Started a thread on the e36 forum and then realized that I might get more response on the maintenance side. :)

The previous owner of my car let a quick lube place change the oil and they stripped the threads on the drain plug bung. So, I had a local shop put a band aid on it with an oversized drain plug. The oversized plug has been holding well without any leaks, but I'm always leary of changing the oil myself now.

Any one have any experience with a Top Side Oil Changer? I can't imagine that it could actually remove ALL the oil from the pan. Just looking for pros and cons from people who have used it.

A friend suggested I do a set up similar to what they use on boat inboard motors. Basically replace the drain plug with an AN fitting and run a braided line up to the engine bay. Then, I could pump the old oil out from that line each time and leave the drain plug threads alone.

Of course, replacing the pan is the best fix, but I'm looking for a cheaper solution for now.

You're right; it doesn't remove all the oil from the bottom of the pan and that is where all the crap collects.

You're right; it doesn't remove all the oil from the bottom of the pan and that is where all the crap collects.

This may be true if you don't change your oil on a regular basis, but if you change your oil regularly there will be no sludge on the bottom of your oil pan, warm the engine up before you use the extractor and it will remove the majority of the used oil (mine extracts a full 7 quarts which is what I put in) a benefit is it makes changing your oil a breeze.

I always change my oil at 3k, so I don't think it would be too big of an issue if it didn't get every last drop of it out. I'm sure draining it through the plug doesn't get every last bit either.

Thanks for the responses.

my oil changes are kept up and I have no sludge but I still wouldn't use a pump knowing there's serveral cups worth of oil in the pan. in reality it wouldn't really matter.

I still wouldn't use a pump knowing there's serveral cups worth of oil in the pan.

I would find this hard to believe since I put 7qts in and the evacuater takes 7gts out (give or take an once or 2) I know this since I refill the bottles with the used oil.

there's a flaw in that logic. presuming your engine does not 'burn' much if any between drain intervals.

if you use the 'evacuater' every time you drain a consistent X amount from the engine. it has no correlation to the amount left in the engine. unless your are sure a certain mark on the dipstick is accurate to a measured volume of oil.

next time experiment and remove the drain bolt after you use the suction device and see how much drains. 2 cups is not alot considering it's 1/4 of a quart (?).

next time experiment and remove the drain bolt after you use the suction device and see how much drains. 2 cups is not alot considering it's 1/4 of a quart (?).
People have done this with barely a drop coming out of the drain plug hole. I wish people would get over the aversion to doing vacuum extraction methods. It works just fine. If you have sludge problems, it's not going to be solved by how you do your oil changes.

Why not get one of these?
http://www.fumotousa.com/faq.htm

Now that is interesting....

Just an update. Last night drained the oil, cleaned everything really well and applied some high temp thread sealant to see if that would seal of the leak. My threads were actually in better shape that I thought. I used a LOT of sealant and got the plug in place and it even tightened up nice and tight.

I'm letting the sealant cure until tonight and we'll see how it holds.

Depending upon how bad the threads are, you may want to consider using a "plug and bushing". This is a threaded brass bushing that can be permanently installed in the original hole, taking advantage of what is left of the original threads. Use locktite or other sealer when this is intalled. The bushing has a slightly smaller plug that is removed for oil changes. For safety sake, use two wrenches when you remove the plug.

its called a piggyback....it uses the existing hole and fills it with a plug similar to the oem plug but it has another bolt in it that acts as the drain plug. Very usefull if you do not want to further damage the threads to the oil pan. But yes use two wrenches when you remove the plug like uncle said.

Google up oil extractor. The extractors designed for car use have a tube that you put down the dipstick tube. You wouldn't have to touch the drain plug if you get one of those.

Now that is interesting....

Just an update. Last night drained the oil, cleaned everything really well and applied some high temp thread sealant to see if that would seal of the leak. My threads were actually in better shape that I thought. I used a LOT of sealant and got the plug in place and it even tightened up nice and tight.

I'm letting the sealant cure until tonight and we'll see how it holds.

DON'T use "a LOT" of sealant! I can't tell you how many times I've seen low oil pressure lights come on, because John Smith took his car to Joe Schmoe's shop to have a new oil pan put on. Now it comes to OUR SHOP, because Joe Schmoe's shop used half a bottle of RTV to seal the pan. Ever think what happens to the RTV that gets squished out into the oil pan? If there's enough to drip into the oil, it does not stick to anything. Now it dries in a clump, and when your oil pump starts sucking, guess where that sealer goes? Yup, that's right... into your oil pump pickup screen. What happens when your pickup screen gets clogged? Low oil pressure...

Just be careful is all I'm saying, I've seen alot of our Vee Dubs come back cause of this.

DON'T use "a LOT" of sealant! I can't tell you how many times I've seen low oil pressure lights come on, because John Smith took his car to Joe Schmoe's shop to have a new oil pan put on. Now it comes to OUR SHOP, because Joe Schmoe's shop used half a bottle of RTV to seal the pan. Ever think what happens to the RTV that gets squished out into the oil pan? If there's enough to drip into the oil, it does not stick to anything. Now it dries in a clump, and when your oil pump starts sucking, guess where that sealer goes? Yup, that's right... into your oil pump pickup screen. What happens when your pickup screen gets clogged? Low oil pressure...

Just be careful is all I'm saying, I've seen alot of our Vee Dubs come back cause of this.

I did this back on 5/18/06 and haven't had any problems. I only used sealant around the drain plug that was stripped. So far, so good. The top side oil extractor I bought works really well. I'm pleased with it as a solution to the problem for now.

Thanks for the advice though. I always appreciate the helpful info I get here on bf.c....especially from mechanics.