oil change thru dipstick tube

[Ron Civita]

Is anybody changing their oil thru the dipstick tube?

I was over on the TDI site (my other diesel is an '03 Jetta Wagon) and some of the guys use a fluid evacuator to remove their oil from the top (dipstick tube) and swear by it. I found several types on their site. I searched this site for about an hour but couldn't find anything.

Would appreciate any input.

Thanks, Ron

 

[boonsur]

I do it for my boat, where it's nearly impossible to get to the drain plug. Works nice, but I can't see ANY advantage over draining it out the bottom. It's so easy to crawl under my truck, and the catch pan fits without any thought. Then I know all the particulates are getting flushed towards the drain. Also, I don't think the evacuators can handle 12 quarts, unless you got the drill-operated pumps, which I've heard to be very un-reliable.

 

[lschultz]

Your getting lazy. It holds quite a bit more than the VW TDI. Just crawl under there and get after it.

 

[Ron Civita]

boonsur: I found one that holds 6 1/2 gallons. Don't know if I'll go that route yet.



Larry is right. I am getting lazy and crawling under a truck is quite a bit easier than getting under a TDI. As much as I hate to admit it, the older I get (64) the less I want to crawl under anything.



Thank you both for your input. I'll probably get a 2. 3 gallon unit to use for the TDI.



Larry, if your ears are ringing someday, you'll know I wrenched my back under the truck

 

[ttreibel]

With my 4x4 3500 I can get a 5gallon bucket under the drain plug without jacking I seriously don't think sucking out the oil would be easier than that.

 

[boonsur]

How about the oil filter? I can't imagine trying to get that out from the top. Sooo much easier from the bottom. This would get you under there anyway.

 

[bulabula]

Bingo; I'm wondering what the lazy way of getting the oil filter out is (other than paying someone else to do it ... ... ).



I use an EZ valve on the CTD, and its soooo much easier draining it that way than the hassle of sucking the oil out of the boat engines.



Guess its easy to have differences in our definitions of lazy.

 

[lschultz]

boonsur if you are 64 I guess you got a reason to look for a easier way. Do you have any sons close to you. My lives in the pasture in front of me so when I get your age I will just tell my son I need my oil changed. There ought to be somebody around your area that would do it for you--free. Your a little to far away for me to do it.

 

[BJMarshall]

I got the PELA oil extractor for the Jetta simply so I wouldn't have to partially disassemble the car to change the oil. So far, it has come in quite handy changing the oil in the mowers and also good for changing fluid on things that don't have drain plugs. (66 mustang toploader 4 speed) It's definitley easier to drain the CTD out the plug than it is to suck it out the top. It takes way too long to get all that oil out through the tiny suction tube on the PELA.

Just my 2 cents

 

[Ron Civita]

Thanks everyone for your input.

I think I will do what BJMarshall does. Use an extractor for the TDI and crawl under for the CTD.



Bulabula - how far below the pan does the EZ valve stick out?

I'm guessing from the picture in Geno's catalog that it's about 1 inch.

 

[CAKUZ]

Originally posted by Ron Civita

Is anybody changing their oil thru the dipstick tube?

Ron;

I am older than you and always do my own service work including oil changes, tire rotations, etc. , just takes me longer than it used to. I think the only proper way to change oil is to remove the drain plug after driving to get the oil hot. You will get more of the small particles out of your engine that way. I am a firm believer in doing it right or getting someone else to do it if I can't. JMHO





Pumping the oil out thru the dipstick tube is better than nothing, and I would use it where it was very difficult to drain from bottom, but is like taking a bath and putting dirty underwear back on. You can get the filter off from the top if you remove air box first but I find it easier to do from the bottom.

The EZ plug drain may be OK, but who is going to buy me a new engine if something hits and breaks the protruding plug off, my oil dumps out and my engine locks up? It is unlikely to happen but why chance it. JMO... ... ... . Also I would miss out on so much fun having hot oil all over me and the garage floor. At least I won't rust.

 

[bulabula]

Ron, I'm actually using the Finger Touch engine oil Drain Plug with Nipple, and have been since the first oil change about 18 months ago.



It doesn't stick down under anything, but I guess it is possible to be high centered or something on a rock then back down onto the nipple (maybe?). Anyways, Knocking the nipple off is the last thing on my mind; and so is the worry about the valve opening while underway (or stopped). I've been a satisfied customer of those fumoto valves for a long time.



BTW, this was the first nipple version I bought, and probably wouldn't buy it again - I'd get the standard one-touch next time. It works great, just drains way to slow for me. I thought it would be nice and easy to hook a hose to the nipple and run the hose into the old oil container - it is easy, just sloooow draining. Now I just drain it into the pan below like usual.