Opinions on Fluid Extractors for oil change

[AeroF16]

Not Hellcat specific but I'm thinking about buying one for my Father for Christmas. He is getting a bit older and all of his vehicles now have an oil filter located on the topside of the engine, so adding an extractor to his tool kit will allow him to not have to get under the car for oil changes.

However, he is a nuclear engineer, so if it doesn't get every drop out (or as good as you would by pulling the drain plug), then he probably won't go for it. I have never used one because I always rotate tires when I do oil changes (or align some other kind of maintenance with it), so I always have the car in the air anyways. I'm also not old as balls, so I can still get under the car (shots fired!).

Would appreciate any input from those of you that have used them.

 

[BULL]

I haven't, nor would use them, but an interesting data point is Mercedes uses them in their service centers (so I've heard).

I feel like too much oil would remain behind.

All that being said, I've been thinking about one for other fluid changes, primarily coolant.

 

[AeroF16]

I watched videos because that was my concern too and I know it will be his.

Some extracted around 0.5L (yes, mostly for my Father’s M3 that’s a pain to jack up and get under) less than what the full change w/ filter amount called for and some extracted everything but a few drops.

So if it extracted less, the question is how much less and whether or not:

1. The fluid was filled to the correct level at the last time.
2. Are there leaks?
3. Does it burn a bit of oil?

I remember some Cadillacs that went through 1 quart between changes and Cadillac saying that was within spec…

 

[16GoManGoHC2]

If he’s a every drop kind of guy He’s probably not going to like it. Maybe a set of low profile ramps or a quick jacks might be a better present?

 

[Piening2150]

I got one for my wife's Jeep. She has the V6 and the cartridge oil filter is on top, so with the extractor I don't have to get under the vehicle at all. Only used it once so far, but it got as much oil out as pulling the plug. All done in about 10 minutes too.

For my truck (or any other vehicle with a bottom mount filter) I'll continue to do it the 'old fashioned way' since I have to get under there anyway.

 

[Magnified]

I used one with my old 5 liter s500 with the oil filter at the top front of the motor. I found generally a quarter liter didn't come out if you just placed the siphon and let the unit run. Being me, I monk eyed w it and found by simply repositioning it once or twice I could get almost all the oil out easily. While it was not 100%, unless you leave the oil pan draining for an extended period Of time in a regular oil change my calculations were showing that it was probably the same amount of oil that you would leave in the pan and passages anyway. Unless you're disassembling it and drying all of the components. So if you're not somebody who disassembles the pan, crank, etc... and wipes it down, I think the system should be fine but again that's just a personal observation. As with anything I believe the performance will also be dependent on the quality of the unit you buy. There may also be complications from the architecture of the particular motor. I never investigated whether the Mercedes-Benz 5 liter was specifically designed to assist in Scavenging as much oil as possible by the shape of the oil pan bottom or other particulars and obviously that could also play a role any amount of oil that's easily extracted.

 

[Jimmy N.]

I feel like too much oil would remain behind.

I wouldn't worry about the amount of oil remaining, but that all the worst crap that has fallen out of suspense will still be at the bottom of the pan.

 

[Magnified]

I changed the s500 while it was warm to try and maximize particulate retention for just that reason.

 

[Jimmy N.]

Okay, I could be persuaded to use a fluid extractor...on a car I'm selling.
If it's to a dealer, not a private party.

 

[69 is fine]

I have used one on a Albin diesel boat. Where it is impossible to drain the engine oil unless you pull the engine. I also used it on my wife's Toyota Rav4 transmission. My father was a forty plus year Aerospace engineer. He would let the oil drain out all day then over night. Or longer.

I can tell you from experience, that some engines can take a very long time to drain all of the oil. Check the manual read the fine print. For oil and oil filter change, Then check for the engine's total oil capacity. Also consider that crap runs down hill. So you might have to jack the back of the car up. Or jack it up from the side. To angle all of the oil to dip to the oil stick side. If you are using a CCP pump consider an oil prime. So it doesn't pump its guts out..Check your dip stick level first on level ground. Then pump the used ( six or seven?) quarts of oil into a known sized container.
I have a Dodge 2500 diesel truck. After each oil change, I pour the twelve used quarts of oil back into the used empty gallon jugs. That way I get an idea of how much oil the engine has used.

 

[moparjim]

I used one once. I borrowed it from work to drain a transmission. While it worked ok for this task. It was a pita to clean after. This extractor had the ability to fill also so it had to be cleaned. With the cleaning it would have been faster to drop the pan. After the experience I decided not to purchase one.

If I was using it for the sole purpose of draining oil I guess it would be ok.
My issue is I take forever to drain the oil.
I get 13-15 ounces out of my oil cooler on the cat for instance. So in this case there would likely be .5 of a quart or more not drained by siphoning.

If he would be ok with good enough when draining/siphoning the oil then sure it has its value for simplicity of the task. If he is a drain for an hour or more guy, or will need to clean out the oil extractor and tank after emptying it then not so much.

 

[Piening2150]

 

[69 is fine]

Funny picture,

Not so funny if you are Dyslexic or have had assorted Traumatic brain injury's.. or have a lot of retard in y ha.. If you have the trifecta (all three.)
I always, well 99.99% of the time... hold the wrench in my hand and turn the ratchet. First.

With my previous post, I quoted some vehicles take a very long time to fully drain the free oil. After changing the oil on my old BMW K100. I rolled to the left and started on my 2008 Suzuki B king.. I loosened the drain plug the wrong way. Then I didn't want to remove the oil pan, exhaust /seat ect, ect. So I let it drain..drip for almost two weeks. Then finally I flushed the oil pan with brake cleaner. Retreaded the oil pan, tried some Devon specialized steel putty. On a threaded insert. Let it dry for a few weeks, torqued the drain bolt. Crossed my fingers then refilled it with oil.
That 10W-40 Mobil 1 full synthetic oil has a lot a creep in it, maybe even more than the Royal Purple stuff?
Sure seems if you wanted to get all of the oil out of a hellcat. Well I guess turning it over like a 5hp Briggs and Stranton mini bike to drain the oil is a no go. But you would get that pesky oil in the heads low spots.

Still waiting for the 2022 hell cat red eye jail break online build date? Though I doubt you could order one in1969 B body Ivy green metallic with green vinyl bucket seats, (green seat belts) fake wood on the doors, dash and console trim with a black vinyl top. Just like my mothers Plymouth. It would be one of none.

Cheers, Earl

 

[parttimer]

Jaguar is the same way, if you pull the plug, you have to replace it and the gasket. If he is concerned about getting it all, pump out as much as you can, add half a quart of fresh and pump again. I just picked up a Jaguar F-Pace, their oil change frequency is 15k miles or once per year. I'm debating on getting something similar then pulling out a quart every month or so and adding fresh.