Engine oil syphoning - Yay or nay?

[200bhp]

I was in the local motor factors earlier and they have an engine oil syphon kit on offer. It got me wondering if it would be possible to carry out an oil change using just a length of clear tube and a waste oil container (A lot cheaper that their pump/kit).

I've done a quick google and opinion seems divided on this with some people saying swarf and metal parts wont get picked up this way, but they would come out of the drain hole if done traditionally.

So what's the PH opinion on draining the oil using a syphon?

Obviously I'd change the filter too but that can be done easily from above.

[s m]

200bhp said:

I was in the local motor factors earlier and they have an engine oil syphon kit on offer. It got me wondering if it would be possible to carry out an oil change using just a length of clear tube and a waste oil container (A lot cheaper that their pump/kit).

I've done a quick google and opinion seems divided on this with some people saying swarf and metal parts wont get picked up this way, but they would come out of the drain hole if done traditionally.

So what's the PH opinion on draining the oil using a syphon?

Obviously I'd change the filter too but that can be done easily from above.

Don't many main dealers use a similar piece of kit to do oil changes?

[k15tox]

instead of all the effort of syphoning it out id just jack the car up and undo the sump plug.

[soda]

Nothing wrong with using an oil extractor, used in a fair few dealers.

IIRC some cars now don't have a sump plug at all.

[SuperHangOn]

Undoing a sump bolt really isn't that much effort. Plus I wouldn't want all the crap syphoned up from the sump on an older car.

[Captain Answer]

I've got a Pela kit which I used on a car that the sump plug was completely unmovable, it worked well and never had any issue with the car afterwars. I usually go for the traditional sump bolt out approach though when doing services.

[chevy-stu]

Magnetic sump plug drags out slot that the siphen won't

[Robb F]

k15tox said:

instead of all the effort of syphoning it out id just jack the car up and undo the sump plug.

So instead of simply opening the bonnet and sucking the oil out, you're suggesting its easier to jack the car up, place axle stands underneath, undo sump plug and catch oil in container, redo sump plug, clean anything you've spilled, decant waste oil into suitable storage container, take axle stands out, lower car to floor.

[MoonMonkey]

My mate has one of these syphon kits which I borrowed. Maybe it was me but it seemed to take forever to slurp up the old oil and then I wasn't convinced it had got it all out. Dropped the sump plug off in the end and reverted to the tried and trusted method. It didn't work for me but I'm sure a more industrial spec piece of equipment would do a better job.

[muthaducka]

My dad's used this technique for a while using an electric pump. You need to make sure the setup has a decent sized container to put your old oil in unless you just use old oil containers.

Some opinions say any sludge that sits at the bottom of the sump isn't removed when using the syphon. I prefer the traditional route of draining it myself but I reckon that's going to become more difficult as time goes on for newer cars as garages seem to be adopting the syphon technique and making cars to suit this setup with easy access to the filter as well from the top of the engine bay.

[Robb F]

doogz said:

You're right, it's not easier.

But it's better. And it's not like it takes long. And getting under your car and having a little look about isn't a bad thing, check for loose bolts, frayed belts, oil leaks, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I always drop the sump plug out, gets all the little bits of crap out. But theres at least one positive of sucking it out and that is that its easier.

[mwcr85]

When I worked at VW The "master tech" used to use one. He used to spend half an hour getting it clean after so it took as long as taking undertrays off (pain in the arse on Sharans). I'm a bit dubious about them as you can't see whether you have got it all out or not. They tend to be rather messy and not as compact to store as a drainer.

[slaveunit]

If i found out that a garage was doing that to my car I'd never go back.

[Classic Grad 98]

Extractor pumps come into their own when you want to change gearbox of differential oil. These lubricants are supposed to be filled for life but I think that's rubbish and I like to change them periodically- and manufacturers don't tend to provide drain plugs. I stick to the traditional method for engine oil though.

[Rex8231]

Correct me if I am wrong but I have never got all the oil out by removing the sump plug. There are loads of places that oil remains, and as for sludge and bits stuck to the magnetic plug! What are u driving? A 1976 Beetle?
As far as I can see the pump/symphony will do nearly as good a job and a lot less messy

[Basil Brush]

slaveunit said:

If i found out that a garage was doing that to my car I'd never go back.

Unless you had one of the cars that doesn't have a drain plug..

[sawman]

I noticed that the local boat shop has some of these manual vacuum pump things at a reasonable price, I used it on my old merc and it seemed to work pretty well - it took a while to suck 8 litres of very old oil out. but once the top is on, you can use the container to take the old oil to the dump, so its not messy, and on the whole simpler than taking off the underbody cladding and fiddling around with the sump plug, whilst making sure the oil emptys into the tray

[B'stard Child]

I was a nay for years till I bought one just to change the oil on a car with a heavy steel bash plate that take two people to remove and replace - 3000 mile oil changes that I do were becoming a PITA.

I freaking love it and just for fun on most of my cars I've even undone the drain plug after an extraction change to see how much is left and it's at most half an egg cup worth

I'll not go back to changing oil the old way........

[mybrainhurts]

I use one of these, as I sometimes need to change the oil every two months. Half a dozen pumps with the handle and it sucks out five to six litres. The body is calibrated, so you can see how much has come out. Perfectly clean for storage, you just need to wrap the tube ends in a Tesco bag or something so it doesn't drip.

[dutchgray]

B'stard Child said:

I was a nay for years till I bought one just to change the oil on a car with a heavy steel bash plate that take two people to remove and replace - 3000 mile oil changes that I do were becoming a PITA.

I freaking love it and just for fun on most of my cars I've even undone the drain plug after an extraction change to see how much is left and it's at most half an egg cup worth

I'll not go back to changing oil the old way........

The solution there is to hole saw a nice big hole in the bash plate so you don't have to take it off to get at the sump plug.