Best Oil Change Tip E-V-R

Made ya look huh? Did a search and didn't see anything about this, I'm sure someone out there has heard/used this tip but I've been changing my own oil since I was 15 and never heard this before. Just a backyard mechanic here but... changed oil 1st time last week at 3,000miles, noticed I had a drip when I pulled out of garage so I go to dealer and check and sure enough this vehicle needs a new washer each oil change, (never changed it on my Tacoma) buy gasket and 5 quarts of new oil figuring drain, add gasket and refill. I'm fortunate enough to use the racks at my local AF base, guy working there says he can use a shop-vac and I won't lose 1 drop of oil so I put it up in the air, he's standing on the rack with the shop vac hose connected to the oil fill tube with (of course) the oil filler cap off, I unscrew the oil drain bolt, put on new gasket, retighten the bolt and viola!... done, not 1 drop came out. The shop vac creates a vacuum stronger than gravity. Good as long as the power doesn't get cut (then you'd get a face full of oil and be sure to set the shop-vac on suction and not blowing out and I'd recommend cleaning off the shop-vac hose connection before attaching to your vehicles oil filler neck.. Made me a little nervous but all worked out well.

 

Lol thats badass man, I haven't heard of that, but I bet it works!!

 

Good stuff!

 

Dude! I wanna see someone actually try this... that's awesome

 

Good thing the guy standing and holding the shop vac didn’t get a phone call. You could have ended up with a mouth full of oil.

 

Yep, I heard about that trick from my friend with a big Diesel Dually....which takes something crazy like 12 quarts....He had a drip from the dealer not replacing the crush washer. He took it to a local shop to see if they had any tips before driving back to the dealer. That's exactly what they did. He said it didn't lose a drop.

 

Ok doing this my next oil change before I remove the drain plug. No more oil on hands. Turn off the vacuum and oil drains.

 

Best Oil Change Tip E-V-R is to replace the washer every time but that vacuum idea should work safely unless the oil has lots of gasoline contamination in it

 

Lube shop guys have been doing that for years

 

Used this technique when I had to change the shut off valve on the bottom of my 275 gallon home heating oil tank. Not a drop lost to replace that leaking valve! It works.

 

^thats how I am doing it ffomnnow on .

 

Clever trick...then maybe slip on a Fumoto valve after you remove the original drain plug and you’ll never need the vacuum again.

 

I knew shops could suck oil out the dip stick tube but had never heard of this. But since there's videos on the interwebs it must be true.

 

Now my Grandson want to try it tomorrow. Told them know because on of you will turn off the vac and I will have to fill it back up with oil.

 

Very cool.

 

this method sucks

 

This is a great suggestion for replacing a washer on a full sump! Let's hope I remember it if/when the time comes to use it

As for the shop vac creating vacuum stronger than gravity... it depends what object gravity is pulling on. With a sump of motor oil, the shop vac holds up good. For something as large as a water heater or storage tank, maybe not. Not trying to be disagreeable, but there are some applications where even a strong shop vac will lose the battle against gravity.

 

What about the crankcase ventilation hose that connects to the air box? Seems like air would just gleefully flow through there and into the shop vac.