Oil Change - LiquiVac

I

iaw

New member
Hey,

Looking for some input on using this for an oil change:

Products (free shipping lower 48 states only) | LiquiVac

Basically rather than let the oil drain out it sucks it out.

For me I think it would be faster, cleaner, I don't have ramps or enough jacks, our driveway and most of my family's driveways are on pretty good slants so there's no even ground other than the street which couldn't go over well with neighbours.

Anything wrong with using this over the typical drain out method?
 
I

iaw

New member
I've read that this particular model can have issues with the container collapsing if you pump it too many times (others saying it happens on the required number of pumps) but the big thing is to make sure the car has been running so the oil is warm and flows easily.

For the most part from my research people say there's no difference really and that if you have an oil filter that doesn't require access from under the car then this is just as good.

Other models I see are mityvac and a few others on amazon come up when you search this one or mityvac.
 
The Champ

The Champ

New member
When you drain oil the conventional way, gravity will allow most harmful particles to pass out through the drain plug naturally.

If you attempt to suck the oil up, most harmful particles will stay in the pan.

I also believe that you will leave more dirty oil in the pan when attempting to suck it out than by letting gravity do it's work.

I'm a little anal about this. I actually make sure that the drain plug is lower than any other part of the pan when I change oil and normally allow 30 minutes for the oil to drain.

Oil changes for me are not a speed event. I take the time to look over the rest of my car while letting the oil drain.

Feel free to do whatever you think is right.
 
Papasonic

Papasonic

Active member
I agree with member "The Champ." Draining the oil, ideally should be done immediately after shutting the engine off; then opening the oil filler cap, removing the dipstick, loosening the oil filter cap, and then the drain plug, allowing the old oil to rapidly drain; carrying suspended contaminants with it.
I also let it drain until there are no more drips. Obviously changing the oil, regardless of the method is a required maintenance item. Either method is acceptable, but the old way is still the best way!
 
carsNskis

carsNskis

New member
Do you think there's any benefit to running a half quart or so of fresh oil run through when the first drain is complete? (Before filling, to draw the last bit of old oil out before filling)
 
The Champ

The Champ

New member
carsNskis said:
Do you think there's any benefit to running a half quart or so of fresh oil run through when the first drain is complete? (Before filling, to draw the last bit of old oil out before filling)
Click to expand...

It wouldn't hurt, but I'm not sure that it would take a half quart to get the last few bits out.

A cup would probably be plenty.
 
6

6speedti

Member
Out of all the vehicles I've owned over the years the sonic with the 1.4 turbo is the easiest when it comes to oil changes. I slide a low profile oil pan and loosen the plug. All without jacking the vehicle. The filter cover is surprisingly easy to access and remove. Why would anyone risk leaving dirty oil on the bottom of the pan over several oil changes is beyond me.

This is how I perform oil changes on my sonic.
I get home from work. I pull the plug and remove the filter
and let it drain overnight. Then I install the plug and new filter, torque it up. Add 4 liters and leak check. That's it I'm done. This method works for me because I get as much oil out of the pan as possible.
 
S

spacedout

New member
nickalltogether said:
"Plug up"? How much stuff do you think is floating in the sump of your engine? haha.
Click to expand...

Exactly, most of the large contaminants on the oil are already trapped in the filter not suspended in the oil. I've used a Mityvac and it gets out 99% or more of the old oil based on the amount the engine holds and what ends up in the tank when finished. With a Mityvac you insert a tube into the dipstick, so the oil is being sucked directly out of the pan. We pulled the drain plug after removing the oil once, there was only a few drops that came out.
 
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S

spacedout

New member
6speedti said:
This is how I perform oil changes on my sonic.
I get home from work. I pull the plug and remove the filter
and let it drain overnight.
Click to expand...

Its a really bad idea to do it that way, just a matter of time you will forget you drained the oil and start your car without oil in the AM. No reason at all to let it sit that long.
 
6

6speedti

Member
spacedout said:
Its a really bad idea to do it that way, just a matter of time you will forget you drained the oil and start your car without oil in the AM. No reason at all to let it sit that long.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the concern but it will never happen. I do this stuff for a living. I have all my oil change stuff sitting next to the vehicle. Tools, waste bucket, new oil, measuring container, rags and so on. Not to mention the hood is open. You won't believe how much oil continues to drip out and for how long after the initial drain. You always have a certain amount of oil sitting in the engine that sits on the head and journal cavities. Not much you can do with that.
 
ScarabEpic22

ScarabEpic22

Member
I agree and always ensure I drain the oil on my vehicles after the oil is warm, if the car has been sitting I'll let it warm up for a few minutes first. Always a new filter too, I dont get why some people insist on running a filter for 10k yet change the oil at 5k then 10k on the same filter...

That said, I know some BMW and Mercedes (possibly others) have done away with the drain plug to make changing your oil at home a difficult task. This is where the liquivac or siphon pumps are critical, without them there's no way to get the old oil out short of dropping the oil pan.
 
Stew

Stew

Sedans Rule!
The Champ said:
...Oil changes for me are not a speed event. I take the time to look over the rest of my car while letting the oil drain.
Click to expand...

This is definitely a good reason to change your own oil. While the oil's draining check all the other fluids, check out your air or cabin filter, look at your radiator hoses for abnormality, etc. etc.

Catching something else wrong while changing my oil has saved me a couple of times in the past.

carsNskis said:
Do you think there's any benefit to running a half quart or so of fresh oil run through when the first drain is complete? (Before filling, to draw the last bit of old oil out before filling)
Click to expand...

I actually did similar to this on my previous car. I think it was when it hit 100k miles I drained the oil, put two quarts of new oil in enough to cover the pickup tube and ran it for a few minutes, drained that and then replaced the filter and filled it with new oil.

I think it would be a bit much to do this every oil change but I could see every 100k miles.

ScarabEpic22 said:
...That said, I know some BMW and Mercedes (possibly others) have done away with the drain plug to make changing your oil at home a difficult task. This is where the liquivac or siphon pumps are critical, without them there's no way to get the old oil out short of dropping the oil pan.
Click to expand...

It was probably to stop replacing oil pans and drain plugs from all their techs putting the drain plug back on with a damn impact wrench! :D
 
The Champ

The Champ

New member
nickalltogether said:
"Plug up"? How much stuff do you think is floating in the sump of your engine? haha.
Click to expand...

If you read what I wrote, I clearly stated "start plugging up".

I've heard of guys that just change the filter and top off the oil as needed. This liquivac thing reminds me of that mentality.
 
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