I'd have to disagree about the TopSider. I had one and used it for
awhile on my boat. It was a real
pain in the a.s and finally imploded because it's made out of such
cheap thin steel it couldn't stand
the vacuum.
I now use one of the marine ones that are essentially a plastic 5
gallon bucket with an electric pump mounted
on the top lid. The motor is reversible and has clip leads that you
just connect to the battery. They cost about
$150, but if you intend on doing a lot of oil changes yourself, for the
ease of use and durability, that's what I recommend.
Harbor Freight sells a heavy duty version that use compressed air.. I am
thinking of getting one.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=46149
dougmcp@gmail.com - 11 Mar 2005 16:02 GMT
Raj,
The TopSider is available for mail order through West Marine as Randall
said, also through Overton's at
http://www.overtons.com/cgi-bin/overtons/detail/pdetail2.cgi?r=detail_view&item_
num=21664
I've used these units for 10 years without problems and have seen one
belonging to a friend collapse from misuse. He tried to put way too
much vacuum in it and you can't step on them or they will fail. The
instructions that come with it specifically state that. I like the
Harbor Freight model except for me, I have no compressed air at the
marina for my boat. I do approx 12 oil changes a year with this unit.
> I'd have to disagree about the TopSider. I had one and used it for
> awhile on my boat. It was a real pain in the a.s and finally
> imploded because it's made out of such cheap thin steel it couldn't
> stand the vacuum.
> ...
Like another poster to this thread, I've used TopSider regularly for quite
a number of years on my two cars (an old MBZ 240D and an even older 122S
Volvo - at 39, it's 10 years older).
I've never had a problem - well, almost. It sure makes cleaning up and
disposing the oil a breeze. There are copy-cat products now. The last one
I saw involved a large nylon cylinder as a holding tank but it worked on
the same principle and probably cost about the same. It too was being sold
by West Marine.
Back when I got my pump, the manufacturer made it very clear that the
engine oil should NOT be hot. They recommended that you warm the engine up
from cold for only around 5 minutes.
Because of the possibility of implosion, they limited the maximum number
of strokes - when the can was empty - to 30-40 strokes (I never needed
that much). Once there was any oil in the can, the maximum number of
strokes you could apply dropped down to 10-15. They also pointed out that
one shouldn't try to steady the can by pushing down on the can with a hand
or foot - suggesting how easy it was to implode the can when it had a
vacuum.
The only problem I've had with the unit came about when the oil was hot.
Because of the vacuum in the system, the long, clear plastic tubing
running from the can to the probe that went into the dipstick tube
collapsed (permanently, as it turned out). The amount of oil flowing into
the can dropped down to next to nothing. From then on, it was a real pain
in the butt. I would break the seal to get rid of the vacuum and then pump
it up to the maximum 10-15 strokes and wait.... and then repeat the cycle.
It seemed to be the only way to avoid having the can implode which, at
that point, would be very easy to do if you weren't being careful.
Then I got smart.
I went down to my local Ace hardware store. They sold exactly the same
plastic tubing by the foot. I got what I needed and replaced the collapsed
tubing. By that time, the oil was no longer hot and, from that time on,
everything has been a cakewalk.
Now maybe the new cans are made of "cheap thin steel" that are prone to
imploding - what do I know? but what I got back then continues to work for
me now.
ron
gator_mech - 12 Mar 2005 19:14 GMT
Thanks very much for all the helpful info.
Best,
Raj
> > I'd have to disagree about the TopSider. I had one and used it for
> > awhile on my boat. It was a real pain in the a.s and finally
[quoted text clipped - 46 lines]
>
> ron
trader4@optonline.net - 12 Mar 2005 23:51 GMT
"Because of the possibility of implosion, they limited the maximum
number
of strokes - when the can was empty - to 30-40 strokes (I never needed
that much). Once there was any oil in the can, the maximum number of
strokes you could apply dropped down to 10-15. They also pointed out
that
one shouldn't try to steady the can by pushing down on the can with a
hand
or foot - suggesting how easy it was to implode the can when it had a
vacuum.
The only problem I've had with the unit came about when the oil was
hot.
Because of the vacuum in the system, the long, clear plastic tubing
running from the can to the probe that went into the dipstick tube
collapsed (permanently, as it turned out). The amount of oil flowing
into
the can dropped down to next to nothing. From then on, it was a real
pain
in the butt. I would break the seal to get rid of the vacuum and then
pump
it up to the maximum 10-15 strokes and wait.... and then repeat the
cycle.
It seemed to be the only way to avoid having the can implode which, at
that point, would be very easy to do if you weren't being careful.
Then I got smart. "
I'm not so sure about that. You can have all your stroking, pumping,
tube collapsing, don't put your foot on it to hold the flimsy thing
while trying to pump it or it will
implode, etc. The Jabsco electric pump fixes all that once and for
all.
pool man - 13 Mar 2005 04:39 GMT
changing oil when its COLD is worthless.
HOT oil suspends all the acids & other crap in the motor and makes
changing better for the motor.
if you have the $ for the car don't skimp on your oil change .
i am now saying don't suck it out just get a pump that can handle hot
oil.
i my self take mine to to my independent
guy. your hands are going to get dirty grabbing the filter any way
the case, minus a few cans!