How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

[rfdfirecaptain]

If anyone can direct me to a thread on here that covers this subject I would be grateful. I've been searching and I find it hard to believe this has never been addressed before.

I am trying to change the break in oil in my new Volvo 454 engine. Accessing the drain plug on the bottom of the oil pan and getting a catch container under the oil pan are both out of the question. My dip stick is threaded on the upper end. When this engine was changed out my mechanic mentioned that the threaded dip stick was probably how the oil gets removed from the pan. He said I should be able to buy a siphon pump tube or something like that, which will screw onto the threads at the top of the dip stick.

So, what the trick? You older guys seem to know how to work on things like this with whatever you have on hand. Do I need to buy anything? If so, what do I buy? Where can I buy it? Will it fit my threaded dip stick? (Any idea what the thread size is?) Are there any tips, or tricks that I would like to know about?

Thanks!

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

I have used a Balkamp brand drill pump from Napa.Stop by the hardware store and get a couple water hose ends and rig it up.
Get the oil good and warm and suck it out.
I have had to prime the pump buy running it in reverse for a couple seconds with some old oil going in it.

The pump will look like this.

http://www.amazon.com/Flotec-FPDMP21SA-P2-Self-Priming-Drill/dp/B000FKF5WI

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

Thought about checking this out the next time i go to Northern Tool,

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...18?cm_sp=Upsells-_-Top Sellers-_-Product Page

 

[Aloysius]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

I use a suction pump on a 2 gallon container I bought at West marine. works perfect. $40.00 or so. You can't really "siphon" it..it requires some kind of vacuum.

 

[Jeepster04]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=10106&subdeptNum=10434&classNum=10440

Theyve got a sale on the 6.9. Got one of those and love it.

 

[j_martin]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

Thought about checking this out the next time i go to Northern Tool,

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...18?cm_sp=Upsells-_-Top Sellers-_-Product Page

I use those for oil transfer a lot. They need a 1/2 inch hose for suction, and move about a gallon a minute. As long as they have some oil going in, and the suction line doesn't totally collapse, you won't hurt it, just wait longer.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

I use those for oil transfer a lot. They need a 1/2 inch hose for suction, and move about a gallon a minute. As long as they have some oil going in, and the suction line doesn't totally collapse, you won't hurt it, just wait longer.

Thanks for that tip J...

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

These are great replies. As always I can depend on this forum to get me through my latest jamb up. I'm still open to other ideas, but this should get me going.

Thanks!

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

They sell them right here on Iboats too....different type but do the job,

http://www.iboats.com/PWC-Oil-Extractor/dm/*******.940586835--**********.544158871--view_id.695454


That drill pump at Napa is about 14 bucks and add another 3 bucks to rig it up..

 

[rodbolt]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

use a vacum extractor or the pump.
dont sweat the threaded portion just slip a tight fitting piece of tubing over the end that sticks above the threaded portion and suck it out.

 

[Lou C]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

I used to use the thin tube down the dipstick with this pump but then I adapted some hose and a garden hose adapter and it works much faster...

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

Thanks everyone for the ideas and "confidence" to pull this maintenance job!

Seems like I say the same thing everytime, but I am truly amazed at all the money this forum has saved me in repairs etc.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

I use a little fuel & oil hand transfer pump that I got from Autozone. It's cheap, it's cheesy, and I hold the ends into the pump body as I pump so they won't pop off and make a mess. The first time I used it I shoved the small tube down the dipstick tube, that took forever. Then I caught on that the main pump hose is the right size to fit onto the dipstick tube. This last time I had the oil pan empty in 8 or ten minutes.
Yes, the dipstick tube gets to the bottom of the oil pan. And yes the oil should be warm or it's a project.

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

NHGuy: I was thinking about that siphon hose itself after reading all these responses.

I'm planning to get Gary H NC's recommended pump, the Balkamp at NAPA. I just need to get the correct hose and fittings.

I see 4 specifications/characteristics the hose I select should meet. First it must be compatible with oil. Second, it must not be collapsible. Third, it must have an outside diameter small enough to allow it to be shoved down to the bottom of the dip stick tube. And fourth, it must have an inside diameter large enough that it will actually move product. Also, I?ve considered if I should get clear hose, so I can detect a lack of sufficient prime etc.

What is your recommendation? Where would I buy the hose you would recommend, an auto parts store, Lowe?s, Home Depot?

Thanks!

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

Buy the hose wherever it's convenient. There's no real pressure exerted on it so you don't have to worry about it bursting. You should change your oil filter at the same time. If your remote oil filter screws downwards, so that all the oil would leak out as you remove it, there's an old mechanic's trick to keep things neat and clean. Before removing the filter, punch a hole in the top with a phillips screwdriver. This will allow air into the filter so the oil will drain out into the block. Give it a few minutes to drain. Then keep some rags handy as you unscrew it. If done right, you should have little or no leakage. Make sure the old oil filter gasket comes off. Coat the new filter gasket with a little oil before screwing it on. That's all there is to it. Good luck. Hy

 

[rodbolt]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

punch a hole in the filter???? place a rag or an oil pad below it and be done with it.
if its mounted on the block use a trash bag underneath it.
I do this daily and yearly and have for over 20 years.
I have NEVER punced holes in filters for routine maint.
ask DonS maybe he has a different opinion.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

The pump has the same threads as a garden hose and so does the dipstick tube.
No need for the small hose down the dipstick hole.Just screw the garden hose end to the dipstick tube.
I use about 2 foot of hose from the dipstick tube to the pump then about another 2 foot of hose going into a 5 gallon bucket.
With my drill it sucks the pan dry in about 3 minutes.

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

More great ideas.

OK Gary H NC... I've got to ask this. Are you telling me that the Balkamp pump you recommended has enough suction that it can: pump the oil pan dry (reasonably dry) through the dip stick without a hose inserted to the bottom of the dip stick, with a lift of about 3 feet.... all from just a hose screwed onto the dip stick threads?

I could see it working for the first 7 quarts, but I would think to get that last quart out I would need to polace the hose's intake right at the source, in this case the oil pan.

I must underestimate the power of this little pump.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

I have used it on many boats including the big blocks.
I'm sure you could use the small plastic tube down the hole and possibly get a little more oil out of the pan.
I have measured the oil that came out of a 5.7 Merc,It was 4 1/2 quarts.Then figure what is in the filter and you have right at 5 quarts.
So my guess is it is pulling all the oil out.

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: How do I: Siphon engine oil up through a threaded dip stick tube?

UPDATE: Thanks everyone for all the advice. IT WORKED!!!

I ran the engine up to operating temperature then let it sit about 15 minutes while I got all my stuff in place. I used the Balkamp drill pump with a 3 inch section of clear reinforced tubing and garden hose adaptors screwed onto my pump and in the top of the dip stick. I had a 3 foot section of discharge hose. I ran the drill pump about 3 times longer than the manufacturer said to run it before I saw oil. (Manufacturer suggests 20 seconds) I'll admit I was getting worried. Once I saw the oil at the pump intake it was a piece of cake! As best I can tell it did suck most all the oil out. It made a sound like that of sucking on a straw in an empty paper cup when it was getting dry. I suspect there is still some oil trapped in the external circulating lines and in the oil cooler itself, but I?m very satisfied with the outcome of this project.

Total repair time including warming the engine was about 1 hour. I think next time I can cut the total project time back to about 45 minutes. Total cost of pump, hose and fittings was just over $16.

Just one more reason why I couldn?t own a boat without the help of this website!