Hi,
I just bougth a Topsider. I am probably being a spastic about this, have wasted enough time and figured I would just ask... :-)

I cannot get Topsider to develop sufficient vacuum. I have checked and rechecked all seals (all two of them!) on the caps and they appear to be fine.

I pumped 40 times with the clamp shut firm, and inserted the nozzle into a new bottle of oil (just to see if I could get the thing to work). Oil began to flow half way up the tube and then began to drop again. Only continuous pumping would reverse the oil flow.

Is there a common mistake I am making (the device seems to be straightforward- but hey!)? Are there any known problems with the device?

Finally, with ambient temperature in the 70s, how long should the engine be idled, on average, to sufficiently raise the oil temperature?

Thanks much in advance
farrukh

Topsider
 

Thats very interesting,I too was poised to buy one of these!
I recall that some weeks ago Mercedesshop advertised an updated, modified model. Is yours such a model?
It sounds like a seal problem, should they be lubricated?
Keep us posted please.

Check under both lids to make sure the rubber seals are postioned correctly. You might try wetting your finger tip with fresh oil and applying a thin film on the seals as well. Tighten with Gorilla grip (as much as possible with your hands) but not with a tool as you could distort the lid.

Other than that, check the areas where the clear hose connect, make sure they are tight, if you can twist these easily you may need to apply moisture (soap?) as well.

Only other thing I can think of is possibley a defective pump?

I had the same problem when I first got my Topsider. It turns out the nipple that connects to the suction hose wasn't properly crimped to the disk. Topsider sent me a new nipple and it's crimped to the disk but good. No problems since.

Sixto
91 300SE

Mine was leaking in the same place ... where the nipple is crimped to the disk. I applied silicone windshield sealer to the joint, let it set up overnight and it has worked fine since. Except I used it on HOT oil once and caused the plastic tubing to permenantly collapse. So I replaced the flattened tubing. I do enjoy using the topsider.

Robby

I Feel For All of You
 

Brothers of The Benz, All
It appears there are problems developing in these Suckers!
For those who want to do thier oil and filter changing from under the hood, GO/TO
http://home.earthlink.net/~asherson/Don
You'll find the "El Cheapo" oil changer and at a significant reduction in price for DIYers.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

No problems to report with my TopSider- 3 years (knock on wood)
-fad