Suck or drain Engine Oil?

[John77]

Probably asked many times. I have searched first, but is there any difference between sucking out the Engine oil or draining from the bottom apart from the time it takes? Also while I am here. Which is the engine oil dipstick tube on a 2009 SLK 200. Left or right as you face towards the back of the car.

 

[Tony Dyson]

I think the question you should be asking is Manual vacuum pump or Electric?

Clarke CFTP12 12V Oil And Diesel Pump - Machine Mart - Machine Mart

www.machinemart.co.uk

 

[mattkh]

.......is there any difference between sucking out the Engine oil or draining from the bottom

Things to consider :-
1. Would the last mechanic have overtightened the sump bolt so much that I will struggle to loosen it.
2. Is the sump aluminium, thus easy to crack when I tighten the sump bolt..?
3. Do I have a new washer for the sump bolt..?
4. How will I know that I have sucked all the sludge at the bottom of the sump..?

 

[John77]

I think the question you should be asking is Manual vacuum pump or Electric?

Clarke CFTP12 12V Oil And Diesel Pump - Machine Mart - Machine Mart

www.machinemart.co.uk

So you are saying that pumping is best? I have a manual one.

 

[LostKiwi]

I always use a manual vacuum pump for my oil changes where I can (V8 M113 has no dipstick, Smart has no dump plug...)
It's a Sealey 6.5 litre pump (so needs draining part way through).

Usual method is:
1. Warm up engine by going for a drive.
2. Start sucking oil out.
3. Go inside and make a coffee.
4. Check pump ready to be drained.
5. Drain 3 litres from pump
6. Go inside band drink coffee and have a biscuit or slice of cake.
7. Go back outside and change filter (prime pump before reassembling).
8. Refill sump.
9. Go inside and have another coffee.
10. Check level and adjust if necessary.
11. Start engine and check for leaks.
12. All good? Go for drive.

 

[EmilysDad]

Things to consider :-
1.....
4. How will I know that I have sucked all the sludge at the bottom of the sump..?

Your car will have been regularly serviced so there wont be any sludge in the sump anyway

 

[Doug1234]

Suck oil out as opposed to crawl under car and possibly have to remove a cover to access sump and then the possibility that one corner of vehicle needs jacking up to get your container under to catch the oil !!!.

 

[Manc Rick]

I used to suck the oil out every 4-5k miles. The Lidl type electric pump would drain 6L of oil in less than 10 minutes - I cannot recommend an electric pump highly enough - surprisingly fast, easy and satisfying. Mine was this type https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flintronic-Extractor-Changing-Transfer-Motorbike/dp/B08XZ51FFZ

Unfortunately my 654 doesn’t have a dipstick tube so this can’t be done which is very frustrating.

 

[Tony Dyson]

So you are saying that pumping is best? I have a manual one.

Manual or Electric really is a matter of personal choice, I prefer Electric as it’s less fuss, ensure the discharge container is big enough to take the contents of your engine, warm the engine up, max temp of oil for the MM pump I posted is 60°C, insert the suction pipe down the dipstick tube, place the pump in a secure location and secure the discharge pipe in the waste oil container, switch on.

Previous experience as either a Downhole Tool or Wireline Engineer in the Oil and Gas drilling Industry or a Gynaecologist! would provide to you a distinct advantage in the manipulation techniques of the suction pipework from the top of the hole in order to pick up the last dregs of old oil from the nooks and crannies of your engine sump!

Potential pitfalls?

Not securing the pump and/or discharge pipework effectively and returning from your tea break to find the contents of your sump in a big black puddle under your car somewhere!

 

[Gazwould]

I used to suck the oil out every 4-5k miles. The Lidl type electric pump would drain 6L of oil in less than 10 minutes - I cannot recommend an electric pump highly enough - surprisingly fast, easy and satisfying. Mine was this type https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flintronic-Extractor-Changing-Transfer-Motorbike/dp/B08XZ51FFZ

Unfortunately my 654 doesn’t have a dipstick tube so this can’t be done which is very frustrating.

654

 

[Gazwould]

Be kind to yourself and get a manual extractor and receive a triceps pump like Arnold .

 

[DREAMER NO2]

Best to find out the right dipstick tube for your engine oil to start with . Auto box will have a red lock on it thats nor easy to open, so dont use that one the .engine dip stick just pulls up and out . Best to drain old oil out of the engine through the sump drain plug .That way the old oil will bring out the dirt and sludge ,,,thats if there is any. If a oil extractor pump is used, it might miss the particles that are on the bottom of the sump. I drain the old oil out through the sump plug,, because my sump plug as a magnet inside it, that needs cleaning .If you opt out and go for the extractor then do the oil changes more often till you klnow it is a clean engine .

 

[Gazwould]

Guess you haven't heard of dispersants in the additive package that hold impurities in suspension with their lovely little polar heads and hydrocarbon tails .

 

[EmilysDad]

..... Auto box will have a red lock on it thats nor easy to open, so dont use that one the . ......

You'd be very lucky to find a dip-stick on an auto box these days of what ever make. The last car I had with a dip-stick on its gearbox was my 92 Senator, the 99 Omega had a fill/level plug on the side even though it was basically the same gear box

 

[John77]

You'd be very lucky to find a dip-stick on an auto box these days of what ever make. The last car I had with a dip-stick on its gearbox was my 92 Senator, the 99 Omega had a fill/level plug on the side even though it was basically the same gear box

Has both tubes. Thank you for all your inputs

 

[EmilysDad]

Has both tubes. Thank you for all your inputs

not a new car then ....
the dipstick for the autobox will likely be longer with red oil dripping off it, while the engine dipstick will be somewhat shorter with gold coloured oil dripping from it (or black depending on how long it's been in there

 

[John77]

2009 SLK200. Only ever had one new car. A Renault 18 estate. So that shows how long ago that was. 1978. I have always bought second hand and so far never been disappointed or had any major problems and now I have been retired 10 years, so would never see one again.

 

[EmilysDad]

2009 SLK200. Only ever had one new car. A Renault 18 estate. So that shows how long ago that was. 1978. I have always bought second hand and so far never been disappointed or had any major problems and now I have been retired 10 years, so would never see one again.

I've never ever had a new car Bought when 3 or 4 years old is the newest I've had ..... I've never been able to afford or willing to pay for the cars I liked when new.

 

[LostKiwi]

not a new car then ....
the dipstick for the autobox will likely be longer with red oil dripping off it, while the engine dipstick will be somewhat shorter with gold coloured oil dripping from it (or black depending on how long it's been in there

2009 car shouldn't have a dipstick in the gearbox tube. They stopped that in the late 90s.

 

[John77]

2009 car shouldn't have a dipstick in the gearbox tube. They stopped that in the late 90s.

No dipsticks, just tubes with caps.