355 Vaccum oil change?

Hi,
I saw this video where a guy is using a pump to get the oil from the oil tank and then does a regular oil drain:


I was thinking:
what about removing the oil filter and continue to vaccum the oil from there?
I guess it should be possible to remove all the oil from the sump this way? Don't you think?

I first was sceptical about vaccum oil change technic, but I heard it was as good (if not better) as classic drain method.
So what is your opinion about this?

 

While it should work, his extraction method seems like a lot more work than just purchasing a leak proof quick drain valve to replace the drain plug on the oil tank. I use this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AMXAWPC/ref=dp_iou_view_item?ie=UTF8&th=1 and it makes no mess at all when using the hose attachment. It also allows me to drain the sump and oil tank at the same time into a common oil collection pan since the end of the hose can be placed anywhere you want as the tank drains.

 

I have used this process many times first off you need to get the car engine up to temp same process to actually check the oil level, shut the car off and check dipstick immediately. If you prepare in advance and insert the suction tube into the oil tank you will extract about 80% this way, then you undo the main sump drain bolt to remove the rest of the oil. the purpose of his video was to eliminate the mess of the oil spraying all over the subframe and underside of the car and it can make a massive mess that most shops and DIY guys never clean properly afterwards. Draining the oil tank is a very messy job and this method eliminates it, now if you were to do a engine out service i would suggest a full system drain including the oil lines and coolers but for an annual oil change you do not need to go that crazy.

 

But by removing the oil filter, and inserting the tube there, do you think is it possible to get the rest of the oil instead of draining it?

 

I am confident there is no direct path to the engine sump from the oil filter housing. The ports and center threaded filter mount are either fed from the oil pump or go to galleys that supply oil to the various bearings and other parts that require pressurized oil lubrication. At best inserting a tube down any opening in the filter housing would get your suction tube down to the oil pump but even that is most likely not possible.

 

You're right, there is no direct access to the sump from the top.
Only way to finish is by draining. Too bad.
It would have been convenient.

 

Mercedes has gone to vacuum draining in most passenger car engines.
They went so far as to use non-reusable drain plugs (in plastic).

 

Whats good about it?
Be specific.

 

What oil mess? I have been changing 355 motor oil since the cars came out and I have never made a mess with oil spraying about.

 

I never practiced a vaccum oil change, but I've been told that actual pump systems are able to remove as much oil as traditional draining, and sometimes more (depending the shape of the sump).
It is obviously more convenient to just put a tube in an engine to remove oil, than to jack the car, use jack stands, crawl under the car to remove parts to acces to drain plug, remove drain plug, and put everything back as before.

So if results are at least as efficents as a drain oil change, I would choose a vaccum oil change whenever it's possible.

 

In 47 years of working on Ferraris professionally I have removed a lot of oil pans. The bottom of the pan is where the undesirable elements of used oil collect. The drain plug is at the lowest part to allow the draining oil to wash it out. Does not happen when sucked from above. The last Ferrari I am aware of that has an access to the oil pan from above is the 412. None of the dry sump cars which includes every single model since the 3.2 engine was discontinued in 1989 has any way possible to get a hose to the oil pan.
So no, in short it is in no way even close as efficient, never mind arguing the false claims of removing more oil via vacuum.

Maybe consider an electric car if proper oil changing is too much trouble.

 

I had took the time to put the IF in bold in the sentence:
"So if results are at least as efficents as a drain oil change, I would choose a vaccum oil change whenever it's possible.",
but I guess that wasn't enough.

No need to be rude by mentioning an electric car though

 

An additional benefit of changing your oil the old-fashioned way is it's an opportunity to put your eyeballs on the underside of the car and once in a while you notice something that isn't right

 

I agree. There isn't a single time when I have done an oil change and not changed or fixed something else - even if it was just replacing grubby looking hardware or tidying up a few wires. And it's always nice to give the undertray a good scrubbing, too.

 

Thats why we dont do oil changes, we do services. Its how I keep my clients cars reliable.
You want to buy a Toyota and change oil for 5 years and get rid of it. Knock yourself out.
You want your 355 to be reliable and get top dollar when its time........Do real annual services.

The older the car, the more important that is. Early 355s are nearly 30 years old.

 

Also most owners arn’t doing star ship milages .
I drop the oil on all 4 of my classics annually.
I think my two Ferrari ( 208gt4 / 348 SP ) do under 2-4 K miles pa .

All drained out .

Retired with a garage pit so no jacking up or time pressure . It’s a hobby the maintenance . Easy to do it correctly.

 

Right. Easy to do it when you have the right space and tools.

When your garage is just a box where you don't even have enough space to walk around the car, well... That's another story

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Feel my pain?

 

Yes .

 

Having just changed my oil, there’s quite a bit of oil in the cooler as well. Vacuum isn’t getting that out. I’d hit all 3 locations, that’s just me. I didn’t make a mess either. People assume draining from the oil tank makes a mess, but if you do it at a careful pace, it’s not messy at all.

 

My F355 and 550 are parked in similar size garages and that doesn't prevent me from doing all the maintenance on both. I even replaced the clutch on my 550, with the car up in the air and all 4 wheels sitting on PU blocks with just the right clearance needed to move around "comfortably" with my long arms and legs.
Your only issue is to place your car as well centered as possible to be able to place jacks on either side and lift it. If that doesn't work just stick the rear end out of the garage just enough to proceed.

Vacuum oil changes are only for cheap garages who won't spend the time to do an oil change correctly, with a hot engine.

 

What you don't know, is the way out in this collective parking is passing in front of my garage door.
It means cars could passing by at any time (and they do).
So I can't stick the rear end out as you said (even myself, I can't stand out in the way).

And about centering the car: I already have to open the window just to be able to get in the car and it is parked as far as right as possible as you can see in one picture.
Centered, even if I could get in by the roof, there is not enough space available to take out both rear weels for exemple.
Trust me, this garage box is not made to work on a car like this.
Only thing I can do, is to work inside of the car, or in the frunk, like when I installed all my lift kit (except suspension parts) in this garage.

+15 years ago, I used to go by night on other people empty double parking places to do work on my cars (on one of them I changed the complete full braking system including hard lines this way), but now, I'm too old for this ****

That's what I tought too not so long ago. It seems that things changed and you can do quality oil change this way now.

Anyway it is not possible on this engine, so subject is closed.

 

OK then, easy fix - get another parking place where you will be able to do proper work on your car.

Vacuum oil changes were introduced by dealerships to save up on time, full stop. They avoid spending time on warming the engine up, put the car on a lift and r&r the drain plug and/or the sealing washer. On a car like the F355 one would also want to drain the oil cooler which is fairly large and the lower pipe can be reached and disconnected in no time.

 

Thanks for the tip, I never thought about it
If only I could
On my area you're glad if you got a place to park your car!

Renting a garage to work on a car not nearby my place?
Done that before. Again, I'm too old for this ****

 

I'm not sure if I'd want to remove the hose to the oil cooler. That's just means more time for oil to flow and pressure to build. Not to mention the risk of stripping the threads of the hose and/or it's mate . It's better to just change the oil more often. Save the hose removal for when you do the major.

But that's just my .02.

 

Any car manufacturer who thinks draining the oil for maintenance/service isn't necessary would eliminate drain plug(s) and make/save more money.