Just so you know, these vehicles are factory-designed to have their oil drained from above. That's the way the dealerships do it (although they use a vacuum extraction device that uses the dipstick like a giant straw). For the truly anal, tests have shown that Topsider oil extraction actually removes more oil than gravity draining (although Larry and others will probably dispute this). It probably isn't enough of a difference to worry about, when you consider the significant amount of old oil which stays in galleries, etc. anyway.

Obviously, you can change oil any way you want, but to me, it's really handy to do it from above, esp. in bad weather (can do it in the garage -- I wouldn't be able to do that using ramps).

The other point that non-Topsider-owners forget is that it's a good deal less messy -- you drain the oil right into the container you use to take it to the recycling center. Heckuva deal if you ask me!

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Steve
'93 400E