Draining Oil - Best Method?

Pugliese

Pugliese

A2OC Donor
What is the best method for draining the oil? Remove sump plug or suck it out. Consulted my newly acquired ElsaWin and it favours the sucking method oo-er!

But what does ElsaWin know compared to the combined knowledge of this club??

So what is the best method? I have to say
 
Undertray off and sump plug out - when the engine is warm. Yes, it's more of a faff, but it's the only way to ensure that all the deposits and sludge are removed.

Leave it to drain for a long time (go and do the filters whilst it's dripping) and you know you have the cleanest engine and sump possible.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Skipton01 said:
Undertray off and sump plug out - when the engine is warm. Yes, it's more of a faff, but it's the only way to ensure that all the deposits and sludge are removed.

Leave it to drain for a long time (go and do the filters whilst it's dripping) and you know you have the cleanest engine and sump possible.

Cheers,

Mike
Click to expand...

As the drain plug is at the back of the sump is the best angle to maximise flow to jack the car up at the front?

Also as a matter of interest do the Audi gararages follow ElsaWin and thus do an inferior job or have they got a powerful sucker - there is a joke there about customers and how much they pay at a main dealer but I will avoid it:)
 
Yep - you'll need to have the front up on axel stands anyway to get the undertray off.

This makes the perfect angle for the old oil to slide out, taking all the nasties with it.

I'd be very surprised if dealers didn't use a sucker what with their tight timelines, so yes, they will leave a certain amount of crud in the sump.

Cheers,

mike
 
Just a thought.
I'm all for the tray off and sump plug out. However the last time i did an oil change I slightly overfilled. Of course i noticed this after putting the undertray back on.
I actually had no problem draining out a cup or so of oil from the sump with the tray on. The plug was pretty easy to get at and i caught the oil in an empty soup container. I think the tray is actually shaped with a bit cut out where the sump plug is. Get to the point. Oh yes

I'm thinking next time I do this i might see if I can drain out the oil without removing the tray using a container cut to catch the oil. lazy as i am :)

N
 
You'll need a pretty big container to drain all the oil without removing the undertray.
 
On TDI's (don't remember if it can be done on a petrol), put a piece of folded cardboard under the sump plug and guide the oil into a container and you don't need to remove the tray.
 
My personal preference:

Long life service at a VAG specialist where they drain the oil - get the invoice and stamp in service book. Service then not due for 2 years.
After 1 year change oil myself using a Pella pump.
 
Similar personal preference here. Once a year, between services, I change the oil and filter. It just doesn't feel right to drive the car for 2 years and (for me) 25000-30000 miles between oil changes.
 
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