Extracting oil via the dipstick.....
Discussion
Anyone tried it?
After my recent problems re oil change, I am seriously considering sucking the oil out via the dipstick in future.
Seems the kit is cheap and its much easier than jacking the car up and spilling oil all over the drive.
I have been told that on some cars you get all of it out and on others it leaves some in. Depends on the route of the dip stick tube I think.
So, what results have you had?
After my recent problems re oil change, I am seriously considering sucking the oil out via the dipstick in future.
Seems the kit is cheap and its much easier than jacking the car up and spilling oil all over the drive.
I have been told that on some cars you get all of it out and on others it leaves some in. Depends on the route of the dip stick tube I think.
So, what results have you had?
There is a gizmo sold on airmail that does this. I remember the spiel saying that this is how Mercedes technicians do the oil change. Not sure how true it is.
On a slightly related side note, there are shedloads of public pits in BG, to do your own services. Many of the local petrol garages will have either ramps, or a pit, and I have a pit about 200 yards from my front door, on a road, in the middle of nowhere. Great idea!
On a slightly related side note, there are shedloads of public pits in BG, to do your own services. Many of the local petrol garages will have either ramps, or a pit, and I have a pit about 200 yards from my front door, on a road, in the middle of nowhere. Great idea!
mike88 said:
What a strange idea.
I presume you mean inserting a long thin tube down to reach the bottom of the sump? How is this easier/faster than jacking up a car and undoing one big bolt?
...what a strange comment. How is it not easier?I presume you mean inserting a long thin tube down to reach the bottom of the sump? How is this easier/faster than jacking up a car and undoing one big bolt?
And on many cars there's an undertray to remove and refit, which can be a right pain. And you shouldn't work under a car on a jack.
Dealers often vaccuum out the oil.
I have one. They are fantastic. With a VW PD, I can do an oil change in under 20mins, including packing up and with a tea break in the middle. The main benefit to me is the lack of mess.
They don't work on all cars though, and will always leave some oil in the sump. I change the oil at half the recommended interval anyway, so this isnt a problem to me.
It turns one of my most hated jobs into one I quite enjoy.
They don't work on all cars though, and will always leave some oil in the sump. I change the oil at half the recommended interval anyway, so this isnt a problem to me.
It turns one of my most hated jobs into one I quite enjoy.
Deva Link said:
mike88 said:
What a strange idea.
I presume you mean inserting a long thin tube down to reach the bottom of the sump? How is this easier/faster than jacking up a car and undoing one big bolt?
...what a strange comment. How is it not easier?I presume you mean inserting a long thin tube down to reach the bottom of the sump? How is this easier/faster than jacking up a car and undoing one big bolt?
And on many cars there's an undertray to remove and refit, which can be a right pain. And you shouldn't work under a car on a jack.
Dealers often vaccuum out the oil.
my car (mg zt) has a big shield underneath that is a real pain in the arse to take off /refit and the garage that services it uses a pela , my brothers place uses one as well
The more i think about it the better it sounds.
My car (rover 620) has no trays etc blocking the sump plug and its a 2 minute job to jack it up and grab an axle stand. Always pays to have a look at the underside of the car while your there, CV boots, inner wall of tires etc.
I'll still be using an old washing up bowl to catch the oil. My oil filter is on accessible by jacking up the car anyway so I'm rather biased on this method.
My car (rover 620) has no trays etc blocking the sump plug and its a 2 minute job to jack it up and grab an axle stand. Always pays to have a look at the underside of the car while your there, CV boots, inner wall of tires etc.
I'll still be using an old washing up bowl to catch the oil. My oil filter is on accessible by jacking up the car anyway so I'm rather biased on this method.
bamberwell said:
Deva Link said:
mike88 said:
What a strange idea.
I presume you mean inserting a long thin tube down to reach the bottom of the sump? How is this easier/faster than jacking up a car and undoing one big bolt?
...what a strange comment. How is it not easier?I presume you mean inserting a long thin tube down to reach the bottom of the sump? How is this easier/faster than jacking up a car and undoing one big bolt?
And on many cars there's an undertray to remove and refit, which can be a right pain. And you shouldn't work under a car on a jack.
Dealers often vaccuum out the oil.
my car (mg zt) has a big shield underneath that is a real pain in the arse to take off /refit and the garage that services it uses a pela , my brothers place uses one as well
I know a few garages and main dealers workshops that get the engine oil out by drawing it out from the dipstick tube
TheLurker said:
They don't work on all cars though, and will always leave some oil in the sump.
In the US, where they're anal about anything oil related, they did tests on one of the forums and undoing the sump plug produced no more oil after they'd first used a vaccuum extractor.I guess there might be cars where it doesn't get it all out, but anything at all recent is designed to have its oil changed like this. Used engine oil is considered hazardous now so they design to avoid it being handled.
ChiChoAndy said:
There is a gizmo sold on airmail that does this. I remember the spiel saying that this is how Mercedes technicians do the oil change. Not sure how true it is.
Very true, my uncle put his ML in for a service and after being shown his bill he asked how they remove the oil. Technician tells him they suck it out of the dipstick, but still charge for the removal of the cross member to get to the sump plug 
Deva Link said:
TheLurker said:
They don't work on all cars though, and will always leave some oil in the sump.
In the US, where they're anal about anything oil related, they did tests on one of the forums and undoing the sump plug produced no more oil after they'd first used a vaccuum extractor.I guess there might be cars where it doesn't get it all out, but anything at all recent is designed to have its oil changed like this. Used engine oil is considered hazardous now so they design to avoid it being handled.
it's just a different way of doing something. when i've removed sumps in the past there tends to be oil residue sat there anyway , so can't see every drop of oil being removed via the sump plug anyway
Now I know the filter catches most of any crap that's in the oil but if anything is in the oil itself, it will settle to the bottom of the sump. It's then the first stuff to come out when the plug is undone, and flushed out by all the oil behind it.
When you suck the oil out, you are far more likely to leave sediment behind. I had a smart car with no sump plug and specifically bought a new sump with a plug.
Warming the engine up slightly and draining it, and leaving it for 5 mins, gets everything out where sucking it will always leave a bit.
Old school for me thanks
When you suck the oil out, you are far more likely to leave sediment behind. I had a smart car with no sump plug and specifically bought a new sump with a plug.
Warming the engine up slightly and draining it, and leaving it for 5 mins, gets everything out where sucking it will always leave a bit.
Old school for me thanks
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