Thank you very much ItalianJoe1. I tried your method of simply making a sealed connection between the MityVac extraction apparatus and the top of the dip stick tube. Worked like a charm. Got 6-plus quarts out.
This method has the added advantage of allowing a larger extraction tube, so it works faster. I'm still curious, and will probably never know, why I wasn't able to make it work by putting an extraction tube down into the dip stick tube. |
Originally Posted by Arrie
(Post 7021488)
Dip stick tube should not go all the way down in the oil pan and you should not get all oil out using this method.
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Originally Posted by socci
(Post 7021921)
My method absolutely extracts almost every drop. The first time I did it I even removed the oil pan bolt and there was nothing but drops left in it. My mityvac tube wasn't even close to all the way down the dipstick tube.
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So, I think socci and markgm both agree that simply making a seal to the top of the dip stick tube as first suggested to me by ItalianJoe1 works great.
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Originally Posted by markgm
(Post 7021929)
Yep, came here to say the same thing. The rubber part (with the tube flush) is the only thing that does into the dip stick tube. No need to try to get the tube to the bottom.
You drive the same car as I do so next time just for heck of it I'll try without the small tube going in the bottom of the engine. It still don't explain why wgray105 could not pull oil out with the small tube all the way in unless the tube really never went all the way in...? |
puzzles me as well, but as long as the problem is solved for OP...happy days!:y
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Originally Posted by Arrie
(Post 7022024)
Then they build the engine with the dip stick tube going all the way to the bottom of the oil pan.
You drive the same car as I do so next time just for heck of it I'll try without the small tube going in the bottom of the engine. It still don't explain why wgray105 could not pull oil out with the small tube all the way in unless the tube really never went all the way in...? Do pull the filter first, at least loosen it. It will hold almost a full quart, so if you vacuum first and then release the filter, you miss that extra quart of dirty oil and will overfill if you just pour 8 quarts back in. |
Originally Posted by ItalianJoe1
(Post 7023363)
Yeah, all but a few very special ones have the dipstick all the way down so it's suitable for vacuum extraction. As noted, if you seal the top tightly, you will get almost all of it.
Do pull the filter first, at least loosen it. It will hold almost a full quart, so if you vacuum first and then release the filter, you miss that extra quart of dirty oil and will overfill if you just pour 8 quarts back in. You must have a special huge oil filter as mine is so small it probably holds only a quart of a quart of oil and every time I opened it there was no oil in it. What comes to the dip stick tube it may be that the tube extends to very close to the bottom of the oil pan in all of these cars. Then when you try pulling oil out with the small vacuum tube it pulls oil out until the oil flow thru the small gap between the dip stick tube end and oil pan bottom gets restricted enough so the vacuum tube starts sucking air that enters thru that dip stick tube. If you seal the top of the dip stick tube you get the whole effect of the vacuum, which helps getting more or all of the oil out. What restricts the oil flow is the viscosity of the not hot enough oil. Above explains my experience when all oil did not come out when oil was not very hot. Every time since I heated the oil well I got all of the oil out with the skinny vacuum tube in the dip stick tube all the way in the bottom. It makes a lot of sense if MB really built it this way. They do not need to take time to heat the oil when they extract it. This also explains some weird oil level checks discussed under some other topics where dip stick first does not show oil level at the level it should be. |
I drive the car normally. When I get home, I open the hood and let it sit for 1 hour in my garage. I have the MityVac 7201. I use the largest hose and push it into the dipstick tube where it seals about 1" from the top. Within the 2nd pump of the air cylinder, oil is coming out. Loosen the oil filter housing and take the oil filler cap off. I give it a pump about every 30 seconds and 6 minutes later, 8 liters of oil. Dump out a quart or two and finish sucking out that last 1/2 qt. That's all of the oil. 8.6 qts total.
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Originally Posted by ItalianJoe1
(Post 7023363)
Yeah, all but a few very special ones have the dipstick all the way down so it's suitable for vacuum extraction. As noted, if you seal the top tightly, you will get almost all of it.
Do pull the filter first, at least loosen it. It will hold almost a full quart, so if you vacuum first and then release the filter, you miss that extra quart of dirty oil and will overfill if you just pour 8 quarts back in. Changed my oil a couple of weeks ago and this time I used the Mity-Vac connecting and sealing it to the top of the dip stick tube not using the skinny tube inside the dip stick tube. I got 4.5 quarts of oil out. Connected the skinny tube as I normally do and inserted it all the way down inside the dip stick tube and got rest of the 9 quarts out. Commented on the filter housing earlier already. My filter housing is 1/4 of the 1/4 qt in volume and when opening it there is only a tea spoon full of oil in it. |
Is the car 4MATIC? If it is, the front axle going through the oil pan and splitting makes it hars for the extractor method to suck everything out hence why a good ol' drain is needed.
This what my friend who is an MB mechanic told me. He used to work for the dealership before opening his own shop. |
Originally Posted by xsever
(Post 7652060)
Is the car 4MATIC? If it is, the front axle going through the oil pan and splitting makes it hars for the extractor method to suck everything out hence why a good ol' drain is needed.
This what my friend who is an MB mechanic told me. He used to work for the dealership before opening his own shop. |
Originally Posted by socci
(Post 7652201)
Mine is a 4Matic so I have to use the method of sealing the rubber groumet over the dipstick tube, not down it. I get all of the oil out without any issue with this method.
I'll probably alternate draining every other time. |
Originally Posted by Arrie
(Post 7023549)
You must have a special huge oil filter as mine is so small it probably holds only a quart of a quart of oil and every time I opened it there was no oil in it.
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I traded in my 2015 E350 for a 2017 E300. Both cars were (are) 4MATIC. The E300 has a smaller dip-stick tube, so it requires a smaller plastic oil-extraction tube. I get close to 7 quarts of oil extracted when I push the plastic tube in as far as it will go, but it takes a long time because of the small tube. But, I can live with that. It's easier than getting under the car to remove the plug. I haven't removed the plug after a vacuum extraction to see if there's any oil left. But, since the vacuum extraction removes close to 7 quarts, I figure that's good enough.
By the way, the 4-cylinder engine in this 2017 E300 out-performs the 6-cylinder engine in the previous car. Also, I purchased the extra air-suspension in the 2017 E300. Absolutely LOVE IT! It rides better than the 2015 and also handles better. That's contrary to my thinking that you trade softer ride for degraded performance. Not so in this case. I wouldn't buy another Mercedes without the air suspension. |
Why you guys want to suck the oil out when it only takes a few minutes to pop the plug and be sure it drains out the bottom? I use extractor for my jet skis, because it's the only way. It's much slower than the time it takes to remove the plastic shield under a car.
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Well jonUFO2, when you suck it out, you don't have to drive the car up onto a rack, remove the plastic shield, and crawl under the car. Sucking it out may not even be slower, but it sure is a lot easier.
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I hate myself when I do this but:
All MB engines are designed with the dipstick tube extending to the lowest point in the oil pan. There is no need and it is also counterproductive to insert a smaller diameter tube through the dipstick tube. As some on this thread have said, you need only seal the MityVac tube to the TOP OF THE DIPSTICK TUBE. It will pull all of the oil faster and more efficiently. This is the way the dealer does it. If you don't believe it, try this method next time then afterward crawl under the car and remove your drain plug. See what comes out. It will be zero and will make a believer of you. OBW, loosen the top of your oil filter canister first. If you don't the oil in the filter canister will not drain into the crankcase. Oil temp is not critical. Warm is good, say 10 minutes of driving. |
Originally Posted by rocky raccoon
(Post 7657027)
If you don't believe it, try this method next time then afterward crawl under the car and remove your drain plug. See what comes out. It will be zero and will make a believer of you.
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Originally Posted by rocky raccoon
(Post 7657027)
I hate myself when I do this but:
All MB engines are designed with the dipstick tube extending to the lowest point in the oil pan. There is no need and it is also counterproductive to insert a smaller diameter tube through the dipstick tube. As some on this thread have said, you need only seal the MityVac tube to the TOP OF THE DIPSTICK TUBE. It will pull all of the oil faster and more efficiently. This is the way the dealer does it. If you don't believe it, try this method next time then afterward crawl under the car and remove your drain plug. See what comes out. It will be zero and will make a believer of you. OBW, loosen the top of your oil filter canister first. If you don't the oil in the filter canister will not drain into the crankcase. Oil temp is not critical. Warm is good, say 10 minutes of driving. |
Originally Posted by ItalianJoe1
(Post 7021201)
We use an adapter that only seals into the top of the dipstick tube, doesn't even go down to the bottom, and it pulls all 8 quarts out. Something in your system must be leaking or not creating very much suction.
I am a recent new MB owner... picked up a CPO 2016 E250 Bluetec Diesel 4-matic in the summer, and am thinking about going back to doing my own oil changes.. mainly so that I know it is done with the right oil and right filter filter. Planning to use Liqu Moly and Mann filters. In any case, the old school guy in me prefers the conventional drain method, but access to the pan drain plug is a pain. Even with ramps, dropping the belly pans, with the car on ramps, it is no longer level. So am considering getting an extractor
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On my 550, I just jack up the left front corner and remove the plastic shield. The drain plug is at the inner rear of the pan, so the angle should actually help.
At least for my engine, Hengst is the OEM brand filter, Mann was on older models like my CLK430 but maybe others as well. I just pay the $30 for the MB box filter though I only do it once a year, because I drive less than 10k mi per year. Last time I bought a kit on Ebay, it has the filter, drain crush washer, and a bottle of window cleaner concentrate for about $32 I think. |
Personally speaking only, I’m just not a big fan of these extraction machines in general. I had the mity vac a few years ago and tossed it out. I know dealerships probably use them, but when I do my own changes, I like to sacrifice an extra quart of new to wash out the pan via the drain plug. Basically, after the old has completely drained to a drip, I put the plug back in lightly and pour a quart of fresh in from above, then drain that out. You’d be surprised at how much extra dirty oil this process washes out from the corners and crevices of the pan sometimes. I know my OCD is on display with this, but it is what it is I guess. To be fair though, I’ve not done this mb myself yet, still on the prepaid maintenance plan at the moment. |
Originally Posted by nc211
(Post 7658233)
Personally speaking only, I’m just a big fan of these extraction machines in general. I had the mity vac a few years ago and tossed it out.
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Originally Posted by nc211
(Post 7658233)
Basically, after the old has completely drained to a drip, I put the plug back in lightly and pour a quart of fresh in from above, then drain that out. You’d be surprised at how much extra dirty oil this process washes out from the corners and crevices of the pan sometimes. |
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