built my own topsider!!
 

well- i finally made my own unit-
i used a pressure tank from an under sink RO water purifier system, and use my veggy sucker /window A/C unit to pull vac. it works great, but is kinda slow. I am using 1/4" vinyl from icemaker for a pickup tube. all free parts.

i pulled the bladder out of tank, and removed the schrader valve. i will install a needle valve, to keep things clean if it gets knocked over. i thought of using a 20 lb propane tank, that would be easy, but i stumbled opun this, and it works great.

what is the OD on a real topsider tube?

well, no more getting under the car in the middle of winter to do an oil change:D :D

all i can say is LAZY:D

I still prefer to crawl under my car and get ALL the oil out of the pan. :)

It's been argued till blue in the face that using either method, topsider or drain plug, will NOT get all of the oil out of the engine. Some tests have shown that the topsider, the method which the MB dealers have used since 1972 when MB designed the engine's oil dipstick tube to go all the way to the bottom of the sump with this oil change method in mind, gets 200-500ml more oil out of a level oil pan than the drain plug method.

Even still. I have my pride. I would get laughed out of the shop if I were to use one of those for something as simple as an oil change.

Window A/C unit to pull vac.?? How does that work?

I use a topsider for the generator oil changes, the plug is nearly on the floor. :rolleyes: Same goes for small engine with hard to reach or messy output plugs.

Multi Use Pump at Big Lots $5.99
 

Just bought a multi use pump (including oil and gas) from Big Lots for only $5.99.
Just wanted to pass this along to anyone who might be thinking of buying one.

I'm switching over on the SD. Topsiders rule! No need to get under a dirty oily car, priceless.:cool:


They get enough oil out, did it on the S320. Manual said took almost 8 quarts, thats what came out and thats what went back in.

well, it took a little more oil to get the mark up where it usually is when i change the oil, so i must be getting more out. i do not think it is worth the danger of loosening the cooler lines to get that oil out.


when you need to lay on sub zero concrete to change your oil, you may tend to put it off... not me anymore.

the first pic is my wvo sucker





http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...z/DSCN0021.jpg

next, the tube down the dipstick hole(wifes car, its raining outside on the benz)


http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...z/DSCN0651.jpg

this is the AC compressor- one line sucks, the other blows
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...z/DSCN0649.jpg

heres the topsider- easy build. i can attach the other line from the compressor to the schrader valve and push the oil out. right now i need to turn it upsidedown to empty it, but i plan on adding a draw tube to the bottom. an old gas grill tank would work as well.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...z/DSCN0648.jpg

Compressor Lube?
 

Does the AC compressor need oil added periodically? Just thought there was normally oil in the system. That is what stopped me from trying to use a frig compressor.

who cares- they are free.

The idea is appealing, but for me I just gotta drain the oil. If nothing else it gets me under the car to check other things......and I have found other things.

Yowzer
 

Why in the world would anyone risk loosening the oil cooler lines just to change the bloody oil? :eek: :confused:

Wow. There is maintenance, over-maintenance, and obsession! :D :D

I don't see getting a few extra ounces of oil out of there as worth the trouble or risk. Even if there's some oil left in there (of course, there is) it's soon to be diluted with eight quarts of fresh stuff.

Very cool!

I had wanted to buy a pela (http://www.pelaproducts.com/) when i read about tdiclub memebers using it. Because it isnt easy changing oil in the passat:mad:

Plus these things are more efficent in draining more oil then letting it drip out from the drain in the oil pan.

I use a topsider myself, but I have a hard time believing they actually get more (unless by 'efficient' you're just talking about the time it takes) oil out than using the drain plug would. I've always figured it's the same, or that at worst the topsider would get about 100 ml less out.

How would they get more? I guess I could picture a very thin layer of oil that maybe wouldn't drain, but it would have to be a pretty miniscule amount, I would think.

I typically guesstimate that I have about 400 ml left in the oil cooler lines (based on the dipstick reading), which seems consistent with what others have said they think they have.