Femco drain valves

[loose cannon]

Has anybody here replaced there engine sump plug for a brass femco drain valve out of interest ?

[Steve_D]

Why would you want too?

Steve

[PositronicRay]

I've heard they're popular in the states, where many people change oil @ 3k.

I thought about one, then thought by the time the under tray was off, I might as well just take the sump plug out. If you didn't have an undertray I suppose you could drain the oil without ramps etc.

[McVities]

I ran a Fumoto quick drain valve on a car for a few years. Makes it very easy to do an oil change - lift car onto stand, open valve, remove filter, have leisurely cuppa, fit new filter and close valve.

There was a school of thought that the very last dregs of the oil in the sump would not drain out due to the thread of the valve remaining within the hole in the sump. When I did remove the valve after 3 years and 70-odd thousand miles (curiosity as I was breaking the car), the very last bits of oil didn't seem in any way different to previous oil drops. That being said, the oil was changed every 6-7k whilst I had it so may be more of an issue with longer intervals.

[loose cannon]

I fit them occasionally at work just wanderd if any one here used them at all,
Just curious to see if there used much on private vehicles rather than big fleet stuff
Cheers

[Krikkit]

Do they really make that much difference? Either way you need to lift the vehicle, get an oil pan etc, what difference does it make having to remove a sump plug rather than open the valve?

[McVities]

Krikkit said:

Do they really make that much difference? Either way you need to lift the vehicle, get an oil pan etc, what difference does it make having to remove a sump plug rather than open the valve?

you don't drop the hot sump plug into the drain pan, and you don't get a scoosh of oil up your sleeve either

[PositronicRay]

No pesky washers to replace either

It just seems sticking a valve on could introduce a point of failure.