/With all the debate here, why doesn't someone come up with a valve that comes off the oil pan and a hose attached so the belly pan does not have to be removed. Easy oil changing at less than the cost of a Pela. My John Deere diesel tractor has this setup, I pull the attached hose out, put it into a pan, turn the valve, and out comes the oil without ever climbing under the tractor. It would be possible to do the same on our TDI's with a little planning. The only benefit of the Pela is convience, and what could be more convient than pulling out a hose, turning a valve and the job is done? By the way, my drain plug washer may be aluminum, I will check for magnetism next oil change, but I was commenting on a thread previously posted about copper washers on the drain plug. Steel washers shouldn't destroy the aluminum oil pan, if you have any gas engines, car,mower,etc with aluminum heads and they use sparkplugs, if they are not tapered seat plugs, they have a steel washer on them./
Couple of things here, there is a valve, the fumoto, I do use them in other applications, Its easy to cut a hole in the shroud/belly pan. For the inexperienced, there are a couple accounts of people running off ramps, cars falling, etc. I, myself dont care to be under a vehicle on ramps, stands, jacks, the more times the better chances getting hurt or doing damage to the vehicle. I dont mind on the Ford diesels and really push the fumoto because you can do oil change WITHOUT elevating the truck. Steel washers will take out aluminum, which brings up another point, how many you guys torquing your drain plug after you remove it? how much torque? Is that an solid aluminum washer on the spark plugs or is it a crush type washer..Lets compare apples to apples.
Dog has a good thought, that while you are in there, you can sometimes extract more fluid by going up the lines and coolers. Which alot of people wont even evacuate the filter housing. Convience is a huge plus. But then bonding with ones vehicle is a plus.
I understand and experiment and I find the best/cost effective way though experimentation, dont guess, which WORKS for me. If I dont understand it/experience it for myself then I am not convinced. I change more filters in a month then an average person does in his life. You could even say I make my/both livings at changing filters. If you think its critical to changing filters on a vehicle, you should try changing filters in a semi-conductor fab, one piece of contaiminate can take out a fab for years. And cost billions of dollars. Talk about having to be ANAL about your work.
Good luck.
