suggestions needed...

[steve19438]

want to get a manual, electric or battery operated pump to drain oil from my two portable gens. that have NO drain plug. thanks.

 

[Farmer Dan]

(quoted from post at 05:33:35 01/27/20) want to get a manual, electric or battery operated pump to drain oil from my two portable gens. that have NO drain plug. thanks.

Be cheaper to drill and tap a hole and put a drain plug in.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Something along this line is hard to beat

Google Generic Pneumatic Brake Fluid Bleeder w/4 Master Cylinder Metal Adapters 90-120 PSI

Mityvac 07400 Automotive Accessories

If you are frugal you can make one...

[/url]

 

[Roger in Iowa]

My boat has no drain plug, I use a vacuum cleaner, 5 gallon can and plastic line and pull oil out the dipstick tube. Works better if the oil is warm. Would something like this work on your generators?

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 08:33:35 01/27/20) want to get a manual, electric or battery operated pump to drain oil from my two portable gens. that have NO drain plug. thanks.

Here is a nice marine transfer pump but a little pricey. You could roll your own with a 5 gallon pail and $25 12V transfer pump from ebay:

Shurflo Marine Oil Transfer Pump

TOH

 

[steve19438]

above my skill level.

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 05:33:35 01/27/20) want to get a manual, electric or battery operated pump to drain oil from my two portable gens. that have NO drain plug. thanks.

How about a simple self priming plastic pump that is driven by a hand held drill motor? I used one a couple days ago to fill a tractor tire with liquid.

 

[Caryc]

It says on the box "Do not use to pump flammable liquid like gas", but I've also used it to pump 8 gallons of hydro oil from a big drain tank into the smaller original containers.

 

[jimtrs]

There are [i:ef397d618d][u:ef397d618d]many[/u:ef397d618d][/i:ef397d618d] "Oil Extractors" to choose from. Here's One:

Amazon

 

[Jim L WA]

How portable are your generators? Are they small enough to just tip up and pour the oil out of the hole?

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 11:44:58 01/27/20) above my skill level.

You are kidding right?

These pumps are $20 with free shipping on eBay. Screw it to the lid of an empty 5 gallon oil pail and run the pump outlet down thru a hole in the lid. No skills beyond screwdriver/exacto knife needed and you will have a poor man's version of the $150 Shurflo marine oil change system.

TOH

 

[Bob]

This unit is larger than you need, but SIMPLE and safe (no power needed).

Comes with a variety of collection "straws" including small ones, which is what you would likely need.
Horror Fright

 

[steve19438]

that is recommended procedure as per manuals. I can see myself spilling earl everywhere.

 

[steve19438]

this looks decent ????
Untitled URL Link

 

[Jim WI]

The one I use:

Briggs & Stratton Oil Extractor

Works well. Easy to use.

 

[HFJ]

i'm really surprised to see talk of so many engines without drain plugs. does anyone know how common this is?

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 16:33:39 01/27/20)
i'm really surprised to see talk of so many engines without drain plugs. does anyone know how common this is?

Very common in marine engines. Mercedes to name one automobile manufacturer has made millions of cars with no oil drain plugs. Oil changes on them require a vacuum extractor and some quick lubes actually prefer that method - no need to lift the vehicle. Tough to do on my BMW's which do not have oil dip sticks :roll:

TOH

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 13:59:31 01/27/20)

(quoted from post at 16:33:39 01/27/20)
i'm really surprised to see talk of so many engines without drain plugs. does anyone know how common this is?

Very common in marine engines. Mercedes to name one automobile manufacturer has made millions of cars with no oil drain plugs. Oil changes on them require a vacuum extractor and some quick lubes actually prefer that method - no need to lift the vehicle. Tough to do on my BMW's which do not have oil dip sticks :roll:

TOH

Ok, I'll ask it. How do you know the oil level?

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 18:38:08 01/27/20)

(quoted from post at 13:59:31 01/27/20)

(quoted from post at 16:33:39 01/27/20)
i'm really surprised to see talk of so many engines without drain plugs. does anyone know how common this is?

Very common in marine engines. Mercedes to name one automobile manufacturer has made millions of cars with no oil drain plugs. Oil changes on them require a vacuum extractor and some quick lubes actually prefer that method - no need to lift the vehicle. Tough to do on my BMW's which do not have oil dip sticks :roll:

TOH

Ok, I'll ask it. How do you know the oil level?

It has a sump oil level sensor and i can bring up the oil level in the on dash engine status monitor. I can also get lots of other data that way. Computerized engine management is all the rage these days :idea:

TOH

 

[steve19438]

took me awhile to realize you were NoT talking about a "sweeper". ugh.

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 16:59:23 01/27/20)

(quoted from post at 18:38:08 01/27/20)

(quoted from post at 13:59:31 01/27/20)

(quoted from post at 16:33:39 01/27/20)
i'm really surprised to see talk of so many engines without drain plugs. does anyone know how common this is?

Very common in marine engines. Mercedes to name one automobile manufacturer has made millions of cars with no oil drain plugs. Oil changes on them require a vacuum extractor and some quick lubes actually prefer that method - no need to lift the vehicle. Tough to do on my BMW's which do not have oil dip sticks :roll:

TOH

Ok, I'll ask it. How do you know the oil level?

It has a sump oil level sensor and i can bring up the oil level in the on dash engine status monitor. I can also get lots of other data that way. Computerized engine management is all the rage these days :idea:

TOH

Is it constantly in view on the dash? What I mean is what if that sensor goes bad?

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 20:46:49 01/27/20)

(quoted from post at 16:59:23 01/27/20)

(quoted from post at 18:38:08 01/27/20)

(quoted from post at 13:59:31 01/27/20)

(quoted from post at 16:33:39 01/27/20)
i'm really surprised to see talk of so many engines without drain plugs. does anyone know how common this is?

Very common in marine engines. Mercedes to name one automobile manufacturer has made millions of cars with no oil drain plugs. Oil changes on them require a vacuum extractor and some quick lubes actually prefer that method - no need to lift the vehicle. Tough to do on my BMW's which do not have oil dip sticks :roll:

TOH

Ok, I'll ask it. How do you know the oil level?

It has a sump oil level sensor and i can bring up the oil level in the on dash engine status monitor. I can also get lots of other data that way. Computerized engine management is all the rage these days :idea:

TOH

Is it constantly in view on the dash? What I mean is what if that sensor goes bad?

Hmmm. Is your dipstick constantly in view? Loss of oil pressure with the engine running will bring up a whole different display and a lot of alarms. If I ignore them the car will shut itself down.

In fact the oil level display only stays up for 30 seconds or so at a time. I can bring it up anytime including while driving down the road and it is extremely accurate. If the sensor goes bad I mmediately get a check engine light and DTC telling me it quit working. IMO vastly superior to a dip stick that requires I park on level ground and raise the hood to check the oil.

TOH

 

[Hobo,NC]

They are nuttin new they have been installed on some cars for well over 20 years I have never seen one go bad...

It does go to show ya just how damm cheap some manufacturers are to eliminate a check stick of some kind... I won't both... BTW I suck the oil out of my Honda Accord as does the dealer if they were to do it...

 

[ScoutB]

(quoted from post at 16:33:39 01/27/20)
i'm really surprised to see talk of so many engines without drain plugs. does anyone know how common this is?

I have a pressure washer with a Honda motor that doesn't have a drain plug. I tip it to drain out the fill hole. Keeps the dust down in my driveway. :lol:

 

[HFJ]

(quoted from post at 22:10:36 01/27/20)

(quoted from post at 16:33:39 01/27/20)
i'm really surprised to see talk of so many engines without drain plugs. does anyone know how common this is?

I have a pressure washer with a Honda motor that doesn't have a drain plug. I tip it to drain out the fill hole. Keeps the dust down in my driveway. :lol:

:lol:

even my cheap chinese generator has a drain plug. sounds like they're going out of style

 

[steve19438]

15 years ago my son put a sprint car engine in his p/u trk. it did not have a dipstick. I was dumbfounded.

 

[Gantt]

Mack Trucks use a dipstick, and oil level sensor in the oil pan. we have seen dozens of handfuls go bad, mostly the temperature sensor side of the level sensor goes bad, but we have seen around 30 in about five years go bad for the level side. just give me a dipstick, i have no issues checking the oil that way.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 10:17:49 01/28/20)
Mack Trucks use a dipstick, and oil level sensor in the oil pan. we have seen dozens of handfuls go bad, mostly the temperature sensor side of the level sensor goes bad, but we have seen around 30 in about five years go bad for the level side. just give me a dipstick, i have no issues checking the oil that way.

I am going to go out on a limb and suggest the number of engine failures attributable to dumb a$$ owners failing to check the oil level has [b:cfdc05fca2]plummeted[/b:cfdc05fca2] since Mack, BMW, MB, and a host of other OEMs ditched the stick in favor of an electronic monitor. Stories of DA owners roaching an engine by driving it without oil abounded. Stories of roached engines caused by failed oil level sensors are non-existent. These computerized cars check the oil level AND the sensors themselves all by themselves [b:cfdc05fca2]every[/b:cfdc05fca2] time you start them and [b:cfdc05fca2]continuously[/b:cfdc05fca2] as you operate them. Just another task computers do far more reliably than humans.

TOH

 

[steve19438]

thanks fellas !

 

[Jim WI]

I was working at my Dad's service station when self-serve gas showed up. You could tell the folks who used self-serve when they stopped by for an oil change -- their cars were the ones with 3 quarts of oil in them instead of five.

I doubt that has changed much these days. I agree that people not checking the oil is the big reason behind adding oil level sensors to cars.

 

[Caryc]

I always wondered why they stopped putting oil pressure gauges on cars. I glance at my oil pressure gauge quite often while driving my tractors.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 14:47:47 01/28/20)
I always wondered why they stopped putting oil pressure gauges on cars. I glance at my oil pressure gauge quite often while driving my tractors.

Because 99% of the operators don't have a clue what the numbers really mean and for them a low pressure warning light works better. My twin-turbo DD has an oil temperature (no pressure) gauge and it confuses the heck out of most people.



TOH

 

[Hobo,NC]

For the most part modern engines do not use oil its unacceptable an emission issue unless its a Honda... I have owned 6 Honda's everyone used oil...

 

[steve19438]

my parents first car with "idiot lights" was either an 62 or 65 Impala.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 15:39:23 01/28/20)
For the most part modern engines do not use oil its unacceptable an emission issue unless its a Honda... I have owned 6 Honda's everyone used oil...

I maintain three 3 series BMWs, one X3, and a Ram 1500. None of the BMWs require makeup oil between oil changes unless it goes over 5K. The Ram is high mileage and needs a quart, sometimes 2. None of them leak enough to mark the pavement although my car dribbles just enough on the exhaust header to make a stink. At this point not worth the 8 hours labor needed for a new valve cover gasket :twisted:

TOH

 

[Jim WI]

(quoted from post at 14:39:23 01/28/20)
For the most part modern engines do not use oil its unacceptable an emission issue unless its a Honda... I have owned 6 Honda's everyone used oil...

Until something goes wrong. I had one that went from using no oil to a quart in 100 miles. Shortly after that it went to salvage. 'Course, about all checking it did was stop me from breaking down someplace.