I recently bought a Vevor 6.5L oil extractor because I currently have some physical limitations to getting under my cars. I used it on 2 of my cars this week and I’m disappointed in the results. When I used it on my 08 Honda Element, I was only able to pull out just under 4 quarts. The manual says it takes 4.2 quarts. When I put in the new oil, it only took 4 qts. In the past, when I changed the oil myself and let it drain for an extended period of time, I was able to put in a full 5 qts of new oil. I used the extractor on my 03 Legacy which also takes 4.2 quarts and I pulled out a similar amount of just under 4. Because the filter is underneath, my neighbor got it out for me. While he was under there I had him pull the plug to see if any oil would drain out and about a half a quart drained out. Is this typical of all oil extractors or could the one I got just not have good extracting power? There are several videos that show no oil coming out of the oil pan after it’s been extracted.
Typical of oil extractors?
- Thread starter lokijoker
- Start date
This is typical. It's sometimes difficult to get the suction hose right at the lowest point. If you extract everything you can and wait a while, you can sometimes get a little more out.
Personally, I don't do long change internals so I don't sweat a little bit of oil left in the engine. When I'm using the extractor, I'm usually not crawling under and changing the filter, so I'm choosing to not get 100% out.
Personally, I don't do long change internals so I don't sweat a little bit of oil left in the engine. When I'm using the extractor, I'm usually not crawling under and changing the filter, so I'm choosing to not get 100% out.
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I love my MityVac.
However, extractors do not work well on all vehicles' oil pans. My friend's '99 Infinity QX4 is one example...
It helps to fish around with the tube to find the low point.
I think your Element is the K24, I have done dozens of services on that engine with great results.
I only use the smaller tube. Make sure the oil is hot.
A good check, if you wish to try, is extract and then pull the drain plug.
However, extractors do not work well on all vehicles' oil pans. My friend's '99 Infinity QX4 is one example...
It helps to fish around with the tube to find the low point.
I think your Element is the K24, I have done dozens of services on that engine with great results.
I only use the smaller tube. Make sure the oil is hot.
A good check, if you wish to try, is extract and then pull the drain plug.
I have used one with mixed results. Might be a function of the shape of the oil pan also if you use it on level ground. If the dipstick seems to favor oil from the front of the engine try to drain it on an incline with the nose down or vice versa if it favors oil from the back of the pan. I use mine mostly now to drain transmissions where I'm not expecting to get all the fluid. Measure what's extracted and replace an equal amount at the same temperature.
Sorry 'bout your limitations, I'm getting there also. When I can't anymore don't think my base camp commander is going to slip under my car even if I ask her sweetly. She's good with a sewing machine but shies away from my automotive machinations.
Unorthodox oil changes can be like this machine,
Sorry 'bout your limitations, I'm getting there also. When I can't anymore don't think my base camp commander is going to slip under my car even if I ask her sweetly. She's good with a sewing machine but shies away from my automotive machinations.
Unorthodox oil changes can be like this machine,
If you know "about" the angle the dipstick tube comes out you could park accordingly not quite level so more drains that way and can be pulled out.
My cars read about 1/4 qt higher in my driveway on dipstick due to angle of car.
My cars read about 1/4 qt higher in my driveway on dipstick due to angle of car.
On my Jeep Patriot with GEMA 2.4L, with the oil drain plug out and down to drips, when I remove the oil filter another "swoosh" of oil comes out of the oil pan drain hole. Maybe 3 to 4 ounces to add to the amount in the oil filter. Oil that an extractor would never get.
I think there's a column of oil in the galleries that is held in place by the anti drain back valve.
JHZR2
Staff member
Mercedes Benz were designed for topside extraction. Once I pulled the pan on a 617.952 and it was empty after topside extraction. The oil filter up top helps too. Don’t forget that if you extract before pulling the filter, some will run back in.
The key is also to do it hot.
The key is also to do it hot.
Engines designed with oil extraction in mind (like the Germans have long done), have no issues with leaving small amounts in the pan.
At least those that didn't have their dipsticks eliminated , which was the next step some have taken
At least those that didn't have their dipsticks eliminated , which was the next step some have taken
I find that some of those drain plug valves can do similar since they raise the bottom level of the drain hole a couple of millimeters. Even with a couple of ounces left in there, the vast majority of the oil is getting changed. If the extractor gives you the freedom to do something you enjoy, go for it. If it bothers you, change it 250 miles early.
On my Element I did try to extract more oil after I removed the filter and I was able to get a little more oil.
It's very common on an inboard or I/O boats to use a extraction as it's darn near impossible to get a drain pan under the engine in the bilge. That includes probably millions of GM 5.7L engines.
I just don't think it's a big deal if a few ounces of old oil is left.
99% of cars get their oil changed at a shop (rather than DIY) and the shops are definitely not waiting for every last drop to come out of the oil drain hole. Once it's not longer a stream but dripping is when I would guess they say it's done and screw back on the drain plug.
I just don't think it's a big deal if a few ounces of old oil is left.
99% of cars get their oil changed at a shop (rather than DIY) and the shops are definitely not waiting for every last drop to come out of the oil drain hole. Once it's not longer a stream but dripping is when I would guess they say it's done and screw back on the drain plug.
I have used a MityVac on my Honda Civic and my son's 2020 Jeep Cherokee with great results. I did a test on the Civic and it had about 2 ounces left at the most when I pulled the drain plug. It also worked great on my old 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It would not work on my Corvette for F-150 because there must be a baffle or something that the tube hits before going to the bottom of the pan. It also works great for changing the 3 quarts of AT in my Honda Civic. It works great on some things and other things it doesn't work at all. Very happy with my MityVac but they work on only some applications.
JHZR2
Staff member
Best to remove the filter first in some cases.
I recently bought the same extractor on Amazon (Vevor 6.5L) and haven’t used it yet.
I will say that the instruction manual is poorly written. In 'Step 2' of the 'Operating Instructions' it says "Remove the tank cover and select a suitable tube to insert"....the tank cover is held on by 6 screws so I think they mean to remove the 'sealing cap' rather than the 'tank cover'. When I went to 'Technical Support' for clarification they weren't very knowledgeable about their own product.
I'm sure it's a good product but, like many other Chinese made products I've bought, the 'instructions' leave a lot to be desired.
PS; My old extractor is the round type (globe like) that is pumped manually. It seems to have lost it's ability to seal and hold vacuum. I'm wondering if anybody had this issue and figured out a fix? I've been doing topside OCs every other OC on my Focus due to the PITA to remove bellypan. I make sure to use an oil filter rated for 10K or more and do 5K OCIs.
I will say that the instruction manual is poorly written. In 'Step 2' of the 'Operating Instructions' it says "Remove the tank cover and select a suitable tube to insert"....the tank cover is held on by 6 screws so I think they mean to remove the 'sealing cap' rather than the 'tank cover'. When I went to 'Technical Support' for clarification they weren't very knowledgeable about their own product.
I'm sure it's a good product but, like many other Chinese made products I've bought, the 'instructions' leave a lot to be desired.
PS; My old extractor is the round type (globe like) that is pumped manually. It seems to have lost it's ability to seal and hold vacuum. I'm wondering if anybody had this issue and figured out a fix? I've been doing topside OCs every other OC on my Focus due to the PITA to remove bellypan. I make sure to use an oil filter rated for 10K or more and do 5K OCIs.
It sounds like your results are typical but Vevor is the current Acme Products of EVERYTHING from automotive specialty tools to textiles and home goods and basically ANYTHING. Literally anything.
I have a differential case spreader. And you can get, for example, a foldable pet playpen:
https://m.vevor.com/playpens-c_1231...-travel-camping-use-octagon-m--p_010872291562
Or a deep tissue massage gun:
https://m.vevor.com/back-massagers-...-pain-relief-muscle-relaxation-p_010657252145
So, the longevity and quality of said extractor might be great, or it might suck in ways that you don't want it to.
I have a differential case spreader. And you can get, for example, a foldable pet playpen:
https://m.vevor.com/playpens-c_1231...-travel-camping-use-octagon-m--p_010872291562
Or a deep tissue massage gun:
https://m.vevor.com/back-massagers-...-pain-relief-muscle-relaxation-p_010657252145
So, the longevity and quality of said extractor might be great, or it might suck in ways that you don't want it to.
The Element oil filter is in a horrible place and will spill oil all over components when removed unless you use some kind of deflector like Honda sells and their service departments use, which still makes a little mess. I found some advice a few years ago that if you can wait a little while after draining the oil to remove the filter, much of that oil will drain back into the oil pan.
Actually I bought mine from Walmart.com because it was on sale at a cheap price $35, reduced from $48, and it is returnable to a Walmart store within 90 days if it doesn’t work well. It was actually listed as a different brand when I ordered it. I figured I would try it at that cheap price and if it worked ok, I would eventually upgrade to something like a more expensive Mityvac or Topsider.
Maybe this cheap Vevor doesn’t hold a vacuum well because unlike some of the demos on YouTube of better extractors like the Mityvac, I had to keep pumping to keep the oil flowing. The Mityvac demos show just doing a few pumps gets things flowing for several minutes.
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I was recently told by an old mechanic that it’s not good to let the oil drain out for a long time because it drains all the oil that is still coating everything inside the engine, which causes more wear upon start up after that oil change. He said it is best to just drain to dripping then replace the plug and don’t let it drain for hours or even many minutes. I don’t know if that is valid or old wives thinking?
