws. Obviously that's not such a problem on a ramp, but at home on the floor, its a bit of a pain.


That's a good point too, my intention was to extract as much as possible, and then remove the drain to see if anything would come out at the next oil change, but I got too lazy. The best part about this is that the old oil goes straight into the old oil container, ready to conveniently be disposed of.

When you say it won't work on those models, why is that?


Yah I maintain an E92 as well, the lack of dipstick didn't bother me until now. At least they don't make you remove a whole undertray to get to the sump bolt.


2x undertrays! I think one is slightly under the other so its a pain. I suspect its not getting all the oil out. Supposedly this engine takes 6.1L but I think I barely got 5.5L of fresh oil in.


This is not my experience at least on this engine, with this pump - but I've yet to test it for sure

 

[Donald]

Welcome to the oil extraction method. I use a vacuum extractor, but I'm enticed by the idea of the 12vdc pump. It would make an even cleaner process, by putting the drain tube directly into the jug that I would put the used oil in, for recycle.

How are you connecting to the dipstick tube? Are you stuffing the hose down the dipstick tube? Or do you use an adapter like this? I found that using the adapter is not only much easier and less messy, but also results in a more complete extraction of all the oil.

https://www.jbtools.com/john-dow-adp-mcd-mercedes-benz-adapter-for-fluid-evacuator/

BTW, sometimes it feels like you on the other side of the pond get all kinds of cool cars that we don't, over here. We never got a C class wagon. To the best of my knowledge, the only Mercedes wagon we get is the E class.


I feel your pain. BMW may think that electronic oil level measurement is a better way. But when it comes to oil change time, it doesn't feel like it.


Careful there Jeff. With the picture of your M3 in the background, someone who isn't familiar with your livery, may think you are making some kind of joke about oil changes on your Tesla.

I need an adapter to do oil extraction that fits a male garden hose thread. My VP engine has the top of the oil dipstick a male garden hose thread. Ideas??

 

[BHopkins]

Interesting. I've never seen something like that. Sorry, no suggestion.

 

[zzyzzx]

I do oil extraction on a lawn mower with a regular hand held MityVac (like the one you would normally use for testing vacuum devices). Yes, it's an iterative process, yes I like it a lot. It's that or an oily mess. Never tried it on a car.

 

[ElectroMechanoMan]

I have a vacuum extractor and I love it. I just can’t roll around under a car like I used to and this minimizes it. I can’t use it on my 2.7L EcoBoost in my truck, so I bought a valve to drain the oil, otherwise with that huge plug, it made a mess. I’d like to make a hatch by the plug so I don’t have to remove the bottom cover. That is a royal PTIA. The valve really works great.