DIY engine oil change using dipstick hole

[dstrong]

Last weekend I started to do an oil change on our '91 300TE-24, I was intending drining the oil out the bottom but when I looked that would involve removing the under engine protection plate so I looked at an alternative. I went to our local motor factors and asked for a 'Topsider' or equivalent but ther looked at me with a rather blank expression so I proceeded to buy a windscreen washer pump and some windscreen washer hose fo around £12. I then ran the engine until it felt warm and proceeded to put the pipe into the dipstick hole until it reached a stop, then cut the pipe and connected the hose to the pump, the rest of the pipe went from the pump to an old oil container. I turned the pump on and 'hey presto' the oil was being sucked out. I was one very happy bunny! Then after about 2 minutes the pump motor burned out. Damn. I dismantled the motor to find the windings were shot. Not too disheartened I took the windings of the shaft and put the motor shaft into my cordless drill and then inserted the shaft back into the pump. Drill on, oil was pumped again. It took around 30 mins to pump out 6.5l of oil, the correct amount for a drain. Then I changed the filter.

Today I went to a model shop and bought a RipMax pump for £11 which is much sturdier so I will do some trials tonight with that.

All in all a bit of fiddling around but a lot less cost than buying a 'topsider' or equivalent.

 

[MotardMan]

Darren, you are a mad man!

The panel you mention ius only held on with 4 bolts, it takes about 5 mins to remove it and have it fall on your head

Would you not be left with the gunge in the sump? I always feel unless you let gravity do the work, the gunge will not find its way out. Mind you, if the oil has been circulating for a while, I supose most of the gunge willbe in suspension in the oil, so your method, as mentioned in the 2 CD manual, will work just as good.

Don't try ti on the gearbox though! :wink:

 

[TimN]

Is the sump plug not magnetised to ensure that you can get out any metal filings?

 

[kid-jensen]

Guys,

Someone on the American List looked into this.

He worked out that you get MORE oil out by sucking from the dipstick tube than by conventional draining, because the sump is such an awkward shape that a huge amount of oil remains in there even with the car on a slope.

I'm inclined to go along with this, well done for all your pioneering work........I think the Topsider is about seventy quid.

Why can't you do the same for the Autobox?

 

[MotardMan]

Guys,

Why can't you do the same for the Autobox?

I guess because most of the fluid is under the filter in the bottom of the tranny, also the torque convertor has a separate drain bolt, so removing the ATF from the dip stick would not empty it out.

 

[dstrong]

I am sure that the pump did a good job, for one the specified amount of oil was removed from the engine and also the oil is clean now, if an excess of old oil was left in the engine the colour of the oil after the change would be altered.
As for the sump plug being magnetised to collect filings, this harps back to the days of the 'A' serias engine and gearbox of the Mini. If there are any filings in the sump I would be rather concerned!
I have done a lot of reading on the subject and the fact that most MB garages will suck the oil out is good enough for me.
I just used the pump on my SAAB 9000 and success again.
One advantage is that while the oil is pumping out it gives some time to look over the other fluids levels etc.
Oh, it is also a lot less messy!

 

[dstrong]

I found and ordered a proper pump designed for boats:
http://www.seamarknunn.co.uk/catalog/items/item2518.htm

Yet to try it but it looks good.

 

[Spike]

Damn good price on that... let us know how you get on with it.

 

[Gerald]

What a great idea, never thought of that before, so much quicker and easier than draining the oil and no more hot oil running up you sleeve or over the driveway.

Are they as good as they look, if so will have to invest in one of these when ours is next due.

 

[ralph]

dstrong deserves a GONG for his post.

 

[nickh]

I too have purchased one of these items, mine takes around 6.5 litres, and I can say if you do your own servicing then its fantastic, just put the tube in the dipstick hole, and watch the oil being sucked up, if you do regular oil services then its worth every penny.. I got mine from a motor factors in Bridgewater I think.

 

[dstrong]

Glad to hear that I am not the only one to use a pump! (for the oil that is) :wink:

I have about 5000 miles to wait before another change is due, it may be some time before I use the pump but it does look like a good bit of kit, and smaller to store than the Pela/Topsider type of pump.

And where is my Gong??

 

[Madanglian]

(To be read in silly fake Yorkshire accent) A PUMP? You were lucky. When I were t'lad........

Actually I managed to SIPHON the oil out. I had to leave it overnight but it actually WORKED!

If anybody else wants to try this, I would recommend you use a CLEAR piece of tube so you can see when you've sucked enough through.... Getting used engine oil in the mouth has to rate pretty low as far as positive experiences go.......... :x

The REAL reason it's better to get the oil out of the dipstick hole, and I'm amazed no-one has mentioned this, is that people who have changed the oil previously haven't bothered to replace the sump plug seal (or forgotten to get one till it was too late) and had to do up the plug so **** tight that nobody could loosen it again. Anybody trying (including me) comes along and mangles up the head of the plug. :evil:

One thing that puzzled me was that a complete oil change is supposed to be 6.5 litres, but mine only needed 4 litres. The oil on the dipstick looks as clear as when it came out of the can too, so I obviously got 90%+ of the old stuff out.....

 

[dieselman]

I can vouch that oil doesn't taste too good as two mouthfulls of diesel, one Saturday and one Sunday, will testify to. :x

Syphoning overnight doesn't sound a good idea as the duration will leave solids in the sump.