When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I was pretty sure I would be doing a traditional oil drain from the bottom of the pan, but had second thoughts when I saw the oil pan setup. I found an oil extraction pump at Northern Tool that's fairly small but includes everything needed for about $20. The pump extracted the 5.8 quarts in about 5 minutes.
Pump includes all hoses and clamps needed for oil extraction via the dipstick tube.
The power connections are very conveniently located for easy hookup of the power clamps.
This is quick and easy! No more jacking up the car and climbing under it for oil changes.
Wow, great find. For $20, I would've bought that instead of my MityVac that costed $120 (and sucks out the oil slower than that pump). Not to mention, with the MityVac, I would have to then dump the oil into the used containers, which can be very messy if you spill (and always do spill some). Of course I could always just evacuate the fluid back into the used containers, but that's another 15 minutes lol!
Yeah, I just pumped the oil into my old rectangular drain container and took it to over to the recycle center. The whole setup winds up and fits back in that little box so very little extra garage space is needed.
Did you experience any issue getting the hose all the way down into the pan?
The siphon hose is slightly bigger and more rigid than an aquarium air hose. It will straighten out and hold it's shape so I formed it straight, and fed it down the dipstick tube until it hit 'bottom'. (About 1" further than the dipsticks full length.) The hose fits easily within the dipstick tube.
For Canada purchases, on-line may be the only option. (Northerntool.com) The hose will go about an inch deeper than this mark when inserted into the dipstick tube.
Last edited by twowheelin; 10-25-2016 at 01:11 AM.
Performed my first topside oil change yesterday with the oil extraction pump from Northern Tool. Performed flawlessly,no mess, and best of all no having to remove underside panels. Was done in less than 30 minutes and that included putting the pump together.
Performed my first topside oil change yesterday with the oil extraction pump from Northern Tool. Performed flawlessly,no mess, and best of all no having to remove underside panels. Was done in less than 30 minutes and that included putting the pump together.
Isn't that the best .. I have one and worked perfectly
Okay, this thread is back from the dead and some seem to be jumping on the, "this is easier so it must be great bandwagon". I was faced with this same choice.
Everything comes with a cost; by not dropping the underside panels you fail the opportunity to inspect your ride. You can't check for oil leaks or seeps, you can't check the motor mounts, you can't check the O2 sensor harnesses, you can't check the transmission harness plug or the oil pan. You're not spending the time checking the steering gear or the seals around the ball joints or any hydraulic lines. You're not looking for loose harness clips or abraded lines. Heck, just review the Mercedes service sheet and you'll see all that you are missing!
You may save a few minutes now but there is a very good chance you're going to pay for it with multiple hours of labor later and not at a time of your choosing....
Meh. FWIW, I spend 4 minutes to raise my car, then 3 minutes to drop the panels, then 4 minutes to reinstall. Yes, I timed myself. And by dropping the panels I once discovered that a motor mount had ruptured. Another time I discovered I had a problem with the transmission harness connector. And yet a different time that a rear main seal was beginning to leak. Yet another inspection a bad flex-disc. Inspections matter.
Everything is a tradeoff. Less time on maintenance versus thoroughness of inspection of the car to catch potential problems before they have a chance to kill you or your family. Maybe I take this a bit more seriously since I have a pair of E55's and they tend to break things in a loud and very unfriendly fashion.
I am really very sorry that I have not yet convinced you young gentlemen that there is more to maintaining your car than just changing your oil then feeling warm & fuzzy that all will be well for decades. Maintenance of the many hundreds of parts of a vehicle is a wholistic thing. Most need to be monitored & some serviced.
In your throw away society this philosophy may be less relevant but anybody who plans to keep a car for 15 or even 20 years it is critical. After all it is a beautiful piece of highly technical engineering & should be respected as such.
I am really very sorry that I have not yet convinced you young gentlemen that there is more to maintaining your car than just changing your oil then feeling warm & fuzzy that all will be well for decades. Maintenance of the many hundreds of parts of a vehicle is a wholistic thing. Most need to be monitored & some serviced.
In your throw away society this philosophy may be less relevant but anybody who plans to keep a car for 15 or even 20 years it is critical. After all it is a beautiful piece of highly technical engineering & should be respected as such.
In the name of the father ,Amen.
You should become a preacher ....
Don't think people would disagree but don't lose track of the topic of this thread, it is about using a cheap pump to do your oil changes. That was pretty much it.... Has nothing to do with overall maintance at least originally but this seems to have gone a completely different direction just because people didn't go under their cars.
@Carsy thank you!! That's exacly the point of the thread. Cheap pump that does a decent job. It was never meant as an argument to persuade people to never check the undercarriage or get under the car. I would like to think that everyone that buys a car that sold new for 40k+ will execute due diligence on maintaining such a great machine. . But we all know that's not always true.
10-24-2016, 01:57 AM
....
........
