Oil extractors/scavengers - anygood?

[bonesX]

Looking at a Pela for easy changes.

Wondering if they're as good as removing the drain plug. Do they get all the oil out etc?

[bakerstreet]

They can never get everything out in the same way that draining from the drain plug can.

I nearly bought one to do my oil changes, but I have to take the under tray off the Saab anyway to change the oil filter, so I didn't see the point of one of those devices.

[bonesX]

Yeah, my Fabia has the filter on middle/front of engine so no need to remove undertray with one of these.

How much oil do they leave behind, and don't garages use them?

[300bhp/ton]

I think they can be fairly good tbh. Sure they might not get every drop out, but if you have a baffled pan/sump even removing the drain plug won't either. Some cars also don't have sump plugs, so an extractor is the only way to get the oil out at all.

[aizvara]

I've got a pela 6.5 ltr one, I've used it a couple of times to do oil changes, and to simplify a power steering fluid change.

Works pretty well, and as I have limited safe space to jack up the car, it certainly saves me time and effort.

[anonymous-user]

I use one for every oil change at work. No they don't get every drop out, but as mentioned previously, neither does removing the sump bung. Great for oil changes when the ramps are tied up with other jobs.

[bonesX]

Great feedback thanks

I'll go for a Pela 6L

[Ed.]

Haven't used one and probably wouldn't, oil change is the only time I look at the bottom of the car. Can't be that bad if engine is designed with it in mind, main dealers have been using them for years.

[ean21]

The principle is sound (Almost all inboard marine engines require an extractor). You wont get it all out, but nor will the sump drain plug - think about the oil cooler for example.

I've got an electric one and a vacuum one. The Vacuum one is probably better. The key is getting the oil warm enough to run, same as any oil-change really.

[bonesX]

ean21 said:

The principle is sound (Almost all inboard marine engines require an extractor). You wont get it all out, but nor will the sump drain plug - think about the oil cooler for example.

I've got an electric one and a vacuum one. The Vacuum one is probably better. The key is getting the oil warm enough to run, same as any oil-change really.

60% warm is the recommended...?

[Mr2Mike]

bakerstreet said:

They can never get everything out in the same way that draining from the drain plug can.

I used to get MORE out with a Pela on my Fiat coupe parked down my drive than I could out of the drain plug. The dipstick tube directed the drain pipe right into the corner of the sump where the oil would gather. Possibly a fairly uncommon situation, but if you change your oil regularly it should make no difference anyway.