do those oil change vacuum pumps work well?

im getting tired of oil getting all over the place, it seems like it takes longer to clean up than it does to change the oil. i was gonna get fumoto valves for my subarus, but they have to be machined so itll just be cheaper to get a pump. anyone have any experience with this? http://www.liquivac.com/shop/liquivac-large-projectengine-model-capacity-8-quarts/

I've always liked the idea that pulling the plug meant residue low in the pan would drain out. I don't think a pump will clean things up as well.

I have used a pump to draw out auto trans fluid when dropping the pan would be required. Especially when dropping the pan meant removing a cross member.

I ve used this on Mercedes Benz s for years , works well. Even the MB dealer do it this way. I did mine once and then removed the plug just to see what would be left and nothing else came out. I m sure different oil pans may have different results. With some cars even having the filter up top on the engine , you can change the oil without ever going under the car.

my wife's '12 impreza has the filter on top; so nice.

That looks cool, tempted too!

I don't trust anything I see in the back of Car and Driver, especially when it's called a Bavarian Oil Extractor, advertised right next to the Swedish Penis Pump.

How about using it to drain most of the oil neatly, then open the plug ? Wouldn't that get the last bits out ?

 

(and I think it's the same product, the Bavarian Oil Extractor and the Swedish penis pump - but I couldn't say for sure)

im getting tired of oil getting all over the place, it seems like it takes longer to clean up than it does to change the oil. i was gonna get fumoto valves for my subarus, but they have to be machined

 

 

Really, both my Legacy's have them and they screwed right in.

+2 for fumoto. maybe it doesn't get 100% of the oil out without modification, but 98% or whatever is good enough for me.

from what the FSM says, we're not getting it all out anyway. It calls for 5 qts. on an overhaul, and 4.4 on a change(for the i, the GT is 4.5). We're missing about 1/2 quart.

Are you factoring in the volume of the oil filter?

Yes. A drain and fill (no filter change) requires 4.2 qts.

Really, both my Legacy's have them and they screwed right in.

 

What I mean is the plug is threaded too long. All the oil cannot be drained unless it is machined.

What I mean is the plug is threaded too long. All the oil cannot be drained unless it is machined.

 

Machined ... huh? That's crazy.

 

Measure the thread depth of the oil pan and take a rat tail file (or Dremel) to the fumoto.

 

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4264454&postcount=74

Which do you think is better, a Fumoto valve or a magnetic drain plug?

I'd go with the Fumoto. Your filter should be grabbing most/all of any ferrous stuff. If you want a magnet, slap one on the side of your filter, then you'd have the best of both worlds.

My comment on the oil sucking device... your oil has to be really hot to get it out in a reasonable amount of time. Yes they suck oil out for a lot of european cars, but they also have more powerful air compressor driven ones often. I have a larger one, and it works wonders for brakes etc etc.. but it took me forever to get the oil done, so slow and since I had to get under the car for the filter anyways.. I just don't bother.