Which Oil Drain Valve do you use? Fumuto? Valvomax?

[4WD]

I might do Fumoto on my GX460 since it has skid plates there and the oil drain passes through a "racetrack" panel on the plate.

But since I already have the Stahlbus drainhose, I might as well buy more of those plugs, I suppose.

I had the Fumoto on my old ram Diesel for a decade and it worked perfectly. Thing is, these Fumotos are nearly as expensive now as the stainless Stahlbus. It's worth the extra $10-$20 or so to me.

I wrapped header tape around the cross-over pipe a year ago and it’s already getting shredded more than expected from moderate brush … That’s the easiest of my fleet to change with no ramps - so ordered long handle 6 point box end …

 

[Hohn]

I wrapped header tape around the cross-over pipe a year ago and it’s already getting shredded more than expected from moderate brush … That’s the easiest of my fleet to change with no ramps - so ordered long handle 6 point box end …

I use a Nepros six point box end for oil plugs. It fits incredibly well and is super gentle on plugs.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I don't consider that to be a sufficient oil change, but I am a huge fan of the Mityvac and use my Silverline Pro kit for a million other uses. I prefer to get as much old oil out as I can, so I change it hot and I dump a quart of new oil in to flush out and dilute the residue.

I admit that my desire to clean out as much old oil as possible amounts to basically nothing for engine life, but it satisfies me, so I do it.

Agree with max oil drain. In some cases, the MityVac surpasses pulling the plug; in other cases the MityVac does not work. Depends on the oil pan and route to the bottom of it.
I used to be Uber anal about this; let's just say the MityVac ease of use and cleanliness is tough to beat.

 

[Hohn]

Agree with max oil drain. In some cases, the MityVac surpasses pulling the plug; in other cases the MityVac does not work. Depends on the oil pan and route to the bottom of it.
I used to be Uber anal about this; let's just say the MityVac ease of use and cleanliness is tough to beat.

The day will come sooner rather than later that I cannot crawl under the car and lay on the concrete anymore. It's good to know my Mityvac will be there for me when it happens.

 

[Donald]

that's one of those niggling little things the Stahlbus solves because the hose is sealed with o-rings BEFORE the valve opens.

I think the valvomax also has this advantage relative to the Fumoto.

I should have gotten a slightly different Fumoto valve for the Subaru that has a nipple and allows for a hose.

I will get all the way under where I can see what I am doing rather than just reaching. Maybe I can open it without getting oil on my hand if I can see it.

 

[cb450sc]

I used a fumota on my 2011 Kia Optima for ten years. When I traded the car for a 2021 Kia K5 I took the valve off the Optima and transferred it to the K5. I did however get a new felt washer for it. No issues after 14 years of use!

 

[brillo54]

I'm a bit late to the oil drain valve party but I have joined now. I went the Valvomax route and I'm happy with the results. I've done one change with my CX-5 and everything went well. It will be mid July before I change the Crosstrek's oil, but that should be even better since the Subaru has a top mounted oil filter.

 

[PWMDMD]

Fumoto valves on all my vehicles and never had any issues other than it makes it really easy to reach under open and close without having to raise the frontend.

 

[Patrick0525]

Fumoto valves on all my vehicles and never had any issues other than it makes it really easy to reach under open and close without having to raise the frontend.

Amen. I get to eat breakfast while it is draining and instead of driving 30min and waiting around one hour.

Also dealer oil changes are outrageous @$100 which I could do with a rebated 5qt PUP -$15 and a Walmart ST9972 -$3.
In other words, I could do five OCs for the price of one dealer/quick-lube OC.

 

[tcp71]

I've been using Fumotos on almost all my vehicles since 2005. Around 12 or 13 in the last 20 years. All have worked will except the one installed in the Mazda in 2022. This spring's oil change showed it has been slightly leaking from the circlip area seal oposite the lever. I took it off and re-installed the plug. First failure and in relatively short use for this one.

I have used a couple of the EZ oil drain valves in the last years (one on the transmission pan of the F150, one on the van) and they seem to work as well, if not better due to the cap on the outlet hole, as the fumoto. I have one ready to go onto the Macan in the next couple of days.

 

[oilboy123]

I have 2 of the Valvomax, and 2 Valvomax on other family vehicles. Pretty happy with them.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

I have ez oil valve. Strong spring and a safety cutout

 

[tcp71]

I have ez oil valve. Strong spring and a safety cutout

I put a small hose clamp around the barrel above the leaver that keeps it stuck into the "closed" position pocket and can't come out of it.

 

[Hohn]

I put a small hose clamp around the barrel above the leaver that keeps it stuck into the "closed" position pocket and can't come out of it.
View attachment 272353

that's cleaver (lol). J/K.

I think the fear of a fumoto coming open on its own is vastly overstated. You will read of occasions where they get ripped out of the pan on potholes or offroading. But coming open on their own? I don't think I ever seen an actual case it happening, and my own experience was that the spring loaded detent makes this all but impossible to do.

Still, I prefer the check ball design of the Stahlbus.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

that's cleaver (lol). J/K.

I think the fear of a fumoto coming open on its own is vastly overstated. You will read of occasions where they get ripped out of the pan on potholes or offroading. But coming open on their own? I don't think I ever seen an actual case it happening, and my own experience was that the spring loaded detent makes this all but impossible to do.

Still, I prefer the check ball design of the Stahlbus.

The physics required to move the valve in the open positions are such that if it does happen the person inside would probably be liquefied from the g-forces. So no, I am not worried.

 

[Astro14]

Stahlbus on the Tundra. Magnetic (Gold Plug) plug on everything else.

 

[tcp71]

that's cleaver (lol). J/K.

I think the fear of a fumoto coming open on its own is vastly overstated. You will read of occasions where they get ripped out of the pan on potholes or offroading. But coming open on their own? I don't think I ever seen an actual case it happening, and my own experience was that the spring loaded detent makes this all but impossible to do.

Still, I prefer the check ball design of the Stahlbus.

not really worried about it, but it is exposed in the sienna. The others all have undercarriage diapers that cover them up. I put one on the transmission drain on the truck, even though it's covered as well. Sometimes you drive through a field or other grassy area and it feels better having the hose clamp on there. It wouldn't be gravity or bumps that open it, but brush, sticks or other stuff from the roadway.

 

[newoilguy1]

I have the Valvomax and having to store the extra piece is annoying. I would rather have gone with Fumoto and any PVC hose, in hindsight.

 

[Number_35]

Changed oil yesterday with the Valvomax - nice and clean compared to using a drain pan.

 

[Hootbro]

that's cleaver (lol). J/K.

I think the fear of a fumoto coming open on its own is vastly overstated. You will read of occasions where they get ripped out of the pan on potholes or offroading. But coming open on their own? I don't think I ever seen an actual case it happening, and my own experience was that the spring loaded detent makes this all but impossible to do.

Still, I prefer the check ball design of the Stahlbus.

It is overstated but not zero. Only two instances I know of with credible claims of a FUMOTO valve opening on it's own were people that did heavy off-roading and going through tall field grass or brush. That created the conditions of giving the two axial motions needed to open the valve. This was before the lever lock clip came out.