Fluids & transfer
Oil extractor (vacuum pump)
Change oil through the dipstick tube with the car on the ground. No jack, no drain plug, no mess.
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Where to buy
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Why you need it
- If your drain plug is hard to reach, or you simply do not want to crawl under the car, an extractor pulls the oil out from the top.
- Common on BMW, Mercedes, Volvo and marine engines, where the dealer does it the same way.
- Also empties power-steering reservoirs, brake master cylinders and coolant overflow tanks.
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What to look for
- Capacity bigger than your sump: 6 liters for most cars, 8 to 15 liters for trucks.
- Manual pump (no compressor needed) versus pneumatic (fast, needs shop air). Hybrids do both.
- Several tube diameters; the thin one must fit your dipstick tube.
- Extraction works best with warm oil and a dipstick tube that reaches the bottom of the pan. Some engines (notably with offset tubes) leave a little behind.
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Goes with
Oil change
Oil drain pan
Catches the old oil and, if you choose well, carries it to the recycler without a spill.
Starter kit
Fluids & transfer
Fluid transfer pump
Refill a transmission or differential through a fill plug you cannot pour into.
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