Oil Extractor vs. Drain Plug - What's your method?

**elscotto80** · 01-03-2015 08:46 AM

I saw a post on the s4 forum and thought this might be good to have over here. What is your preference when changing the oil - drain through the oil pan bolt or use an extractor? I have never used an extractor and last time i did my oil change on my a4 i used the drain bolt. The extractor seems like a good bet since you don't have to jack the car up and remove all the under panels. I searched around and I think i am going to pick up this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Has anyone used this model and can comment on its effectiveness? Any other extractors that you prefer? I will be completing my own oil changes from here out since my audicare is over and I am not shelling out the 150 bones for the dealer to do it any longer.

**Slim0531** · 01-03-2015 09:06 AM

I change my oil twice a year. Since I still have Audi care, I use oil extractor in between my scheduled
Maintenance.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**DJ_AudiA4** · 01-03-2015 09:07 AM

So I have a funny personal story with this one, changed my oil the first time through the drain plug. Set my torque wrench to the wrong calibration. (Ft lbs instead of in lbs) over torqued and stripped the bolt. So I Used Jb weld to fix the plug and bought an oil extractor. I love the freaking oil extractor. It works great! Gets all the oil out and even let's me drain it from where the oil filter is. Makes the job super fast and clean. Don't even have to put my car on a lift or jacks.

Should probably replace the oil pan anyways hahahah

**van462** · 01-03-2015 09:11 AM

I have an earlier model of this pump. The mityvac pumps that have the vacuum pump inside the oil reservoir had issues. If you left the oil in the tank too long it would migrate into the pump and spray oil out of the handle. The one you linked to should solve that problem. I also found the small tubing in the kit a bit too small and you must have the oil at full temp to work effectively. The medium size tubing doesn't fit the dipstick hole size. I bought a section of tubing at the hardware store that fits the dipstick hole better and now I get much better flow. Changing the oil doesn't take that many pumps as you would think either around 20 to 30. I usually give it about 10 at a time and let it do its thing.

**o1turbo30v** · 01-03-2015 09:39 AM

I use the Motive extractor and love it, no getting out the jack and crawling under the car, start to finish is about 10-15minutes.

**Viru5** · 01-03-2015 09:42 AM

Im going to have to pick one of these up will come in handy for these winter months when its to damn cold to get under the car.

**oascom** · 01-03-2015 10:22 AM

I'm using oil extractor. I got the one from Harbor freights. I know many shops using this extractor. Also Audi dealers using extractors too. Very easy oil change and with powerful air compressor it is so fast. It suck the oil dry lol

**elscotto80** · 01-03-2015 11:36 AM

I ordered the one i had in the link from amazon. I will do a review once its in and I change my oil in the next few weeks.

**oldred** · 01-03-2015 11:51 AM

I use mityvac 7400.... Love it

**Beachcomber Joe** · 01-03-2015 02:51 PM

I have the model 7201 that is in the link. No fuss, no mess oil changes. The ability to pump the waste oil out of the extractor into containers is a big benefit. The medium-sized tubing was a perfect fit in the dipstick tube of my 2.0t.

**Liquid Smoke** · 01-03-2015 07:08 PM

i have the Pela 6000, had it for 2 years now and used it a total of maybe 6-7 times. still works great and just used it recently too. i prefer over the top since i can just do it myself, not have to jack anything up or take it to a shop, and no risk of stripping the oil plug or anything. and it seems to get out all the oil and just a quick way for me to do it myself, every 5-6k miles i try to do. and once in a while if im getting work done on it by a friend, who works on it at the dealer, he uses the dealer's extraction pump and changes the oil through the top too.

**Chanman94** · 01-03-2015 07:33 PM

Never tried using the drain plug method. But I use the same oil extractor you posted, does the job great and keeps everything clean. Just pump it about 10 times, come back like 10 mins later to check on it and continue until it's drained completely. There's really no reason to do the drain plug method when the oil filter sits next to the engine on this car.

Just keep in mind when you're putting the tube through the dipstick hole not to ram it in. You'll hit a bit of a snag, just give it a gentle push and it will reach the oil pan. But push it too much and the tube bends back up and you won't get all the oil.

**eirebob** · 01-03-2015 08:44 PM

I went a little lower end with the Hydro Turf extractor, now about 50 bucks on Amazon. I've used it 7 or 8 times on the A4 and the daughter's Passat without complaint.

A little reminder if you're just beginning is to remove the oil fill cap prior to extraction. This facilitates an easy and complete extraction.

Easiest oil change ever (well, for me, anyway).

**shaunm82** · 01-03-2015 09:17 PM

Oil extractor for me as well~

**Scott Andrews** · 01-03-2015 10:05 PM

Use it when the engine is hot. The oil comes out faster and easier that way

**AWDLover** · 01-04-2015 12:56 AM

Oil extractor method here. I use the hydro turf also....works perfectly

http://www.amazon.com/Hydro-Turf-Oil...=oil+extractor

**TCHUN003** · 01-04-2015 01:47 AM

I bought a Motive extractor from ECStuning, but I prefer using my Fumoto valve and inspecting everything under the engine every oil change. If someone want's to buy my Motive extractor, it's for sale :)

**Prof** · 01-04-2015 05:57 AM

I also use an oil extractor. It is important to have the car up to operating temperature before extracting the oil. I change my oil and filter on my 2009 A4 every 7500 miles . I usually do some errands, shut the engine off and open the hood. By the time I get the extractor ready, oil and drop cloths arranged, in about 10 min, I begin the extraction. That way the oil has cooled down just a bit. I run the extractor. Then I pull the oil filter, and pump the oil extractor again to get the remaining oil. This is the way the oil is removed by the Audi dealers. I save the oil in a plastic jug and dispose of it at an Advanced Auto Parts store. I have used the same all metal extractor that I bought from Northern Tools in 2009 and it works great. Just be sure not to kink the hose as you gently push it through the dip stick tube. I add the new oil (Mobil 1 synthetic, 0W 40), just 3 quarts and check it with my dipstick. I then add the remaining oil until I reach the correct mark on my dipstick. Then I check the oil the next day to make sure it is at the correct level and adjust. I am good to go for the next 7500 miles. In June 2012 had the Stage-1 oil fix and that corrected my oil consumption problem and I do not get a warning light throughout this mileage. So the extractor method is great and it ensures that I do not postpone my oil changes.

**elscotto80** · 01-04-2015 09:48 AM

Sounds like everyone uses the extractor method. Mine arrives tomorrow and then my oil should be here by the end of the week. What are your preferred oil change intervals? I find that the 10k that Audi suggests is too much and have been changing every 5k. Thoughts?

**AWDLover** · 01-04-2015 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by elscotto80

Sounds like everyone uses the extractor method. Mine arrives tomorrow and then my oil should be here by the end of the week. What are your preferred oil change intervals? I find that the 10k that Audi suggests is too much and have been changing every 5k. Thoughts?

I go every 5k as well. That's about when I lose one quart...

**kwbdc** · 01-04-2015 11:58 AM

Every 5k is when I do it. Since I have Audi Care they do a few I do a few.

**avant-grd** · 01-04-2015 12:35 PM

How do you fellows reset service reminder after oil change? I do not have Viacom (I hope I spelled it correctly) and do not plan to get into tuning. I am just regular driver.
Thanks,

**AWDLover** · 01-04-2015 12:57 PM

I reset it via vagcom

It is a great tool even if you are only using it for maintenance and diagnostics. Plus they hold their value really well so you can sell it for almost what you buy it for.

**AOW162435** · 01-04-2015 09:22 PM

Old skool here, every 3k miles: ramps, ECS magnetic drain plug, Audi filter & 4.9 qts of 0W40 Mobil1.

:)

Andreas

**schaefer921** · 01-05-2015 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by AOW162435

Old skool here, every 3k miles: ramps, ECS magnetic drain plug, Audi filter & 4.9 qts of 0W40 Mobil1.

:)

Same exact thing for me

**vdubtx** · 01-05-2015 08:30 AM

Wanting so badly to get back into my own house. Sold it back in September in 5 days(was not expecting to sell so fast) while we are building a new one which is taking 2 months longer than initially told.

Will start going the extractor route once back in my own garage. Will have 3 vehicles to do changes for, so should save some much needed money for home projects.

**soloflo** · 01-05-2015 11:22 PM

Oil extractor here as well. Mityvac 7201 I believe. No complaints.

**Nastybutler** · 01-06-2015 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by AOW162435

Old skool here, every 3k miles: ramps, ECS magnetic drain plug, Audi filter & 4.9 qts of 0W40 Mobil1.

:)

Andreas

Holy, moley some of you guys sure like to waste money. Modern synthetic oil can easily last 10K miles with no issues. I can understand changing the filter every 5K miles or so, but the oil itself doesn't break down like conventional oil does. Some engineers I've seen in the Ford truck forums have special dual stage filter systems and have a lab test their oil after running it for 50K+ miles and it comes back as good as the oil coming out of a truck after 3K miles with a regular filter.

**JBAeroEngineer** · 03-25-2015 05:48 AM

people are not having issues with residue/particles when using an oil extractor?

**AWDLover** · 03-25-2015 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by JBAeroEngineer

people are not having issues with residue/particles when using an oil extractor?

I didn't. It's how most dealers do it as well.

**Fox Fader** · 03-25-2015 06:59 AM

I'm old skool, drain from the bottom.

**blbroo** · 03-25-2015 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by avant-grd

How do you fellows reset service reminder after oil change? I do not have Viacom (I hope I spelled it correctly) and do not plan to get into tuning. I am just regular driver.
Thanks,

I reset mine using the settings under the CAR menu for oil changes. Don't think you need a vag-com. Press the CAR button then look for the Service Interval option then chose reset.

I drain the oil by the plug method. Gives me an opportunity to look things over (under).

**elscotto80** · 03-25-2015 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by blbroo

I reset mine using the settings under the CAR menu for oil changes. Don't think you need a vag-com. Press the CAR button then look for the Service Interval option then chose reset.

I drain the oil by the plug method. Gives me an opportunity to look things over (under).

You need vag-com to reset both the service and oil change interval.

**hender** · 03-25-2015 09:52 AM

Is there a trick to the mityvac? I also have the mityvac 7201 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER) but I made the mistake of not allowing the oil to warm up before starting to pump it out.

I had some trouble as I would put the hose in, pump the 10 times or whatever it calls for, and nothing. Even continuously pumping it felt like there was serious restriction going on. Switching the relief valve showed there was indeed some vac pressure in the mityvac reservoir. I noticed adjusting the hose a little (the amount I put in) would allow a nice flow, before cutting off again. Hard to determine if it's just that i'm putting too much hose in there or what....

**Nastybutler** · 03-25-2015 10:09 AM

You might have a kink in the hose.

**ItsDubC** · 03-25-2015 10:10 AM

Been using a Mityvac 7400 w/ no issues since 2010. Since I'm never 100% sure whether the tube opening is at the very bottom, I move the tube in and out a bit once it starts sucking air...

I continue this until I can't get any more oil out.