Should I buy this thingy?

[theholycow]

I still have this JC Whitney gift certificate hanging around from Christmas. I went looking for an oil drain pan and I found this:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/GARAGE-PRO-...7856_10101.jcw

12-VOLT OIL CHANGE PUMP
$12.99

• Remove oil without getting under vehicle
• Pumps out oil and sludge through dipstick tube
• For cars, trucks, boats, lawn mowers, tractors and heavy equipment

No need to open engine crankcase drain plug. Lightweight enough for one-hand operation. Instructions included. For all 12-volt systems.

The reviews seem pretty good, the worst complaints are about length of the hose and wire, which are easy for me to deal with. Also, I wouldn't be able to use it while the oil is hot; usually I drain it immediately after driving so any suspended junk comes out with the oil (and so the oil flows easily).

Any guesses about whether it will work on the heavy gear oil in my truck's differential? I'd love to suck the oil out instead of taking off the cover, though I should probably open it up to inspect it anyway.

[bowtieguy]

i wonder if it would leave debris behind in the pan?

ya gotta get underneath to change the filter anyway!

[Jay2TheRescue]

NO!

[dkjones96]

Originally Posted by bowtieguy

ya gotta get underneath to change the filter anyway!

Not always! I've only got to go under the truck to take off the oil pan bolt. I can change the filter by reaching into the passenger side wheel well. In fact, it's the perfect car for changing oil in an apartment complex because the only time I have to get under the hood is when new oil goes in!

[bowtieguy]

yup, forgot about high placed filters.

i miss my saturn, 'cause changing to AT fluid and filter was a piece of cake. drain plug and screw on filter just like servicing the motor. i could get that filter from under the hood.

[theholycow]

Well, that answers that question.

[Jay2TheRescue]

You're welcome...

-Jay

[zero_gravity]

looks like crap. a drill pump is very useful for flushing an auto trans out though.

[JanGeo]

If you used Synlube would wouldn't have to change your oil... but seriously get yourself a remote control petcock for the drain plug. You really want to drain the oil pan so you get the junk that sits at the bottom of the pan and drain plug hole. I have heard that Service centers like in dealers pump the oil out the dipstick tube with a pump so they don't have to get under the engine at all . . . no fishing the drain plug out of the drain pan or cleaning it off, stripping the threads etc. I am so glad I don't have to do that any more!

[GasSavers_Pete]

One point to think about is where is the dipstick in relation to the lowest point of the sump.
If one is above the other then all the oil should be taken out but if it is on the opposite corner you may have some residual which is not able to be removed.

Personally I tried this at a service (gas) station years ago and it was not successful. Even with hot oil the amount taken out was only about 85% of the sump capacity.

Just my thoughts.

Pete.