Best place to buy Topsider or equivalent in Virginia? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Limited Edition · #1 03-09-2004, 11:10 PM

Where is the best place to buy Topsider or equivalent in Virginia Beach, Virginia or on the Internet without a lot of shipping costs?

I would prefer not to make my own and the electric ones look nice. I guess I should get an 8 quart one?

Thanks in advance!

placo1 · #2 03-09-2004, 11:44 PM

Here's what I've been using for the last year now and I'm very happy with it.

They're located in Jersey so shipping shouldn't be too obnoxious and price is excellent.

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

J.HIDALGO · #3 03-10-2004, 07:27 AM

It should be plenty in Virginia Beach.
Good luck!

Ferdman · #4 03-10-2004, 07:50 AM

Buy a Griot's Garage Oil/Liquid Extractor for $64.95. Contact them at griotsgarage.com or 1-800-345-5789. It's a hand pump type that works very effectively, but slower than an electric or pneumatic-powered type. I've been using one for 5 years ... very satisfied. If you're dissatisfied you can return for a full refund.

Lebenz · #5 03-10-2004, 08:45 AM

I bought mine at boatus.net

ROGER E. · #6 03-10-2004, 10:14 PM

I bought mine at West Marine, a national chain. Perhaps they have a store in your area. Forty bucks or so and there is only one size.

afmcorp · #7 03-11-2004, 12:18 AM

placo

that is a good price. i paid 89 off the mac tool truck. how well does your's work. mine takes me 6 times to get oil out and then there is no way it's 8 quarts.

mity vac said they'd send me new tubes but like always nothing ever came of that.

i think i know what my problem might be. the rubber adapter is not very tight and i think it loses it's vac there.

how many tries does it take you to empty the pan?
tks
craig

ROGER E. · #8 03-11-2004, 12:26 AM

I guess you meant you had to repump six times? I usually pump it up three times or so taking about ten minutes total to empty. If yours is taking longer then I would guess you have a vacuum leak. Are all the gaskets in place? One under the pump and another under the drain cap? My C320 holds close to eight quarts and the unit gets it all out.

afmcorp · #9 03-11-2004, 12:48 AM

roger

yes i have to repump at least 6 times and it rarely goes over the first rib or so. the last time i changed oil it was about 10 degrees with a brisk wind. man did i get hot i worked 30 minutes and barely nothing. yes it was warm i had just got to work. so i refilled the pan and waited till i could get this car inside my shop.

i'm going to do another change this weekend and thought i'd use some hose clamps and tube inserts to see if i can keep from losing vaccuum.

yes i went over the whole thing looking for leaks. never dawned on me about the tube. i hope that is the problem!

loubapache · #10 10-30-2005, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afmcorp

roger
yes i have to repump at least 6 times and it rarely goes over the first rib or so. the last time i changed oil it was about 10 degrees with a brisk wind. man did i get hot i worked 30 minutes and barely nothing. yes it was warm i had just got to work. so i refilled the pan and waited till i could get this car inside my shop.
:

I tried the Mytivac for the first time and it did not work. It won't extract. My old Liquivac worked well until the bump leaked. I do not know what is causing the problem in the Myti Vac. There are so many hoses near the pump and valve and they can easily leak.

benzfan · #11 10-30-2005, 06:30 PM

I still can't see why anyone would pay good money for one of these things when taking the drain plug out is free, and thorough.

manny · #12 10-30-2005, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benzfan

taking the drain plug out is free

Try to convince the people here, that round-off their drainplugs.

d2bernhard · #13 10-30-2005, 07:26 PM

Some of us may not be as physically fit as the rest (8 adult surgeries in 3 years here) and do not relish climbing under a car. Besides, I can do 2 vehicles and my lawnmower in the time it takes me to take 1 vehicle somewhere to get it done. So yes, there are pros and cons to either way. MityVac works well for me.

benzfan · #14 10-30-2005, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manny

Try to convince the people here, that round-off their drainplugs.

Many years ago, I took my brother's car in to a quick lube type place. After 20 minutes, I asked what the problem was. The manager didn't want to answer. I got out of the car and the manager freaked. I told him in no uncertain terms I was going to look at what they were doing. He was still screaming at me as I descended into the pit and saw that the drain plug was completely round and the idiot was using Vice Grips to still try to take the plug out. I asked him what he thought he was going to do if he ever actually got the round plug out. He replied that he would just put it back in with Vice Grips. He explained that the 12-point box wrench he was allowed to use had rounded the plug. He also explained that he wasn't allowed to use a 6-point socket, as several workers there had stripped oil pans, requiring replacement. I almost had to have the manager charged with assault, as he was physically violent with me and then had the nerve to try to charge me for the time they spent rounding the bolt. He very nearly received the beating of his life. In the past 16 years I haven't returned there, and never will.

I realize that some idiots at dealerships and other garages don't replace the copper washer on the drain plug, and rounding is a real problem after the inevitable overtorque, but once you do it correctly yourself with a proper 6-point socket, not a 12-point, it is so easy to do time and time again.

daddiojiggy · #15 03-11-2004, 10:29 AM

i bought one of those $*&^% topsiders and NEVER had good results.i too would get only a little and always ended up repouring it into the car and going at it from below.(i think i can hear larry snickering at me right now!).i'm sure i have leaks but i can't tighten the caps anymore and yes i am using the washers.do you need to have the top of the tube sealed as well?i wouldn't think so.anyways, that plastic one looks good.if i was going to but another that's the one i'd get.