Oil Extractor to Do Oil Change

[ZoomFive]

Hey, all.

Got a Pela Oil Extractor as a gift and decided to try it while doing my last oil change. It is a pump, like a Topsider, that creates a vacuum and it comes with various hoses matching the size of your dipstick tube. You insert the thing in the dipstick tube and vacuum out your oil rather than undoing the drainpan bolt.

Well... after some trial and error, I got only 2.25 quarts and then it didn't find anymore (just sucked air and bubbles).

Has anyone ever used one of these? I ended up undoing the bolt to get the rest.

Thanks,
ZoomFive

 

[cheapmiata1600]

Its not like doing an oil change the old school way is hard. And you won't get much more than 2 or so quarts out of a FS oil pan by sucking on the dipstick. You won't get much oil out of any car that way.

 

[mogi]

I thought those tools were only for taking samples to send in for analysis...

 

[1338]

dont use that all the heavy dirt/metal shavings stay in the pan that way. and it will get your motor oil dirter faster

 

[OPTIMO]

Did you lose your arms in the war? I've used those on cars that hold 7-10 quarts of oil since it's easier to carry one than find a 15 quart drain pan. But I then go back and take off the drain bolt(s) and drain the remainder into a small drain pan.

 

[trbomp5]

Def not the way to go. Get the reciept and buy something more useful, cooler and safer for your car.

 

[Pretzellogic]

I think that is designed for people who are afraid of the underside of cars, for that is where there be dragons.

 

[DeadGeneration]

I think that is designed for people who are afraid of the underside of cars, for that is where there be dragons.

hehe

 

[ZoomFive]

Yeah, I know. It was just a "toy" I wanted to try. After all, you still need to get under the P5 to get to the filter. I was disappointed with the quantity extracted though.

Folks on the MB and BMW forums have had some success and claimed that the dealers speed up their oil changes this way. Frankly, I don't see how unless it gets all the oil and access to the filter is from the top.

I am going to use it to extract fluids from hard to reach places that I do not want to use my Wet/Dry vac on.

ZoomFive

 

[OPTIMO]

Yeah, I know. It was just a "toy" I wanted to try. After all, you still need to get under the P5 to get to the filter. I was disappointed with the quantity extracted though.

Folks on the MB and BMW forums have had some success and claimed that the dealers speed up their oil changes this way. Frankly, I don't see how unless it gets all the oil and access to the filter is from the top.

I am going to use it to extract fluids from hard to reach places that I do not want to use my Wet/Dry vac on.

ZoomFive

It sure is. Here's a shot of the engine bay - oil filter is dead center.

 

[DeadGeneration]

My sister has a BMW... engines are nice and clean and covered with plastic, kinda sucks.

 

[ZoomFive]

Maybe I will try it on my BMW and see how much it extracts.


Hey, is that your BMW with the strut bar? My colleague and I were speculating that it wouldn't help a relatively stiff car unless you were doing some autocrossing. How well does it work?
ZoomFive

 

[Scott]

Wal-Mart uses the same thing in some of their oil change centers. It doesn't work all that well, and like someone said, it would pull up any debris that might be in your oil. This could potentially do more harm than good. Especially if people who don't know cars start using these thinking that's all there is to an oil change (after about a year, their filter will be clogged and half the oil will be sludge).

It's a nice concept, but not so nice in reality.

 

[peepsalot]

If you want to make oil changes simpler, you could get a fumoto drain valve. Eliminates the need for any tools.
http://www.fumotovalve.com/
I have one.

 

[OPTIMO]

Maybe I will try it on my BMW and see how much it extracts.


Hey, is that your BMW with the strut bar? My colleague and I were speculating that it wouldn't help a relatively stiff car unless you were doing some autocrossing. How well does it work?
ZoomFive

It helps stiffen up the cabrio a bit:

I've autocrossed it as well, with a bit of success. I actually posted a time quicker than an E46 M3 with Stoptech brakes on the front.

I actually just sold the Bimmer about a week ago and I'm trying looking for an Imola S52 M Coupe to replace the E46. I really like white E30 M3s as well but they just don't have enough grunt for me.

My GF has the P5 and I enjoy driving it - it's a nice change from my beater Honda Civic.