Quote from stefan300sd: "I have a 617 and sucking from the top gets more oil out then draining from the pan. A while ago I needed to change the oil pan gasket, so I drained it with my "topsider". When I took the pan off and there was only a few tablespoons full of oil left in it. I didn't think to take a picture at the time. However, later I was doing the same job but this time I drained it from the pan and there was considerabley more oil left it the pan.

I have never had a problem draining it hot and made mine real cheap out of a shop vac, a bucket, and some hose."
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Here's an example of a post on this site. Not the one I remember reading before, but same principle-- someone who took off their oil pan twice, once after using a Topsider or equivalent and once after using the drain plug.

The point about the value of a visual inspection obtained with using the drain plug is a good one!

To each his own.

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Steve
'93 400E