Using a vacuum pump to change the oil.

Using a vacuum pump to change the oil.

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Discussion

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Monday 16th February 2015
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DrDoofenshmirtz said:
I think it depends on the car really.
If you need to get under it to unscrew the oil filter, then you may as well remove the drain plug while you're there.
Indeed.

DrDoofenshmirtz said:
If the oil filter is easily accessible, and the drain plug is hidden above a plastic sump guard, then a pump is an ideal solution.
There's also the benefit of having a good look around for other problems, whilst the undertray's off. Plus, those saying "Well, boat people do it" - yes, but think about the logistics of a sump drain in the bottom of a boat...

motco

15,918 posts

245 months

Monday 16th February 2015
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I had a Hillman Hunter in the sixties and I regularly got bits of a rubber resonance damper ring from the timing chain sprocket coming out in the oil. In about 30,000 miles I changed that damned thing roughly four times!

bearman68

4,642 posts

131 months

Monday 16th February 2015
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RedAlfa said:
I hope you don't pour used engine oil down the drain. Used engine oil is highly carcinogenic.... long term exposure or ingestion can cause cancer frown
No - that's definitely the place the council recommend it to go. Because it's carcinogenic, it kills the rats, and makes the solids run easier.......

moustache

292 posts

110 months

Monday 16th February 2015
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I've used a Pela one for the past 5 years on my Tdi passat. I change the oil every 5k and I've counted having done 20 or so oil changes now with it. The oil filter housing is next to the head, and I can also extract oil from that too with the extractor. My car is on 175k.

dave_s13

13,813 posts

268 months

Monday 16th February 2015
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I did my 2.0tdci ford galaxy last week using a 12v pump sucking out the dipstick tube. Took about 10mins to get just under 5 litres out, Inc taking the filter housing off and sucking from there too. Took the sump plug off too and got maybe another 150ml out. Not enough to matter I'd have thought. Next time I'll just use the pump I think.

They are handy though, also used it to change the power steering fluid, drain the fuel filter housing then apply negative pressure to the fuel filter housing to remove air bubbles.

Drive Blind

5,076 posts

176 months

Monday 16th February 2015
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Pela does the lawn mower oil change too

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 16th February 2015
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RedAlfa said:
dme123 said:
.... when you're emptying the used oil down the drain.
I hope you don't pour used engine oil down the drain. Used engine oil is highly carcinogenic.... long term exposure or ingestion can cause cancer frown
Obvious joke is not that obvious, it seems. I dispose of it properly and pour it back into the containers then chuck them in my neighbours black bin.

V8Ford

2,675 posts

165 months

Monday 16th February 2015
quotequote all
I used a Pela 6000 on a couple of cars for oil changes and found it to be effective. The most important thing is to make sure that the mouth of the extraction hose is at the bottom of the sump, especially if said sump has an irregular shape.

I also tried changing ATF with it once, but it did not reach fully into the pan, so I had to do it in 2-litre increments with a short drive in between to mix the new and old fluid. The downside to using it on automatic transmissions though is that if you want to change the strainer the pan has to come off anyway.

We've a 42 year old Rolls Royce Diesel engine at work as part of a generator set with an extraction pump fixed to the skid, and I don't think the the sump plug has ever been pulled.

Edited by V8Ford on Monday 16th February 21:21

B'stard Child

28,320 posts

245 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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I was very anti

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

But then I purchased a car where the belly pan was 2mm steel and an absolute mare to re-fit

I'm not going back to sump plugging!!

moustache

292 posts

110 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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I've used a Pela one for the past 5 years on my Tdi passat. I change the oil every 5k and I've counted having done 20 or so oil changes now with it. The oil filter housing is next to the head, and I can also extract oil from that too with the extractor. My car is on 175k.

AdeTuono

7,240 posts

226 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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moustache said:
I've used a Pela one for the past 5 years on my Tdi passat. I change the oil every 5k and I've counted having done 20 or so oil changes now with it. The oil filter housing is next to the head, and I can also extract oil from that too with the extractor. My car is on 175k.
We know...

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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One very useful application of the oil extractors is that they can double up as a vacuum bleeder for the brakes if you can find a suitable bit of hose to fit over the bleed nipple.

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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Don't some new cars have to be done this way? I'm sure I've heard that audis (maybe?) don't always have sump plugs anymore.

Le TVR

3,092 posts

250 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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I'm not sure it's so vital to get every last drop.

I've got two oil coolers and 7m of hoses, so there's a good 1,5 litres that isn't coming out whether it's pumped or sumped....

Rovinghawk

13,300 posts

157 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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Hooli said:
Don't some new cars have to be done this way? I'm sure I've heard that audis (maybe?) don't always have sump plugs anymore.
Mercedes are designed for suction oil changes- you get more out with the pump that you do with the sump plug.

Smart have no sump bolt.

SuperchargedVR6

3,138 posts

219 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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DrDoofenshmirtz said:
I think it depends on the car really.
If you need to get under it to unscrew the oil filter, then you may as well remove the drain plug while you're there.
Yep, that's the case with mine. I do have a Pela extractor, but prefer to use the sump plug method. There's always some fine metal & plastic particles in the bottom of the pan afterwards, no doubt bearing & chain tensioner crumbs. With the tiny oil galleries and ultra fine metal gauzes found in modern engines, I prefer to get as much garbage out as possible. With the car jacked up, I definitely get more out of the sump via the drain than I do with the Pela on level ground.

FWIW, my local VAG dealers have stopped using the extraction method and drain via the sump now, for what ever reason.


Matt UK

17,649 posts

199 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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Most main dealers use a suck pump I believe.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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Mr2Mike said:
One very useful application of the oil extractors is that they can double up as a vacuum bleeder for the brakes if you can find a suitable bit of hose to fit over the bleed nipple.
I don't think I fancy pumping away at my Mityvac to empty an entire sump...

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
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TooMany2cvs said:
I don't think I fancy pumping away at my Mityvac to empty an entire sump...
No, doesn't work so well the other way around biggrin

moustache

292 posts

110 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
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AdeTuono said:
We know...
Tool.