If I decide to buy another one, this will likely be the one. Thanks for the recommendation!
What's wrong with my oil extractor?
- Thread starter wavinwayne
- Start date
I have a differently branded version of this exact pump and it works very well. Even on ATF dipstick tubes & PSF reservoirs.
I have the same 4 uncles model and my handle does the same . It only does half pumps and still works but not real happy with it. I preferred my small green Liquivac from Tractor Supply. Cheaper and performs better. Only issue is don't get it wet with water on the slide pump or it will rust causing it to not create a vaccum. I prefer the lower height and horizontal pump to use on the engine bay where the tall 4 uncles you can't fit under the hood and it probably will tip over but then you would need to be 8 ft tall to pump it.
I have an old Harbor Freight pneumatic oil extractor. Ironically it has been the least suckiest HF tool in the arsenal because it sucks so well. It blows the Mity Vac version away.
The Harbor Freight pump version has no coupler for the smaller hose leading into the bigger hose. So there's a loss of vacuum. It's not missing because the instructions show no coupler either. Because of their hazardous material policy you can't return it to the store. You have to contact corporate. After verifying the purchase they said to keep it and will send a refund check.
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- Aug 9, 2022
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Update:
After leaving a negative, truthful but not nasty review on Amazon, the seller contacted me and offered to send a replacement unit. Fingers crossed it actually shows up and works right. I still haven't disassembled the original unit to see if I can identify the issue. I plan to do that this weekend.
After leaving a negative, truthful but not nasty review on Amazon, the seller contacted me and offered to send a replacement unit. Fingers crossed it actually shows up and works right. I still haven't disassembled the original unit to see if I can identify the issue. I plan to do that this weekend.
I disassembled both the old and the new oil extractors this weekend, so I could see what happened to the old one. The old one has a "stop" of some sort in the center tube that had gotten sucked upwards in the tube during the last use. That's what was stopping the handle from going all the way down. I used a long metal pipe and a hammer to push it back down into the tube so the pump handle will again go all the way down. As odds would have it, the new one has a different center tube design and does not have the "stop" in the tube. I have no idea if I repositioned the "stop" correctly in the old one. If the old one doesn't work the next time I use it, into the trash it goes.
When the new extractor inevitably dies, I'm going back to doing oil changes the old fashioned way.
When the new extractor inevitably dies, I'm going back to doing oil changes the old fashioned way.
As long as one doesn't store them in the sun the Mityvac products last for decades.
I could never go back to all drain plug based oil changes, I have too many sumps.
That's the better way, anyway. Even on the models that allow for extraction, I have found the drain plug provides a more complete drain.
mmmmm,
Going to be politely contrarian about that claim.
Which works better is completely dependent one the shape of the sump and whether or not the drain plug is actually at the lowest point on it.
Some mercedes models specify extraction as the preferred method.
For a DIYer, you can usually change the angle of the vehicle (tilt, jack stands on front only, etc.) and remove more oil than the specified quantity.
Maybe a long time ago, but I have not seen this in any of their recent models. Most of the guys at the dealer seem to prefer using the plug.
Sure you can always tilt the vehicle toward the plug - if it's at one end or another, if it's in the middle of the pan that effort is usually a yank. Ive got a slightly sloping driveway which helps with that but makes level checking useless.
I've pulled the plug on my vehicles after extraction and only see a drop or two, the amount coming out is correct on them.
Ive got a 4 post lift and If I had better results with the plug I'd use it, but I dont.
if you have room and a compressor this one has worked good for me after a quick swap of the quick connect.
www.harborfreight.com
A good value at $99
and 10$ for an air on/off ball valve and Quick Connect.
6.25 gallon Oil Extractor
Amazing deals on this 6-1/4Gal Oil Extractor at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
www.harborfreight.com
A good value at $99
and 10$ for an air on/off ball valve and Quick Connect.
Last edited:
Fair enough. But at the end of the day, it has always been faster to just pull the plug and while you’re at it, rotate the tires and do a proper vehicle inspection.
Not for me.
The drain plug requires tools, a drain pan, and sometimes a lift/jacks/ramps, sometimes a crush washer depending on how one is about that detail - vs. - just an extractor.
I can do an FCI and a OCI on ether while they are sitting flat and have pretty good visibility to the undercarriage.
If my rotations happened at OCI or FCI time time it might be the same amount of time.
I have a lift so don't need jacks to inspect.
Been using the same 6.5L extractor for 20 years or more. Got it from Girot’s. It was any early pump style that I’ve used probably used for over 100 oil changes. It’s been amazing. Never going back.
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