Oil Extractors---any disadvantages in using one?

[jayb]

Clearly we know all the advantages of using an oil extractor in terms of ease. Anyone not use one, or alternate by sometimes doing the plug drain routine. I am thinking that perhaps the extractor may leave a bit of residue or something else that should be considered, perhaps doing the plug drain every 5 or 6 changes instead of the extractor. Any consideration regarding the weight of the oil?

[reupreckt]

are bound to end up at the bottom of the pan (some manufacturers even use a magnetic plug). Seems to me that a bottom drain should be done pretty frequently. Fresh oil isn't going to protect you against metal shavings getting raked down the cylinder liner.

I might be a bit overly concerned, but it seems logical.

It is a pain to bottom-drain with the plug on the side of the pan though!

[Stinger9]

worry about using an extractor exclusively. Especially if you're diligent about frequent oil changes.
You've got an oil filter that excludes down to the micro level to prevent anything meaningful from ever reaching your engine from the pan bottom.
Others here have done the test to see if the extractor takes out all the oil and found it very efficient.
When I use the extractor, it pulls out plenty of thick dirty oil.

If you're negligent about your changes, use the bottom drain, but otherwise relax with your extractor.

[Filehorse]

Assuming the oil is changed at reasonable intervals and the correct full synthetic oil is used, any concern over "metal shavings" borders on paranoia. Besides, anything really heavy will probably settle to the bottom of the pan before you can get the drain plug removed anyway. Any extractor will remove more oil than via the drain plug owing to the position of the drain plug relative to the bottom of the pan. Draining will always leave more oil in the pan that what you can vacuum out with an extractor. Any particle larger than a few microns will be trapped by the filter before it can do any damage to the bearing surfaces. My feeling is that the oil should be drained/vacuumed immediately after warming the engine and any metal particles are probably small enough to remain suspended in the oil for the amount of time it takes to remove the oil. If you have metal particles large enough to make a noticeable "ping" as they hit the bottom of the pan, you have bigger worries anyway.

Enjoy your oil extractor.


Filehorse
Knoxville, TN
BMWCCA #407627

2002 525i Steptronic Sport/Premium | Build Date: 05/02
76,000 Ultimate Driving miles
Xenons
Style 81s | Bridgestone Potenza RE960 AS
Titanium Gray | Gray Leather
35% LLumar ATR LLumaStar tint
Valentine 1 | Hardwired
Steering wheel position memory w/Alzheimers
"Lifetime" ATF replaced at 40,000
StopTech SportStop slotted rotors w/Axxis Deluxe Advanced pads
StopTech SS Braided Brake Lines

2001 E46 325i (Jet Black) Forced Retirement 6/28/09

2001 E46 325i (Orient Blue) Forced Retirement 10/09

1989 E30 325i (Alpine White) Retired

[jayb]

I see you have 2 involuntary retirements in your family. What happened to the '01 E46. They are young to be retired so early.

[Filehorse]

ability. Actually, only the last one was his fault. He now drives a lovely champagne-colored '95 Ford Taurus GL inherited from my father. Let's just say he now has a much greater appreciation for owning a BMW.


Filehorse
Knoxville, TN
BMWCCA #407627

2002 525i Steptronic Sport/Premium | Build Date: 05/02
76,000 Ultimate Driving miles
Xenons
Style 81s | Bridgestone Potenza RE960 AS
Titanium Gray | Gray Leather
35% LLumar ATR LLumaStar tint
Valentine 1 | Hardwired
Steering wheel position memory w/Alzheimers
"Lifetime" ATF replaced at 40,000
StopTech SportStop slotted rotors w/Axxis Deluxe Advanced pads
StopTech SS Braided Brake Lines

2001 E46 325i (Jet Black) Forced Retirement 6/28/09

2001 E46 325i (Orient Blue) Forced Retirement 10/09

1989 E30 325i (Alpine White) Retired

[jayb]

on it, but perhaps that is the difference between guys and gals. E30 1987 still on the road in good shape. Oil changed every 3k.

[Filehorse]

It had 145,000 miles and literally looked and drove like new. It also was well-maintained and at 145,000 miles still didn't burn a drop of oil between changes. It was an '89 and it's the reason I still drive a BMW today. It was the car that demonstrated the difference between driving and riding and guiding.


Filehorse
Knoxville, TN
BMWCCA #407627

2002 525i Steptronic Sport/Premium | Build Date: 05/02
76,000 Ultimate Driving miles
Xenons
Style 81s | Bridgestone Potenza RE960 AS
Titanium Gray | Gray Leather
35% LLumar ATR LLumaStar tint
Valentine 1 | Hardwired
Steering wheel position memory w/Alzheimers
"Lifetime" ATF replaced at 40,000
StopTech SportStop slotted rotors w/Axxis Deluxe Advanced pads
StopTech SS Braided Brake Lines

2001 E46 325i (Jet Black) Forced Retirement 6/28/09

2001 E46 325i (Orient Blue) Forced Retirement 10/09

1989 E30 325i (Alpine White) Retired

[ohdaveplease]

04 E46 325i Sport,Manual,Silver Grey/Black leather.my car
90 Mazda Miata 90k original Red with Black........toy car
01 Subaru Outback LL bean edition h6...........wife's car
past BMW's: .
88 735i e32 Black/Tan...93 325i e36 manual Electric Red/Black *my first NEW BMW!...00 528i e39 sport,manual Electric Red/Black

[ghollis_1]

was it (rather, it's internal seals) was not compatible with synthetic oil. so the first couple changes went fine (like you, i had intended to use the drain plug method every third change or so), but once the seals gave out on the pump, i had synthetic oil spitting everywhere when i pumped. i've since put the extractor on the shelf and gone back to drain plug method only. oh well.

[Stinger9]

6 litre unit, and the oil never touches anything on the pump. The pump sits at the top of the poly globe and creates a low pressure area in the globe that the oil flows in because high pressure (atmospheric in this case) always flows to low pressure.
As the oil fills up to near the top, I release the pressure and empty the tank without ever having the pump or any seal ever come close to oil of any kind.

[ohdaveplease]

Dented my subaru twice. Hit it with a friends car backing out of my driveway (friend let him drive IDIOT), Then backeded it into a neighbors mailbox. He totalled his first car (a 2001 VW bug) Didn't "like" the POS ('97 Altima that smelled like curry) I made him buy as a result. Now drives a Mini and knows if he hurts it, he walks
My 21 year old daughter has been mostly trouble free and keeps her '04 Honda Civic up very well.
04 E46 325i Sport,Manual,Silver Grey/Black leather.my car
90 Mazda Miata 90k original Red with Black........toy car
01 Subaru Outback LL bean edition h6...........wife's car
past BMW's: .
88 735i e32 Black/Tan...93 325i e36 manual Electric Red/Black *my first NEW BMW!...00 528i e39 sport,manual Electric Red/Black

[jayb]

[Filehorse]

~6 quarts so you'll have to transfer a couple of quarts to make room for that 7th quart. Also, be sure the engine is warm. Old, cold oil has the viscosity of molasses and it will GREATLY increase the amount of time it takes to vacuum out 7 quarts. The actual bore size of the insertion tube is only about 1/8" so it'll take 5-10 minutes with the Pela.


Filehorse
Knoxville, TN
BMWCCA #407627

2002 525i Steptronic Sport/Premium | Build Date: 05/02
76,000 Ultimate Driving miles
Xenons
Style 81s | Bridgestone Potenza RE960 AS
Titanium Gray | Gray Leather
35% LLumar ATR LLumaStar tint
Valentine 1 | Hardwired
Steering wheel position memory w/Alzheimers
"Lifetime" ATF replaced at 40,000
StopTech SportStop slotted rotors w/Axxis Deluxe Advanced pads
StopTech SS Braided Brake Lines

2001 E46 325i (Jet Black) Forced Retirement 6/28/09

2001 E46 325i (Orient Blue) Forced Retirement 10/09

1989 E30 325i (Alpine White) Retired

[reupreckt]

paranoia about oil extractors...I've been trapped under my car draining the oil. ;-)

[jayb]

new from the top (extractor) I will do it again. The days of going under are over.

[reupreckt]

but there's a place near my house that does it for $10 if I bring my own oil and filter. It's not worth jacking it up, and having to take a big greasy bucket of used motor oil to a recycling place.

I feel like like I'm kinda shirking my duty and maybe I'm missing out on some essential part of the ownership experience - but then I see that drainpan of oil from working on my pickup still in the garage after 6 months and I get over it....quickly.

I'll do most of the other maintenance - but I'll pass on the oil change.

[ghollis_1]

[reupreckt]

[jayb]

Just wanted to share with you what happened with a $19 oil change. My wife took her car for years into a Jiffy Lube type place. I always was concerned about it since the turnover of the in the pit 'boys' was great and they all looked rather young. But no appointment was a major factor to her. One time she took it there for a oil change they forget to tighten the filter, just put it on with maybe half a turn. When she got home the oil was leaking slowly onto the garage floor. Last time there. Never found out what happened, although they did take responsibility for it. Something as easy as an oil change could become a bigger problem unless you are using reliable people.