Oil Draining - Vacuum Pumps

danza

danza

danza

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Right, after changing the oil a while back in my E46 330i and finding that some idiot has stripped the sump drain hole thread, I'm considering my options.

I could fit a self-tapping plug with a coarser pitch, removing oil the conventional way (this could go very, very wrong despite being mechanically competent). Or I could leave the plug in place and use a vacuum pump. These actually seem to get good reviews (well, the bad ones don't, obviously), so I'm thinking about buying one and never having to get oily under the car again. The plug is in properly, and seals fine. I'm thinking of leaving this sleeping dog to lie.

Anyone here got/used one? What is/was it like?

Any info much appreciated. Ta!
 
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Hmm, there appear to be some pretty cheap electric ones on Amazon.

These look like they drain into whatever container you want, so no having to empty out a vessel into old oil containers, rather just pumping directly into one.
 
Unfortunately it's not the plug head, the thread itself in the sump is toast.
 
I'd be happy enough with the vac pump, if you can get the tube all the way to the bottom of the sump it will get more out than you would with the sump plug anyway.
 
I could use a self-tapping plug, but I'm not wanting to risk it going wrong and therefore leaving my car stuck on the drive.

Looking at the electric pumps, these may not be so good after all. Seems a decent manual vacuum pump is anywhere from £20-50 (before they start becoming over priced/commercial grade).
 
Clarkey said:
I'd be happy enough with the vac pump, if you can get the tube all the way to the bottom of the sump it will get more out than you would with the sump plug anyway.
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That's what I'm thinking. Get the car slightly tilted up hill on ramps/block of wood, and the back of the sump where the tube will end up should be the lowest point (the plug is forward of this, so there will always be some oil left doing it the traditional way).
 
pumps work well, I use the one we have for diffs/gearbox/engine oil and it does it all far quicker than the conventional way. That being said if it were me I would still want to be able to remove a sump plug to inspect for any swarf/metal particles but its not essential.
 
I am amazed that anybody managed to strip the thread on a BMW sump plug.

Typically BMW sump plugs have much longer threaded sections than most manufacturers meaning that it would take King Kong-The Mechanic to actually do it up tight enough to actually strip it! :eek:

But, as others have said. get somebody to rethread it with a heli coil.

If you are in the SE I can give you the number for a very good mobile guy, but he only works for trade so you will have to work through a garage.
 
Vac pumps work perfectly well - I have a manual one in the shed but a little electric number would be even easier and is basically what was used when i worked inna fleet garage many moons ago

You'll get plenty of the old stuff out so there's no real worry aboutbwhat is removed vs actually sorting the plug. Leave it for the next guy to worry about
 
Orionaut said:
I am amazed that anybody managed to strip the thread on a BMW sump plug.

Typically BMW sump plugs have much longer threaded sections than most manufacturers meaning that it would take King Kong-The Mechanic to actually do it up tight enough to actually strip it! :eek:

But, as others have said. get somebody to rethread it with a heli coil.

If you are in the SE I can give you the number for a very good mobile guy, but he only works for trade so you will have to work through a garage.
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Sadly anything can be ruined by a ham-fisted moron cross threading stuff with air tools :(
 
Well, I've gone for a PELA 6000 vacuum oil extractor at a bit under 40 quid.

I may one day get the thread fixed, but not today (or probably ages). If access is good enough, I'll probably do it myself. I've never used a helicoil, but I have drilled and tapped loads in the past (delicate stuff, down to M1.0).

I have access to helicoil kits at work if the need arises (and there's room to swing the tool in there).
 
I have a PELA vacuum pump - works very well. I use it to change the oil in my girlfriends car as I wanted minimum hassle and didn't fancy jacking it up.

It makes an oil change almost as quick as topping up the screen wash (well, not quite, but you get the idea and you don't need a single tool!). Insert, pump, leave... Come back, replace filter by hand, observe level of oil removed and replace with fresh. Double check on dip stick but it'll be spot on if the previous level was correct. Then if you're anything like me leave it in the shed and forget to dispose of the old oil until you need it next...

Can't really comment on if it leaves anything behind at the bottom of the sump but I can't see it would be much different to draining as the tube reaches the bottom. You can experiment with different angles to make sure it has sucked everything up and it will be obvious if you've missed a large amount as it'll be half empty.

I would use it on my own car without hesitation if I was DIY servicing and will do if I keep it long enough.
 
Do these pumps go in the dip stick holder? I've seen them but never given them a thought, seems like they could be quite handy for my situation.
 
I've been using the vacuum method for a few years now, started with a PELA but I found it a bit of a pain due to the handle, last year I purchased a Eufab 21014 Oil Bleeding Pump 12V (cheaper by £14 going off today price) and have found it much better.

It's a case of connecting to the battery and sticking the large tube in an old 5ltr oil container. As I do both cars the same time, once the oil drained on car A, the rest of the service is done on car B, then swap over.

I believe a few service stations now use the vacuum method, our Ambulance cars also use the vacuum method instead of sump, yet the Ambulances still have oil drained via sump.
 
Diddums said:
Do these pumps go in the dip stick holder? I've seen them but never given them a thought, seems like they could be quite handy for my situation.
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Yes, that's how they're meant to work. The odd review here and there seems to suggest that some have tubes that are bigger than others, and don't for some cars.
 
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