vacuum pump oil changes

stu · Oct 9, 2015

I was reading the thread about the stripped sump drain plug and wondering if anyone else uses a vacuum pump for their oil changes ? A friend put me on to the idea a while back and I now use a 4 litre pump with straight 40 or 50 detergent type oil (and filter) pulling warm oil out the top of the oil tank every 1000 miles or so (and end of the year before storing up for Winter). I was always nervous putting the torque on that wee sump nut so was a bit of a revelation. These pumps work a treat on cars too !

concours · Oct 9, 2015

If it eases your threaded fastener anxiety, then by all means, use it. I use one too...

on the boat. :mrgreen:

The oil TANK drain plug fitting stands above the bottom by a 1/8", so the vac will likely get more sludge off the bottom.

freefly103 · Oct 9, 2015

Yep, I use one too. No more dramas with opening the 70 roadster oil tank and getting oil everywhere except in the bucket.

bluto · Oct 9, 2015

+3, bought the Mityvac unit a few years ago and it works great on the Norton and most cars too...though I've learned from experience that the process is unsurprisingly much quicker if the oil is warm. FWIW used one on the job too doing oil changes on diesel generators with undersized drain lines, cut the oil change time in half.

Mark F · Oct 12, 2015

The oil pump will empty your oil tank but you still need to drain your sump.

batrider · Oct 12, 2015

Also, it's good to look at what comes out of the sump. It's not a big deal unless you are ape-handed with your bike.

L.E.N. · Oct 12, 2015

Where did you find that photo of me working on my bike? :mrgreen:
Lance

VA Rebel · Oct 16, 2015

I'm considering the pump listed in link below. A BSA rider recommended this item on the BritBike site.

http://www.liquivac.com/

Ibex · Oct 17, 2015

Have just looked at the instructions for one of the Mityvac units which states that the reservoir should be cleaned out after use. Does anyone do so for this or other similar units? Do the seals etc. suffer if left with a residue of used oil inside?

bluto · Oct 17, 2015

Ibex said:
Have just looked at the instructions for one of the Mityvac units which states that the reservoir should be cleaned out after use. Does anyone do so for this or other similar units? Do the seals etc. suffer if left with a residue of used oil inside?

I've had my Mityvac a few years now, have not bothered cleaning it and no problems so far. The seals in the pump don't really see oil contact, the pump just withdraws air from the chamber to create a vacuum.

Ibex · Oct 18, 2015

bluto said:
Ibex said:

Have just looked at the instructions for one of the Mityvac units which states that the reservoir should be cleaned out after use. Does anyone do so for this or other similar units? Do the seals etc. suffer if left with a residue of used oil inside?

Click to expand...

I've had my Mityvac a few years now, have not bothered cleaning it and no problems so far. The seals in the pump don't really see oil contact, the pump just withdraws air from the chamber to create a vacuum.

Thanks for the info.

vacuum pump oil changes

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