Oil change Sucks

[jcasey007]

Last week I invested in a vacum oil changer from Machine Mart (£150) so first weekend I did the smart car, my wifes Trajic and the my fathers Fiat, very good, no mess and with a 16 litre capacity only one trip to the dump to empty.

I came to do my Ex today and I can't get the pipe more that half way down the tube, is there a restriction half way down it, The pipe I'm using is the same size as the dip stick.

Any thoughts? before I try and find a thiner tube

cheers

J

 

[Wade99]

Hmmmmm, there's probably a slight curve where the dipstick tube is attacked to the block, but a slight bend shouldn't cause it to bind. That's the only place I can think of it getting hung up at. Is this the normal way of doing oil changes in the UK? I do my boat like this, but never a car/truck.

 

[JDraper]

Problem with vacuuming out the oil is you don't necessarily get all the stuff that falls to the bottom of the pan. You're much better off pulling the drain plug.

 

[jcasey007]

I will do alternate suck and drain and increase the tempo of the changes, change the filter when I drain.

The first one I did (my wifes car!) I pulled the sump plug once I had sucked it and therewas only an egg cup full left in the sump.

I will have a go at flattening the tube a little to see if I can get it passed the obstruction

cheers

J

 

[PHaTGRoB]

I've never tried sucking the oil out. Many dealers do this but I agree with JDraper in that some rubbish must be left in the sump. I always flush a bit of clean oil though before fitting the plug back in, hopefully to clean out a few of the last bits.
I've just changed the oil today by the old "grovel underneath" method. Draining the sump is not such a problem as the oil that pours all down your arm when removing the filter! Although it's sunny and warm here today, it's also very windy, so it didn't just pour vertically down into the container.
New K&N oil filter (with hex for easier removal) and K&N replacement panel filter also fitted.
The oil I used was Halfords 5W30 fully synthetic. It was only after I'd filled it I read the bit on the container that said it was specially formulated for Ford engines post-2006. I'm sure it'll be fine though. GRoB.

 

[jcasey007]

I also use the same oil from halford. I now have 4 sets of the free screw drivers from last week

 

[PHaTGRoB]

Likewise. I'm up to my sixth set over the last few months and am starting to run out of (grateful) beneficiaries!

 

[ihpj]

I intend to use the extraction method to do the oil/filter change on my Explorer - so this thread is timely. I'd be interested to know how this pans out for the OP.

As for extraction vs. gravity, its well proven that suction is as good, if not better, than gravity for the oil change. My Lexus, BMW, VAG cars are all now suction method when I do interim oil/filter changes and I'm a convert.

The process is reliable, simple straight forward and totally without hassle. I don't understand why anyone would prefer the gravity drain method with the mess and hassle of scrabbling under a vehicle - its time to get an extraction oil pump guys

BTW Merc./BMW/Lexus main dealers use extraction method for oil/filter changes and have done so for quite sometime.

 

[PHaTGRoB]

However, the oil fiter still needs removing from the underside, so I don't really see the benefit when set against the purchase cost of a vacuum unit. Main dealers all have decent ramps, etc to help in this bit and, as we know, their costs reflect this.

 

[jcasey007]

I guess I'm just lazy after spending 2 days under the EX changing out the back end the idea of poking a pipe in the dip stick to change the oil is quite appealing.

I wanted to get the Vac pump to I can change the oil myself on my Smart car - then don't have a sump plug at all and benefit from 4k changes.

I will have another go tomorrow and report back

j

 

[ihpj]

Just to show how easy an oil/filter change can be, HERE is my experience of using a Pela extractor on my previous vehicle. I hope it convinces some of you!

 

[Neil Tucker]

don't get down in the sumps

...must admit that I was sick and tired of the 'oily hand syndrome' and (as per another thread somewhere here) I bought one of these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fumoto-Quick-...arParts_SM&hash=item231011180b#ht_5900wt_1139

OK, so I just fitted it, but I tell you what, from the next change on, it will be drained via a hose into the old container. No more cat litter on the drive for me

Good luck

Neil

 

[jcasey007]

OK suck-sess !

I jury rigged a thinner pipe from the outer sheath of a bike brake cable.

The max size of tube that will fit is 4.2mm OD. The thinest one that came with my Pela was 6mm. I will contact them tomorrow to see if they have thinner ones as an accessory.

The brake cable outer is OK but the ID is only about 1.5mm so it took 20 mins to suck her dry

cheers

J

 

[PHaTGRoB]

Don't get me wrong, I can definitely see the benefits of sucking the main volume of oil out without having to be under the vehicle and also reducing the risk of oil on the floor.
However, I am still of the opinion that the removal of the old oil filter is by far the dirtyest part of the job which the pump doesn't solve. IHPJ's excellent description details a well designed BMW oil filter accessed from above. The Ex's is better than some designs in that it hangs vertically and is easily accessible but it can still only be removed from underneath the vehicle and leaks oil on doing so. However, it's not as bad as our 2000 Audi A4 which has one that's canted over and is located in a difficult-to-access location from above or below; it starts dribbling oil down the block and over the lower subframe, etc. as soon as the seal is broken.
Good news on your success Jim.

 

[ihpj]

OK suck-sess!

I jury rigged a thinner pipe from the outer sheath of a bike brake cable.

HmMm...well I'm going to reserve judgement until I have your full report as if I can't use the oil extractor on the Explorer, its going to make my oil/filter changes a little challenging. Please keep us posted!

 

[janolsson]

Just a note on why you are struggling to get the hose into the sump

This photo is the engine upsidedown without the upper sump on. At the top of the photo you can see the dip stick sticking out. Where the upper sump joins the block there is a drop of a couple of inches (iirc) and then part of the moulding of the sump is a plate across it's whole inside that has a number of inchish wide holes to allow the oil to drain. It is one of these the dip stick pokes thro. So the edge of the pipe is probably just getting hung up on the plate but with a bit of a jiggle it should pass thro.