topsider vs seachoice
 

I have seen on these posts frequent and satisfied reference to the topsider, which sells for about $40 & is a manual pump unit. I have found a Seachoice portable oil changer (pt # 50-19171), sold by marine supply shops & on the internet, which operates off the 12volt car battery via two alligator clips plus a has second tube to pump the old oil into a disposal container as the first tube sucks it out of the engine. It sells for about $27 & has a one yr warranty. Has anyone used or heard of the Seachoice? Thanks.

they seem to have a lot of marine application products but i found the one you are talking about - should work fine. i have a similar one i got from jcwhitney, same price range but i caught it on sale for $15 or so...

Tracked it down to Seachoice's own website. It looks exactly like the unit I bought a few years ago; my history with such things is that of a longtime boater going through a number of widgets to change oil on V8's buried deep in bilges. I've used this (or something very similar), an electric-drill based pump, a couple of different hand-held manual pumps, and have never found anything that works as well or as easily as the Topsider. Yes, it's manual, but it's faster and easier overall than any of the electric widgets I've tried--bearing in mind that I haven't used any of the higher-end electrics around $100 and up.

Hi,

I use a Stearns electric pump that sounds like the item you are looking at.

Very easy.

No hand pumping.

I paid $34 since I wanted it that day. If you can wait, you'll find it cheaper.

Regards,

MityVac Fluid Evacuator Plus
 

I just ordered this unit to change the oil ... http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&langId=-1&catalogId=4006970&PHOTOS=on&TEST=Y&productId=200007974&categoryId=0

Here are the specs:

8.8-liter (9 quarts) reservoir
5ft. flexible hose
2 rigid dipstick tubes
Automatic flow-control valves prevent overfilling
Durable poly construction resists rust and corrosion

Placo1 uses this model and has given it two thumbs up ... I can't wait to try it ... BTW, it's more than three times the price. I like it's features and quality; that's why I ordered it.

Anyways, FYI. :p

TOPSIDER
 

I found this website that sell the TOPSIDER for $44.+

http://www.skilimited.com/product.asp?wc=true&base_no=AA-OC

Girots Garage has one that is powered with compressed air for around $100.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?L1=L1_2000&L2=L2_2050&SKU=10186

my .02 . . . .
 

If you're going to use the pump for several years, get the "higher end electric" pump.It's nice and fast, and you can replace the impeller if needed in the future. I tried cheaper pumps, but either they didn't work every well, didn't last, or were a hassel to use. The first time that I used the Topsider, the can dented. I guess that the diesel oil wasn't hot and thin enough. Spread out over many years, the cost of the pump is low. Of course, I use the pump on my boat motors, also. :)

Here is the same Mity Vac for $54

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/MIT-7201.html

Ali,
Good eye. I just bought one from the Tool Warehouse.

I have another one but it only holds 5.5 liters and for the truck oil change it takes just a little bit more than this. I would have to empty it out halfway, and restart sucking again.

I tried the Mity Vac for the first time and it won't extract oil. I have a long time top sider user and was happy with it until the unit broke.

When I pump the Mity Vac, there seems to be a lot of air noise in the valve area. Is that normal?

What could be wrong with the unit?

Thanks

is there a little gold nub of a press button up arond the top that releases pressure? if there is press it and try again.

Thanks.

Do you mean the large rubber stop that plugs into the pouring sprout? There is a lever on top of that and I pushed the lever down to make sure the rubber stoper seals the sprout.

1) you realize that unlike the TOPSIDER the fluid is extracted on the MITYVAC as you pump the handle. As opposed to the TOPSIDER where you pump then releae the compression clip on the tube to evacuate.

2) On my MITYVAC model 07400, there is a copper colored button on the black part of the top handle/cover near the border with the white/clear sides. the button is horizontal. This button is part of the FLOAT & VALVE mechanisim in the unit.

I am NOT talking about the rubber RESERVOIR ADAPTER.

Thanks, Ethan.

I was thinking about the auto-shut off mechanism. Will take a closer look.

The Owner's manual did not show any of this. All it said was the valve to switch from suck vs. pump.