Cheap oil extractor [Archive] - bimmerfest

Lansing

03-01-2003, 10:01 AM

Originally posted by AV8ER
Thought I'd let you guys know that harbor freight has an alternative to the more expensive extractor from Griot's.

Here is a link to it..

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=45403itemnumber=45403

I'm in the market. Did you end up with this extractor, and if so, how does it work!!? Recommend?

thanks...

Kaz

03-01-2003, 10:15 AM

That looks similar to the TopSider that's been around for some time.

IMO I think the Mityvacs have one advantage that you can see how much oil got sucked up, both for checking to see if it all got out (and how much to put back in) and so to not overflow the tank.

Also I've heard that the TopSider's metal tank collapses on occasion due to the vacuum.

Bob325

03-01-2003, 06:42 PM

I have the Griots and have had a similar experience to Chipster. You can literally change the oil in a suit and show up at work within the hour.---Wear gloves---

http://e46fanatics.com/members/Tim325/S2.jpg

albtsang

03-01-2003, 07:34 PM

Has anyone actually determined if these oil extractors actually pull out all the oil from the pan? I'd think that it is car dependent, since the dipstick settles into a different part of the oil pan on each car. In particular, I'm interested in knowing if anyone has drained the oil using the extractor, then went below and drained the remaining oil through the oil plug. It would be interesting to know the "efficiency" of the extractor vs. conventional drainage. Also, I noticed that it takes about 10-15 minutes to completely drain the oil, but through the plug the majority of the oil is drained within 1 minute. So this extended time would allow more particles to settle to the bottom (and be missed if extractor not 100% efficient).

I have not personally drained the oil through the dipstick, but would like to know how good it is. I have personally changed oil on about 500+ cars - used to work at an oil change during summers. And I've change the oil in my car about 30+ times. Since the BMW has the oil filter on the top, I'd never have to crawl under the car to change the oil. Whereas my Probe has the oil filter on the bottom, so I'd have to be under there anyways.

beauport

03-01-2003, 08:33 PM

Originally posted by albtsang
Has anyone actually determined if these oil extractors actually pull out all the oil from the pan?
YES, both in personal experience and from "professional" testers who found that in most cases the extractor removed more oil than standard draining. Do some searches and you can pull up a number of reports using an extractor.

mullhaupt

03-01-2003, 10:50 PM

I can hardly beleive this will suck up metal shavings , sludge and so on through this little tube, when you use the drain plug and the oil is at operating temps the oil flows very fast and everything at the bottom of the pan flows out, there is always some that remains 4 or five ounces, this is in all cars, I have removed many pans, and when you do you will no you have to add a little more oil the first time you refill the clean pan,

Also Chipster you said you took out 5 quarts of oil and were a quart low, if you did take out 5qts and a qt low then you left a quart in the pan according to the owners manuel and my experience your car holds 6.9 qts or 6.5 liters check your owners manuel page 195

Engine oil and filter change quarts (liters) 320i, 325i, 330i:
approx. 6.9 (approx. 6.5)
325xi, 330xi:
approx. 7.9 (approx.
BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil
For details: page 140

beauport

03-02-2003, 08:54 AM

Originally posted by mullhaupt
I can hardly beleive this will suck up metal shavings , sludge and so on through this little tube,

If you're getting this in your BMW oil you have far greater problems than the concern over using an oil extractor. Your filter didn't "filter" the metal shavings and sludge? :dunno:

Visit a boat yard and see how the oil is removed from multi-million dollar boats.

Kaz

03-02-2003, 06:56 PM

This doesn't work as well on certain cars than with others. On M54-engined E46s, we've found that with the front end of the car up, it leaves 200ml of oil that will drain out the botton. With the front slightly down, it appears it gets all the oil out.

I let my brother borrow it and he says it worked well on a 92 Mitsu Diamante (with a later engine) but wouldn't get anything on a 93 (identical engine).

Though I like and use the extractor, I still plan (and do) a conventional bottom drain on occasion.

mullhaupt

03-02-2003, 08:01 PM

Originally posted by beauport
If you're getting this in your BMW oil you have far greater problems than the concern over using an oil extractor. Your filter didn't "filter" the metal shavings and sludge? :dunno:

Visit a boat yard and see how the oil is removed from multi-million dollar boats.

If I could AFFORD A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR SHIP i COULD CARE LESS THEN IF I HAD TO BUY A 50,000+ DOLLAR ENGINE EVERY FEW YEARS, ANYWAYS I WASNT TALKING JUST ABOUT BIMMERS BUT CARS IN GENERAL, MOST PEOPLE IN THESE FORUMS TAKE OIL CHANGES RELIGIOUSLY AND I DOUBT THERE IS SLUDGE IN THERE ENGINES BUT TO REMOVE IT ALL i DOUBT IT DOES IN ALL CARS, bUT THIS IS MY OPINION AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO ARGUE .

HEY ANYWAYS BEAUPORT WHERE ARE YOU AT IN VIRGINIA, i AM FROM HAMPTON, IF YOUR FAMILIAR WITH THAT, JUST NEXT TO NEWPORT NEWS, HOWS THE WEATHER OUT THERE ANY ICE STORMS LATELY

Lansing

03-02-2003, 08:51 PM

Originally posted by mullhaupt
If I could AFFORD A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR SHIP i COULD CARE LESS THEN IF I HAD TO BUY A 50,000+ DOLLAR ENGINE EVERY FEW YEARS, ANYWAYS I WASNT TALKING JUST ABOUT BIMMERS BUT CARS IN GENERAL, MOST PEOPLE IN THESE FORUMS TAKE OIL CHANGES RELIGIOUSLY AND I DOUBT THERE IS SLUDGE IN THERE ENGINES BUT TO REMOVE IT ALL i DOUBT IT DOES IN ALL CARS, bUT THIS IS MY OPINION AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO ARGUE .

HEY ANYWAYS BEAUPORT WHERE ARE YOU AT IN VIRGINIA, i AM FROM HAMPTON, IF YOUR FAMILIAR WITH THAT, JUST NEXT TO NEWPORT NEWS, HOWS THE WEATHER OUT THERE ANY ICE STORMS LATELY

I gotcha. And at the same time, I've seen two or three independent tests on this subject. Interested, because I had similar concerns/thoughts.

If I find the url's I will post them, but they basically said that the extraction process did a good job. Hack and the tech fest did a test and came up with a pretty insignificant amount of oil when they did the extraction then followed up by undoing the drain plug. Another third party had even more positive results.

I'm still pondering, so I appreciate the good input.

Lansing

beauport

03-03-2003, 04:33 AM

Originally posted by mullhaupt

HEY ANYWAYS BEAUPORT WHERE ARE YOU AT IN VIRGINIA, i AM FROM HAMPTON, IF YOUR FAMILIAR WITH THAT, JUST NEXT TO NEWPORT NEWS, HOWS THE WEATHER OUT THERE ANY ICE STORMS LATELY
I'm further north, about 20 minutes south of DC. No ice storms but plenty of snow this year.

Here's the extractor (http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/MIT-7200.html) I use. I think its the Pela under a different name, just like Griots uses this one under their name.

LarryN

03-03-2003, 05:10 AM

One more thing that differentiates the Harborfreight one form the MityVac one is that teh MityVac has a "reverse switch" and once you extract the oils you can hit the reverse switch and fill up your oil bottles again extremely easily. I didn't see that the Harborfreight one lists that as a feature.

Lansing

03-03-2003, 07:51 AM

Originally posted by beauport
I'm further north, about 20 minutes south of DC. No ice storms but plenty of snow this year.

Here's the extractor (http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/MIT-7200.html) I use. I think its the Pela under a different name, just like Griots uses this one under their name.

OK...I'm sold. That's the one I'll be looking at. The "reverse" feature is important, too, as Larry points out. Beauport...is the 6.5 liter enough? Should I step up to the 8L?

I think the Techfest guys here in So Cal mentioned the larger to prevent having to do two passes.

Lansing

Jon S.

03-03-2003, 07:54 AM

Now,

This is what you call an oil extractor...

:thumbup:

3or5er

03-03-2003, 07:58 AM

Originally posted by Lansing
OK...I'm sold. That's the one I'll be looking at. The "reverse" feature is important, too, as Larry points out. Beauport...is the 6.5 liter enough? Should I step up to the 8L?

I think the Techfest guys here in So Cal mentioned the larger to prevent having to do two passes.

Lansing

What's up with the processing charge?:mad:

LarryN

03-03-2003, 08:31 AM

Originally posted by 3or5er
What's up with the processing charge?:mad:

I just added the socket for the oil filter onto my order to get over $50, and avoid the charge. They didnt have the socket in stock, so my order was under $50, but they couldn't charge me the extra charges. :thumbup:

beauport

03-03-2003, 08:31 AM

Originally posted by Lansing
Beauport...is the 6.5 liter enough? Should I step up to the 8L?
I think the Techfest guys here in So Cal mentioned the larger to prevent having to do two passes.

Lansing

I've found the 6.5 large enough and didn't need to make two passes, though even if you did take the hose out, reverse it for a minute or so and then go back, it would be a simple operation.

BWT, get a couple people to buy the extractors from the tool warehouse and you also get free shipping, a new buyer discount for a first time buyer. Makes them really cheap.

F1Crazy

03-03-2003, 08:36 AM

OK, my $.02: get the mightyvac from the toolwarehouse.com like beauport said, but get the bigger one and also get S&K torque wrench, it comes handy when you want to torque the oil filter housing cover or when you want to do traditional oil change.
I got the 3/8" wrench with 10-100ft.lbs setting. You'll find more uses for this tool.
The total on order was something like $119 and shipping above $100 is free and processing fee is waived.

robj213

03-03-2003, 11:13 AM

OK, my $.02: get the mightyvac from the toolwarehouse.com like beauport said, but get the bigger one and also get S&K torque wrench, it comes handy when you want to torque the oil filter housing cover or when you want to do traditional oil change.

Ok a couple questions, does the bigger (8.8L) one have the "reverse" feature as the 6.5L one?

This is probably really stupid but I am not sure. On the 3/8" torque wrench, can you only use it on 3/8" bolts? Or can you interchange the head of the wrench to use it on different size bolts?? Seems kind of weird to me they only have the wrench in 2 sizes 3/8" and 1/2". ??

PhilH

03-03-2003, 11:13 AM

I just ordered the larger MityVac after doing some research on here. It's on sale now for $53.67 at thetoolwarehouse and it seems they've lowered their threshold for processing charges from a $100 order to a $50 order, so the $10 charge didn't apply. :)

PhilH

03-03-2003, 11:23 AM

Originally posted by robj213
Ok a couple questions, does the bigger (8.8L) one have the "reverse" feature as the 6.5L one?

This is probably really stupid but I am not sure. On the 3/8" torque wrench, can you only use it on 3/8" bolts? Or can you interchange the head of the wrench to use it on different size bolts?? Seems kind of weird to me they only have the wrench in 2 sizes 3/8" and 1/2". ??
From what I just read doing searches on bimmerfest, the 8.8 liter model has the reverse feature, and the 6.5 liter one does not.

If I understand your second question correctly, 3/8" or 1/4" are the standard sizes for the drive on rachets (the drive is the square thing on the socket wrench to attach the sockets). You can attach any size socket to it for any size bolt.
http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/media/SK-4058.jpg

bsm325xi

03-03-2003, 11:28 AM

Originally posted by PhilH
I just ordered the larger MityVac after doing some research on here. It's on sale now for $53.67 at thetoolwarehouse and it seems they've lowered their threshold for processing charges from a $100 order to a $50 order, so the $10 charge didn't apply. :)

I will also be placing an order for this one too, but would also like to order a torque wrench and oil filter socket also. Please let me know if these are the correct ones to order. Thanks.

TORQUE WRENCH:

K-D Tools
3/8" Drive Micrometer Torque Wrench
Order# KD 3459

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/KD-3459.html

or

K-D Tools
3/8" Drive Micrometer Torque Wrench
Order# KD 3460

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/KD-3460.html

OIL FILTER SOCKET:

SK Hand Tool
BMW Axle Nut Socket - 3/4" Drive, 12 Point - 36mm
Order# SK 48136

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/TTW367.html#2872

ride365

03-03-2003, 11:59 AM

Originally posted by Dave 330i
1. I don't need or use a ramp. I park the front end of the car at the lowest part of my driveway where it meets the street. The extra height between the ground and the oil plug allows me to reach in to remove the plug. Safety is not an issue since I live in a cul-de-sac.
2. I can be sure that gravity drains all of the old oil out.
3. I don't have to clean the oil extractor after the job is done.
4. I don't have to transfer the oil in the extractor to a storage container.
5. I don't have to store the oil extractor.
6. I never have to repair or replace gravity. It always work.

So, there you have it. It may be good for you, but not for me.

i'm not saying an extractor is better. but if i can change my oil while wearing a tux, it just makes me feel pretty. the one downside is periodic replacement of the drain plug washer, but the dealer intervals take care of that for now.

1. my driveway doesn't look like yours.
2. evidence shows the extractor is just as good.
3. neither do i.
4. neither do i.
5. i don't have to store ramps
6. you're right about that, though i suspect i could probably fix whatever ails the extractor with some almighty duct tape.

So, there you have it. It may not be good for you, but it is for me.

PhilH

03-03-2003, 12:01 PM

Originally posted by bsm325xi
OIL FILTER SOCKET:

SK Hand Tool
BMW Axle Nut Socket - 3/4" Drive, 12 Point - 36mm
Order# SK 48136

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/TTW367.html#2872
DIY oil change instructions...
http://www.bmw330ci.com/DIY_Oil_Change.htm

I bought a 10lb to 100lb torque wrench since I use it for wheels (lugs at 88lbs) and plan to use it for oil changes (oil filter cap at 18.5lbs).

robj213

03-03-2003, 12:12 PM

Thanks for the explanation PhilH on the wrench question, exactly what I was looking for. :thumbup:

i'm not saying an extractor is better. but if i can change my oil while wearing a tux, it just makes me feel pretty. the one downside is periodic replacement of the drain plug washer, but the dealer intervals take care of that for now.

How come you still have to replace the drain plug washer if you are using an oil extractor to change oil???

ride365

03-03-2003, 12:17 PM

Originally posted by robj213
How come you still have to replace the drain plug washer if you are using an oil extractor to change oil???

i'm told it should be replaced every so often. i guess you could wait until you actually saw a drip coming out of it, but i plan to do it every other / every few oil changes.

Kaz

03-03-2003, 12:25 PM

Originally posted by ride365
i'm told it should be replaced every so often. i guess you could wait until you actually saw a drip coming out of it.

I disagree. It's not some mechanical wear component. If you're not touching it, it shouldn't ever need replace replacement. Do you ever replace the (identical) copper washer behind the temp or pressure sensor?

ride365

03-03-2003, 12:30 PM

Originally posted by Kaz
I disagree. It's not some mechanical wear component. If you're not touching it, it shouldn't ever need replace replacement. Do you ever replace the (identical) copper washer behind the temp or pressure sensor?

you would know better than i, so i take your word for it.

mullhaupt

03-03-2003, 09:20 PM

Originally posted by PhilH
DIY oil change instructions...
http://www.bmw330ci.com/DIY_Oil_Change.htm

I bought a 10lb to 100lb torque wrench since I use it for wheels (lugs at 88lbs) and plan to use it for oil changes (oil filter cap at 18.5lbs).

Just want to let you no you should remove the oil filter first or during the time you have the drain plug out so all the oil from the oil filter cannister will drain down to the oil pan, those instructions tell you to change the filter last after you put the bolt back into the pan

The HACK

03-03-2003, 09:43 PM

Originally posted by Dave 330i
My 2 cents worth on oil extractor. I know some of you rave about it like a traveling salesman selling snake oil to cure all kinds of pain. You also mentioned that an oil extractor is used in million dollar boats. Well, they use it in boats probably because that may be the only way of getting the oil out in a cramped place.

Why I am still using the old fashion way, ie, removing the drain plug and letting gravity do all the work.

1. I don't need or use a ramp. I park the front end of the car at the lowest part of my driveway where it meets the street. The extra height between the ground and the oil plug allows me to reach in to remove the plug. Safety is not an issue since I live in a cul-de-sac.
2. I can be sure that gravity drains all of the old oil out.
3. I don't have to clean the oil extractor after the job is done.
4. I don't have to transfer the oil in the extractor to a storage container.
5. I don't have to store the oil extractor.
6. I never have to repair or replace gravity. It always work.

So, there you have it. It may be good for you, but not for me.

You should really come to one of our tech sessions when we do oil change with the extractor sometimes...It'll change your mind.

1) No need to use a ramp or even park your car in any special way. All work can be done from up top.

2) Gravity can work against you as well...The way the pan is shaped, if you park with the rear of the car lower than the front you may have some oil stuck near the back corner of the pan.

3) Neither do I. The extractor doesn't get dirty at all.

4) Neither do I. I just bring the extractor to a local facility to dump the oil.

5) I don't have to store a container.

6) Same goes for vaccums.

Seriously, come see how it works and then judge for yourself. :thumbup:

epc

06-10-2004, 05:57 AM

I just changed the oil yesterday with Griot's Garage's oil extractor. The extractor sucked oil until it was full. Although the extractor has an advertised 7 qts volume, its internal float will cut off the flow just before the oil reach the top of the container. At that point, it sure looked to me it had sucked out 6.9 qts of oil. To be sure, I dumped out some oil, reattached the hose and sucked again. Just a little bit more oil came out.

I am more than sure the extractor got all the oil from engine. In fact, I wish I had found and bought a model with a greater capacity than 7 qts.

2 things I noticed:

1) None of the DIY's I found on the net regarding oil extractor tells you to remove the oil filler cap. I removed the cap during sucking, and could feel the air moving into the engine. I imagine removing the filler cap will ease the suction.

2) You should really give the extractor a few more pumps half way through and at the end. I stuck the suction hose all the way down to the end, and I stopped extracting only when I heard the air sucking sound through the hose.

rruiter

06-10-2004, 08:32 AM

Here's a trick I learned recently that prevents disasters when draining oil.
Take a shop vacuum and stick the hose into the oil-filler cap. switch on the vacuum so it creates a vacuum inside the engine. Now crawl under the car and unscrew the drain plug. No oil will run out yet ! Put a container under the opening and switch off the vacuum. Oil starts running out.

so, no hot oil running over your hands, no plugs that fall into the hot oil. This trick came form a guy that changes oil on diesel engines. The oil from diesel engines leaves nasty stains so that's why he always does it.

Unless you have an oil filter that is accessible from under the hood (likebmw) I don't see a need for an extractor since you have to crawl under the car anyways to get to the filter.

All links in this thread seem dead. Does anyone know a link to reasonably priced extractor ?