Anyone ever used this? (vac oil changer)

[thefisl]

Has anyone ever tried this contraption? Does it work? Is there any risk of damage or anything? Seems pretty simple put you never know........ Any input would be greatly appreciated....... Hey Defiant, I figure you've probably never used this but with your great technical approach can you see anything wrong with using this thing? Thanx


http://www.skymall.com/webapp/skystore?process=prodDisplay&action=&pid=69667127&catId=Search

 

[defaced]

I've never even seen anything like that. Although it looks neat, I would never use it simply because I like to change my oil.

And that description says that it takes a lot of time and is messy and you can burn your fingers. . Takes me about 15 minutes, I never get any oil on the floor, and the solution to not burning your fingers would be: don't change the oil when it's hot!

Anyways, back to the point, like I said, I'd never use it but it looks like it'd be helpful, just don't know how reliable it would be.

 

[91boost]

...and the solution to not burning your fingers would be: don't change the oil when it's hot!

You should always change the oil when it is at operating temperature.

 

[Defiant]

Eh, it won't quite get all the oil, it'll drail a little less than the plug will. You might want to look at the Fram quick-drain if oil changes are that much of a nuisance for you.
I don't really get having to pump it up when you have that nice 2-liter vacuum pump right there- hook it up to the intake manifold at idle to draw a vacuum into it (uh, not to suck the oil out, duh).

 

[thefisl]

yeah i like changing my oil too but i live in an apt complex where people freak out if they see my damn hood open......management states that we can only add or top off liquids, i saw the quick drain but i would still have to raise the car up some and therefore probably raise a few brows from these damn people!! my only other choice would be to go to jiffy lube and see those chumps charge twice as much for something i could easily do plus they always seem to put too much oil in so that when i check my oil levels im always above the top lline........will that cause a problem?

 

[Rogue9]

For an apartment I think it would be handy to have around. Plus its has a few other things is could be used for. It would be helpful incase you over fill something.

 

[Defiant]

they always seem to put too much oil in so that when i check my oil levels im always above the top lline........will that cause a problem?

Over-oiling can cause the same damage as a lack of oil: if it gets whipped by the crank to entrain enough air, it's the same as pumping no oil to a bearing. The other hazard is a risk of blowing out seals. However, it does take a huge overfilling to actually cause either of these.

 

[sonicnofadz]

yeah i like changing my oil too but i live in an apt complex where people freak out if they see my damn hood open......management states that we can only add or top off liquids, i saw the quick drain but i would still have to raise the car up some and therefore probably raise a few brows from these damn people!! my only other choice would be to go to jiffy lube and see those chumps charge twice as much for something i could easily do plus they always seem to put too much oil in so that when i check my oil levels im always above the top lline........will that cause a problem?

I totally know how you feel. I live in an apartment complex that has the same type of policy. Luckily I talked to them about it, and there is like a back part of the lot where no one ever parks and I can do all my work back there. Anyways, I think this thing is a huge waste of money. I can drain my oil without jacking the car up just buy getting on the ground and using an adjustable wrench (reaching around the front left wheel). I just place a drain pan under it and undo the plug bolt. The oil filter is also easily taken off without raising the car.

 

[ZarZ]

Let me say from seeing these thing in action...I feel that these pumps are a gimic, first off on the mess factor....pulling the filter is still messy with these. Plus my cousin always used one of these contraptions but it was electric. Later bought the car from him and changed the oil with the plug and there was so much debris in the oil I thought it was stew.

The best way to change oil is when the motor is hot. Heres why:
1. When hot the moisture is not seperated from the oil thus leaving with it.
2. When hot the oil comes out better, when its flowing faster out the drain it drags more debris out.

Other tips:
1. If you do it hot...wear work gloves. Problem solved.
2. To reduce splatter and mess get a nice high walled oil drain pan.
3. To reduce splatter and mess don't have the car lifted 30 feet above the drain pan.
4. When putting the new filter on take a little FRESH oil on the oring and then screw it on by hand, that way the thing is not insanely tight for the next oil change
5. For those that are not as strong or paranoid, they make sockets that go on the end on the filters so you can SNUG them better (please don't use these to torque it on like its a lugnut)
6. While you have the plug out check the gasket.
7. If you can't get filter off with a filter socket, wrench, or channel locks.....try stabbing through the side of the filter with a screw driver.

Thats just my 2¢.