Changing oil through dipstick tube

Just sucking on the dipstick tube will do no good. You need another tube to go down inside it all the way to the bottom of the oil pan, or as close as you can get.

That brings up an interesting question. How many dipstick tubes align with the bottom of the oil pan? The dipstick itself only needs to read the top oil level plus or minus a quart or so.

Lane

I would guess none at all. There's no reason for the dipstick tube to even extend past its threads in the engine block.

Exactly.... I was going to let someone dig a hole for themselves before I brought that little point up. I don't think a hose shoved down the dipstick tube is very likely to find its way to the lowest part of the pan either. I'd say at best it's a half assed way of changing the oil. Bob

Threads? How many dipstick tubes have you ever examined?

As for length there's a very good reason for the dipstick tube to be extended well down the dipstick: windage. How long do you think an unsupported flexible dipstick would last?

Tom

Mental impairment? Ummm... I'm not the one who called an oil drain plug inaccessible. Changing the damned engine oil is one of the easiest maintenance tasks a person can do. Bob

I'm too big to reach under the car. A little twerp would have no problem.

Amazing. Apparently, Mr Hurst here is not only stupid, he's also so ignorant as never to have heard of a floor jack.

No one mentioned a floor jack. The original asshole says just reach under the car. You need a course in reading comprehension. Besides that, I have a lift to do oil changes. I have a floor jack too, actually 2. But I shouldn't need a jack if the drain plug is accessible.

I was with holding judgment waiting to see where this was going. Now I know. Mr. Stern is being too kind in his assessment. Stupid doesn't quite describe him. What a jerk!

In reffrence to your post:

I've had to replace many engines in my time due to DIY'ers leaving the drain plug loose, the oil filter loose and even using the wrong oil filter.

For the common person, it is not the easiest thing to do on a car. Like plumbing in a new shit house is not the easiest thing to do in a house, for the average homeowner!

Refinish King

I bought the mightyVac unit:

I use it for doing differentials and transfer cases, but when I get a used engine. It's nice to know I won't be getting it implanted on my forehead pulling the plug before I install it.

MightyVac gives you a plastic tube that fits in the dipstick tube, and will go to the bottom of the oil pan, in fact, if you go too far. It will not vacum oil!

It works well, because I see it pull sludge from the pan bottom, that pulling a plug doesn't get, and also, draining the broken engine, you usually get a clogged line from metal pieces.

Pulling the plug puts that garbage in your drain barrel, so I put an automatic transmission adapter on the funnel. That gets the large pieces out when I pull the plug.

But, as a seasoned vetran, 35 years. I say that vacuming the oil isn't a bad idea, because the pan isn't flat and pulling the plug leaves residual oil in there too.

Refinish King

You spoke too soon!

The dipstick is always positioned in the sump area of the pan.

Refinish King

LOL

Thanks for clearing that one up!

Refinish King

I wouldn't m> >

The one I got from Griot's Garage goes down to the bottom of the pan.....you can actually feel it hit the bottom of the pan.

-- Curtis Newton snipped-for-privacy@remove-this.akaMail.com

Your lack of a sense of humor,

and also that you are a pompous oaf. Troubles me. Do you have a woman, and do your relationships last anymore than a few months.

Did everyone in school kick the shit out of you?

You display the characteristics of someone, that everyone loves to hate!

Assratchet!

Ref>

Guess I am not following this part.....when you put the tube down the dipstick hole, you can feel it hit the bottom of the pan. Also, the tube that is provided is cut at a 45 degree angle.

I can't say it is the best way to change the oil, but when I pulled the drain plug, a few drops came out, nothing more. So, it appears to me that it got quite a bit of the oil. The reason I got it, my Audi A4 has the plastic underbelly that is a royal pain to get off. On my wife's RX330, I have still been doing the drain plug method. But, this next time, I will use the pump and then pull the drain plug to see how much difference there is.

The main difference I noted between a pump and drain plug was, with the Griot's pump, the oil cannot be extremely hot. They don't advise driving more than 10-15 minutes before changing. When I do the drain plug method (I also have the Rhino Ramps -- they are great), I usually do the oil change after driving about 30 minutes.

Curt

-- Curtis Newton snipped-for-privacy@remove-this.akaMail.com

You sir:

I believe take it in the bunghole by a gang!

Ref>

That's the smartest thing you've said so far! Bob

And you are one of the noisiest windbags I have never met! Bob