Isn't gravity draining obsolete?

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Originally Posted By: ledslinger
Why don't manufacturers put a convenient underhood oil change suction port with a quick disconnect? Dealers and oil change shops would have oil evac pumps and would not have to deal with drain plug threads, oil loss due to not tightening them, etc.

It works on boats.

So this would fix the overwhelming destroying of drain plugs?
Except for that now everyone would need a pump, with it's cost and many more parts to break and maintain. There would be MORE parts in/on the engine to possibly fail. It would eliminate anyone from performing a simple drain, if they wished.
The added costs would be paid by us.

What Mercedes did, and probably in most previous BMW, was extend the oil dipstick tube to the bottom of oil pan, MB dealers have a strong vacuum machine and just connect to the oil dipstick tube and within minute or two they can extract all oil from the pan.

Since I don't have that expensive vacuum machine, I use the Mityvac and insert a vacuum tube inside the oil dipstick tube and pump the Mityvac about 10-12 times, after 6-7 minutes I vacuumed all of 8.5 quarts from the engine.

Extending the oil dipstick tube by about 10-20" is not too complicate, not too expensive and nothing to brake down either.

Any MB and/or BMW owner ever tried the two methods: drain plug and vacuum, all of them prefer the vacuum method. Yes, the Mityvac is expensive at $70+ but it paid itself after 2-3 oil changes, for the saving that you don't pay dealer price.

 

[hooligan24]

I remember seeing a kit for sale on some site that consisted of an electric pump, some oil lines, a few fittings, and a ball valve. You would install the pump like a preluber and when you wanted to change the oil, you would just open the ball valve that is tee'd into an oil line. Mount the switch under the hood and just flip the switch, open the valve, and direct the hose to a drain pan. After searching some more, I found it. I dont know if I can post the link to the site though.

 

[UncleS2]

In my case, I have to get under the truck to change the oil filter anyway, so it's not a big deal do remove the drain plug.

Still- the first do-it-myself oil change on the Dakota is coming up in 400 miles. May be interesting apply the MightyVac to the oil first, & then remove the drain plug & see how much comes out. Hmm...

 

[Kestas]

My garage is full. The last thing I need is another tool that takes up space. The ramps and drain pan will not go away.

 

[teambeechstreet]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
My garage is full. The last thing I need is another tool that takes up space. The ramps and drain pan will not go away.

 

[ledslinger]

Lots of concern about factory installed suction systems eliminating drain plugs. Manufacturers do like to eliminate drain plugs from long interval sumps such as transmissions and final drives. It would be stupid to remove this option from engines.

A well designed suction system would be at least 3/8" ID and be well integrated into the engine as to not decrease relibility or complicate other engine service or assembly. A passage cast and routed to a low area in the sump would get more debris out than a drain plug. A hose could be screwed into the upper portion of the pan well above the oil level, so hose failure would not lead to engine failure.

The beauty of such a system is quick complete drain without having to transfer used fluids, since they go directly into the waste reservoir. Leaving the drain plug alone does elimininate some problems and should increase reliability.

It would still reduce work to change the oil even if the car had to be raised to change the filter. Topside draining of course goes well with topside access filters. Filter change every other oil change on some engines makes topside draining very quick on changes of oil only.

If all my cars had topside ports installed from the factory, I'd buy the pump and be happy. We buy specialized tools for our cars for procedures that seldom need to be performed.

 

[mechtech2]

HTSS TR -
If you don't count your material costs, and discount only what the dealer would charge for a standard drain [not the more expensive suck type], then you can convince yourself of the cost savings.

But not me.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
HTSS TR -
If you don't count your material costs, and discount only what the dealer would charge for a standard drain [not the more expensive suck type], then you can convince yourself of the cost savings.

But not me.

Mercedes dealers only use vacuum type to change oil for all MB engines, they don't do drain plug for more than 10 years.

The saving I'm talking about is buying 9 quarts M1 0W40 at regular price at WM and Mann/Hengst/Mahle online compares with my dealer charges $250 (include a 1 day car rental even you don't need a car for the day). I expect the pump will be broke after 30-40 uses, so that each use is about $2.5 ($72/30).

If I take the car to an indy shop, the cost is about $80-100 so that the saving is much less at about $20-30 per oil change. Which is about 1/3 of the price of the pump. A friend of mine took his ML320 to a shop specialized in BMW, MB, Audi ... said that they used Mityvac to do oil change.

The pump does pay for itself after 2-3 oil changes. The satisfy of do it right yourself is priceless.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
The satisfy of do it right yourself is priceless.

Huge +1 on that!

 

[Vizzy]

Originally Posted By: cbear
1) Gravity is free
2) It never breaks


But then how can they squeeze additional profit out of the customer??

Agreed, If it ain't broke don't fix it!