Oil Extractor - Good idea or bad idea?

Ack

Active member
Joined
Dec 19, 2008
Location
Regina Saskatchewan Canada
TDI
2005 Jetta ( early model)
Love mine . When the weater is cold All one has to do is make sure the oil is good and warm. NO crawling under to change the oil. One word of caution is you might want to change the oil a few mile short than recommended.
 

Dodoma

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2004
TDI
2002 Jetta White
extraction is the best method of extracting oil. First you do not have to go underneath the car and remove belly pan. Secondly, no chance of striping the flimsy threads, Thirdly, no need to mess your body of sleep on your back to see some debris falling on you face or eye. Moreove, as Andybees mentioned, you are not going to be able to remove the last drop of oil whether thru extraction or removing the bolt.
 

bjmarler

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2004
Location
Tullahoma, TN
TDI
Jetta GLS, 2004, White
Love mine . When the weater is cold All one has to do is make sure the oil is good and warm. NO crawling under to change the oil. One word of caution is you might want to change the oil a few mile short than recommended.
Ok Ack, I'll bite. :) ... So why would using a topside extractor make any difference in the length of an oil change, thus needing to "change the oil a few mile short than recommended."... as you state.

That makes no sense to me at all. Please explain what you mean by that if you don't mind. Thanks.
 

DavidMTroyer

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2004
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
TDI
1999.5 Jetta
Why is it that Pella has multiple warnings not to use the extractor with gasoline or flammable liquid? I used mine to prime a new fuel filter yesterday despite the warning but I am a bit curious.
 

JSWTDI09

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
TDI
2009 JSW TDI (gone but not forgotten)
Why is it that Pella has multiple warnings not to use the extractor with gasoline or flammable liquid? I used mine to prime a new fuel filter yesterday despite the warning but I am a bit curious.
Gasoline is a volatile liquid. There is no such thing as a flammable liquid. Only gases are easily ignitable (flammable). You can extinguish a match by sticking it into diesel fuel. With sufficient ventilation (no accumulation of vapors) you can actually do the same thing with gasoline. Diesel fuel is actually pretty difficult to ignite. Therefore, do not worry about using your Pela to extract diesel fuel. The warning about gasoline is because it is so volatile. If your extractor is half full of gasoline, the other half will rapidly contain significant quantities of gasoline vapor. The correct mixture of air and gasoline vapor is explosive (dangerous). It would take days (or weeks) for enough diesel fuel to evaporate to create an explosive mixture.

Have Fun!

Don

P.S. Pella makes windows, Pela makes extractors
 

BamaB4S

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2011
Location
AL
TDI
1996 Passat
I prefer to warm the motor up to normal operating temperature and then let her drain over night. Turn the motor over manually with a wrench a couple times during this process to drain even more old oil out of the motor. This is probably overkill and not very practical for most but it is how my dad taught me to change oil and it makes happy.
 

VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Location
La Conner, WA
TDI
2018 Tesla Model 3: 217,000 miles
This is the most ridiculous oil change procedure I've ever heard of. The only thing you're missing is a test run with no oil to make sure the low oil pressure light works!

Cheers. ;)
 

BamaB4S

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2011
Location
AL
TDI
1996 Passat
This is the most ridiculous oil change procedure I've ever heard of.
In the interest of constant process improvement please elaborate explaining what exactly you find to be so ridiculous. (I am assuming you understand that the vehicle's ignition is turned off once it reaches normal operating temperature..)
 

cfm56

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2007
Location
97068
TDI
2014 Jetta TDI SportWagen
i've used the pela extractor for the last year and a half and im happy with it. I recommend it as a oil/fluid evacuator for a TDI :)


I recommend warming up a cold engine prior to sucking the oil out (do not get the engine hot! ...warm is all that is needed...you can do this by pulling the dipstick and feeling the warmth of engine oil after running the engine for 40-60 seconds or however long it takes to warm up the engine in your climate)
 
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AndyBees

Top Post Dawg
Joined
May 27, 2003
Location
Southeast Kentucky
TDI
Silver 2003 Jetta TDI, Silver 2000 Jetta TDI (sold), '84 Vanagon with '02 ALH engine
Being anal about oil changes

..........well, for every drop you "leave in the oil pan and filter housing" there is probably 1,000,000 drops through-out the engine oiling system left behind lingering, such as in the oil galleries of the block and head, the oil sprayers at the bottom of the cylinders, inside the oil cooler, between the surfaces of the bearings and journals (crankshaft/camshaft), inside the oil pump, throughout all surfaces that oil comes in contact, such as the top of head, oil pan, block, directional baffle at bottom end, baffling inside the valve cover, the five major drain-back holes down thru the block from the head, inside the "hydraulic" lifters, Turbo charger, Turbo charger oil feed line, etc.

Has anyone ever extracted with their Pela or other means and then removed the oil drain plug just to see what might flow out?

This engine (2002 ALH) had the oil drained out over 4 years ago. It still drips a few drops out everyday! See the old news papers underneath to catch the drippings?

I suppose the point is, no matter how you do your oil change, there's going to be a good amount of residual left lingering behind, just smile and think, job well done! The specs for the old MK1 engines was to change the oil filter every other oil change.....yep!

For those who do all those things during an oil change that cold be condsidered a little anal ........read my post above and observe the photo.

That engine is still dripping oil after being drained over 4 years ago. Notice, it does not have an oil pan on it!

An oil change is the most important but simple maintenance procedure you can do to your engine! I just wonder if all those who have made it to 400k or 500k miles went thru all those anal things!
 

BamaB4S

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2011
Location
AL
TDI
1996 Passat
Letting it sit overnight and turning the engine over by hand several times. Entirely no need for any of that.
How many ounces of residual oil does it take to contaminate 4.5 liters of new oil?
 

VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Location
La Conner, WA
TDI
2018 Tesla Model 3: 217,000 miles
One would have to compare a UOA of your draining techniques to standard draining techniques and find out. You would also need to establish a contamination level and threshold that would cause engine damage over the course of a standard oil change.
 

Lightflyer1

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Sep 13, 2005
Location
Round Rock, Texas
TDI
2015 Beetle tdi dsg
Depends on what you want to call contamination. Given the engine pictured above is still dripping oil after four years, you are still contaminating the new oil by pouring it in there. We would never get to drive our cars if we just let them set till no oil dripped out. You would be better off doing multiple oil changes back to back than just waiting for it to dribble out overnight. Besides how much dust, dirt and bugs get in there when sitting overnight? I don't wait on drips, when it changes from a stream to drips I button it up and refill and move on.
 

BamaB4S

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2011
Location
AL
TDI
1996 Passat
So I'm coming up on another oil change and I'm contemplating the idea of an oil extractor. I've got a PD, so it really can't hurt to change the oil more often than I currently do (I currently just change at the recommended interval). Where it does hurt is my pocket book! I was thinking that if I invested in an oil extractor, I could change my own oil for like 1/2 the price of taking it to my mechanic.
I'm curious to know if it's a good idea or not, if you use one, what you use, how much it cost, and if you like it or not.
Thanks in advance
Save the cost of the oil extractor contraption + mechanic and do it yourself. Gravity is free and in this case it is your friend.:D
 

Bob_Fout

Oil Wanker
Joined
Sep 5, 2004
Location
Indiana
TDI
2003 Jetta - Alaska Green (sold) / 2015 GTI 2.0T
How many ounces of residual oil does it take to contaminate 4.5 liters of new oil?
Used oil does not contaminate new oil. If you put in 4.5 liters of new oil, you have 4.5 liters of new oil in addition to however much old oil is still running around the motor and oil cooler and the rest.
 

BamaB4S

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2011
Location
AL
TDI
1996 Passat
Used oil does not contaminate new oil. If you put in 4.5 liters of new oil, you have 4.5 liters of new oil in addition to however much old oil is still running around the motor and oil cooler and the rest.
Fantasy. Whatever makes you sleep better.
 

Keith_J

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2007
Location
West
TDI
2000 Jetta MT
Save the cost of the oil extractor contraption + mechanic and do it yourself. Gravity is free and in this case it is your friend.:D
Contradictory posts. Using an extractor allows you to get the used oil in the filter housing. But there is at LEAST a liter (over a quart) in the oil galleries, oil pump and XZN bolt heads in the head. I know this because after an overhaul, it took a 3.78 liter bottle plus another half to read to the top of the hashed section of the dipstick. Yet when I do a complete drain (that is WITH pan removal, had to renew threads), it only takes a single 3.78 liter bottle. Sludge? My Mityvac handles heat just fine, I drain HOT. And at the 160k mile overhaul (dealership mishap on first TB change, damage 120k miles later required overhaul), there wasn't a single bit of sludge in the pan. Not a single bit. Delvac 1, then T6 Rotella, 10k OCI. Mityvac 10 minute oil changes, no need to get under and pull the Panzer Plate. The Mityvac has one feature which rocks. After sucking used oil out, take the now empty jugs and refill them for the trip to the recycling station. The vacuum pump reverses to dispense the used oil. No funnels, no mess. No spilled, splashed, wind-blown oil. Just one towel, from wiping the wand down.
 
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Bob_Fout

Oil Wanker
Joined
Sep 5, 2004
Location
Indiana
TDI
2003 Jetta - Alaska Green (sold) / 2015 GTI 2.0T
Fantasy. Whatever makes you sleep better.
Sure bud, sure. :)

EDIT: We're talking about such small, inconsequential amounts of oil, there is no "contamination". Considering there's about half a quart left in a TDI during an oil change, engines have been falling apart over the past 16 years, haven't they? They still last 500K+ miles at 10K mile intervals.
 
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40X40

Experienced
Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Location
Kansas City area, MO
TDI
2013 Passat SEL Premium
I prefer to warm the motor up to normal operating temperature and then let her drain over night. Turn the motor over manually with a wrench a couple times during this process to drain even more old oil out of the motor. This is probably overkill and not very practical for most but it is how my dad taught me to change oil and it makes happy.

How many ounces of residual oil does it take to contaminate 4.5 liters of new oil?

Save the cost of the oil extractor contraption + mechanic and do it yourself. Gravity is free and in this case it is your friend.:D

So an oil extractor is a contraption, but it makes sense to you to start an oil change on one day and finish it the NEXT day?

Your profile says "Engineer". I find this series of statements hard to reconcile.

Bill
 
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scurvy

Good Ol' Boy
Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Location
Chicago IL USA
TDI
2006 Golf
Has anyone ever extracted with their Pela or other means and then removed the oil drain plug just to see what might flow out?
I have.

To be fair, I have a Mityvac 7400 which doesn't do quite as good a job as the springy end on the Pela.

But I did two oil changes with it to test this out. One by doing a traditional bottomside drain and then suctioning out the oil cooler and pouring it into a graduated cylinder. And one where I extracted everything I could from the top and then pulled the drain plug. Both were done with the car up on Rhino Ramps.

If going bottomside only, there was still approximately 500 ml left in the oil cooler that would be left behind. When using an oil extractor, ~150 ml was left in the sump. Several other folks have commented that only a few drops came out after using a Pela to do a topside extraction.

So when using a Mityvac 7400 oil extractor, I got out 350 ml more of the old oil by doing a topside only extraction. YMMV.
 

Keith_J

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2007
Location
West
TDI
2000 Jetta MT
My MV7201 Mityvac gets all but drips. This is the large one with manual pump, also functions as a dispenser, vacuum or pressure brake bleeder when combined with their valve assembly or suitable push-button valve. I've installed a simple push-button valve for extracting oil. This way, I can pull a good vacuum and control the clean-out of the filter housing.
 

BamaB4S

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2011
Location
AL
TDI
1996 Passat
So an oil extractor is a contraption, but it makes sense to you to start an oil change on one day and finish it the NEXT day?/QUOTE]

Here's a thought... use your extractor method and then the next morning remove the oil pan fastener and measure how much old oil drains out.

Have fun!
 

40X40

Experienced
Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Location
Kansas City area, MO
TDI
2013 Passat SEL Premium
So an oil extractor is a contraption, but it makes sense to you to start an oil change on one day and finish it the NEXT day?/QUOTE]

Here's a thought... use your extractor method and then the next morning remove the oil pan fastener and measure how much old oil drains out.

Have fun!

Here is another thought. We have over 25,000 members.

Do you think that hasn't been tried already?



BTW, I would fire anyone leaving an oil change HALF done as it is an invite to starting an engine without any oil at all.


Bill
 

BamaB4S

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2011
Location
AL
TDI
1996 Passat
So I'm coming up on another oil change and I'm contemplating the idea of an oil extractor. I've got a PD, so it really can't hurt to change the oil more often than I currently do (I currently just change at the recommended interval). Where it does hurt is my pocket book! I was thinking that if I invested in an oil extractor, I could change my own oil for like 1/2 the price of taking it to my mechanic.
I'm curious to know if it's a good idea or not, if you use one, what you use, how much it cost, and if you like it or not.
Thanks in advance
MecBenz recommends the vacuum method for a good reason reason :
Date: March 2001
Order No.: S-SI-58.00/118
Supersedes:
Group 58
SUBJECT:
ALL ENGINES
APPROVED OIL EVACUATION EQUIPMENT
The purpose of this Service Information is to inform dealers that Approved Oil Evacuation Equipment, which is used to extract used engine oil from the engine via the oil dipstick tube, is now available for order. Mercedes-Benz engines are designed to allow the extraction of engine oil from under the hood via the dipstick tube. The engine dipstick tube has an enlarged cross section, plus a formed extension at the top end where the dipstick is inserted and the approved engine oil evacuation equipment interfaces. The opposite end of the dipstick ends just short of the oil pan bottom, thus engine oil can be extracted via the approved oil evacuation equipment by using the dipstick tube. Additionally, the engine dipstick tube itself is the conduit through which spent engine oil is moved to the oil evacuation equipment.
In addition, service and repair components for existing approved oil evacuation equipment is also available.
Note: Because the engine oil dipstick tube is the conduit through which spent engine oil is extracted, inserting tubular probes through the dipstick tube is NOT recommended.
Special Note for M-class:
Due to the location of the vehicle frame and suspension components, the draining of engine oil via the engine crankcase oil drain plug is not recommended, since this can lead to engine oil coming in contact and subsequently be damaging to the rubber suspension components. Thus, it is strongly recommended to use the approved oil evacuation equipment contained in the Service.


It would be beneficial if someone could locate an official recommendation from VW.
 
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