Can't get oil extractor to extract
 

I bought an Astro oil extractor and can't get it to suck out the oil. I called their cutomer support and was told that I'm not getting the extractor tub all the way to the bottom of the oil pan. Well, I've pushed until it hits metal. And the best I can suck out is about one quart. The support person said he never advises nor uses the extractor for engine oil because it is difficult to get the extractor tub to the bottom of the pan. I've read of others on this form using oil extractors successfully.
I have a 1988, 420 SEL. Does anybody know whether there is a way to get the extractor tub to the bottom of the oil pan on my model Mercedes, or any other advise on getting this extractor to work?

Hi Lakelover:

Try to extract the engine oil while it's still really HOT HOT HOT!
Hot oil flows much more easily.

That's the key.

Regards,

Eric

Make sure your extractor isn't leaking. If air's getting in, you won't have a vaccum long enough to suck oil.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Eric,
Well the engine was up to temperature when I tried extracting the oil but perhaps not really hot, hot, hot. Does the dip stick reach the true bottom of the oil pan? I'm thinking not but rather that it reaches a point that can measure the low point on the dip stick. The extractor tub will go about 2" further in than the dip stick before it "thumps" on the bottom or something. So, am I at the true bottom of the pan or is there an obstacle such as the oil pump or other object directly below the dip stick tub that I might be hitting? If so is there any way of getting past such an object?
Jerry

Try sealing your extractor's tube at the dipstick tube instead.
The dipstick tube itself is actually designed to be used for suction extraction, and seems to work better.

1) Put your device's extractor tube in, but just slightly (1/4 inch) off the bottom of the pan.
2) Make an air seal around your extractor tube at the dipstick tube using duct tape or similar.
3) Suck away- Bet it will work...

Best of luck.

Not being familiar with the Astro extractor, what is the extraction tube made out of? If it is plastic, do NOT try to suck HOT oil...it will just collapse on itself and you won't get much oil. Let the engine cool down a bit and try to suck warm oil, not hot.

I think that you are at the bottom of the pan. If you weren't all the way down, you would hear the tube sucking air.

I think your oil is just too hot.

You might try an angle cut at the end of the tube so the end doesn't seal itself agains the bottom of the pan.

Might there be a layer of sludge at the bottom of the pan?

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

dont your oilpans in USA have a tapping plug?

here in Sweden it has.... :D

Niklas - unfortunately, it is probably slowly becoming an option;).

POOR BASTARDS :cool:

Dakota,
The extractor tub is made of a fairly hard, transulcent plastic. I don't think it would colapse unless it got very hot. I would say the oil temperature was warm but not hot, hot.
Sixto,
I didn't see any sign of sludge on the tip of the tub when I pulled it out. Cutting an angle at the end of the tub sounds like a good idea. I might try that.
Csnow,
Sealing the dip stick tub also sounds like a good idea. Actually, I tried that with a rag. Duck tape will work a lot better. I'm not sure but I think I could hear air being sucked in by the extractor as though the pan was dry leading me to think the extractor tub was not into the oil. After failing to get oil out with extractor I reverted to the old fashion way of draining the oil. . . through the drain plug. It's a nuisance but I may have to continue doing that way. Also, I had removed the oil filter when I started using the evacuator. Do you suppose I should have left the oil filter in place before sucking out the oil?
Thanks all for your advice. Any more ideas are welcomed.
Jerry

I don't agree with sealing the suction hose in the dipstick tube. You're not trying to create a vacuum in the crank case. I remove the oil filler cap to ensure that vacuum isn't created in the crank case as that would only make it more difficult to extract oil.

Counterpoints?

When I got my Topsider, the nipple that the suction hose connected to was loose allowing air to leak into the chamber. The Topsider people sent me a new fitting and it's been fine since.

See if it'll hold pressure. Not as telling as submerging it but a whole easier.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Oil filter should not make any difference. It sounds to me like the end of the hose is not in the deepest part of the pan. Sounds like it is working ok seeing as how you are getting some out.

I tend to believe the the problem is that I cannot get the extractor tube in the deepest part of the oil resevoir. So, the question is: how do I get it deeper. Is my particular model (88' 420SEL) of mercedes the problem? If I had a cross section of the oil pan and the dip stick tube I could see what the restriction is. Is there such a cross section view available? Or does anybody have such a view who can explain what may be obstructing the entry of the extractor tube? Apparantly nobody else has had this problem.
Sixto, why didn't I think of checking the extractor pressure holding. Guess I'll use it on a bucket of water and see how it works.
Jerry

Jerry,

Be sure to also compare the length of suction tubing to the dipstick length. This will quickly tell if you are reaching the bottom of the oil pan.

My experience is the oil extraction works best with warm but not hot oil. Too hot allows the plastic line to collapse on itself. I am looking for a metal pipe to replace the plastic line that goes into the dipstick tube.

Keep us posted,

Haasman