4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

[Lynall]

I thought this would be a simple job, so bought home my vacuum oil pump, stuck the tube down the dipstick hole and away it went, then after 1/2 a litre thats it, it stopped and i cant get anymore out.
Is the there something that stops the tube going in any further?
The oil was on the max mark, its a 2009 engine with SX drive.
It was 1/4 inch tube i was using down the dipstick hole, this is the smallest i have.



Lynall

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

Run the engine and get the oil warmed up. Then instead of putting a tube down the dipstick tube, just adapt the hose the the top of the dipstick tube which attaches to the bottom of the oil pan.

 

[Brucetafer]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

go down to home depot, in the irrigation section they have the tubes for like 3 bucks for 25 feet... had to do it to mine... takes a lot longer but got all the oil out...

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

go down to home depot, in the irrigation section they have the tubes for like 3 bucks for 25 feet... had to do it to mine... takes a lot longer but got all the oil out...

He has a different engine than you. He DOES NOT have to run a tube inside the dipstick tube. The dipstick tube is in the bottom of the pan.

 

[Lynall]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

Don thank you very much, i did kind of think maybe thats why the top of the tube is threaded, but also thought maybe its a generic boat thing.
Will sort something for this weekend.


Thank you
Lynall

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

You don't even have to use the threaded area, (the threads are for a garden hose thread BTW) just clamp a hose on the extension above the threads, it's a lot less messy.

 

[Lynall]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

Tried again today, first large pipe straight onto the top of the dipstick tube itself, still no go, then small bore tube down the dipstick tube, took ages but eventually got a whole litre out and that was it :facepalm:
The small bore tube goes in 4 inches further than the disptick itself and im pretty sure its hitting the bottom of the sump.
So im now a bit stumped as its only a poxy oil change something i do on trucks all day every day with no effort/trouble



Lynall

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

Did you warm the engine and oil first?

 

[Lynall]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

Don
No i did not, im not sure how that will help?
But am willing to try anything.
Will post back asap with result.

Thanks you
Lynall

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

Warm oil is a lot thinner and easier to pull up through the dipstick tube.

 

[Lynall]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

Sussed it poxy thing, basically i think theres some sort of restrictor in the sump/dipstick fitting, so all i can get is a pint of oil max before it starts to gurgle, as if its empty but i know its not, so wait a few minutes, reinsert the probe another pint and so on until its all out.
Well pleased as this was annoying me.
I did it hot but pretty certain it would work just as well cold, but would take even longer for the oil to flow through the restrictor widget.
Thanks for all the replies.


Lynall

 

[dypcdiver]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

Lynall, just stick your head under the motor and look at where the dipstick tube enters the sump pan, and you will see why sticking a hose down the tube is totally unnecessary. If you cannot get your head down there, use a mirror. It is a well thought out and a very simple way to remove ALL the oil.

 

[Lynall]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

Thanks i did climb down when i had the side locker out and saw the brass elbow, but i couldnt get a constant flow of oil like i do when using the vac pump on car engines, so im guessing theres some sort of restrictor or baffle plate in the sump.
Next time i change the oil which will be soon i shall try the proper way and see if its any different.


Lynall

 

[dypcdiver]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

When you do it run the engine to warm the oil up, it makes ALL the difference (even here in Spain). I used a cheapo pump from Halfords for 8 years with a bit of pvc tube that was a tight push on fit to the top of the dipstick tube. I now have a Jabsco pump which does it in about 2 mins, brilliant.

 

[hagedorns]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

I thought this would be a simple job, so bought home my vacuum oil pump, stuck the tube down the dipstick hole and away it went, then after 1/2 a litre thats it, it stopped and i cant get anymore out.
Is the there something that stops the tube going in any further?
The oil was on the max mark, its a 2009 engine with SX drive.
It was 1/4 inch tube i was using down the dipstick hole, this is the smallest i have.

Lynall

I discovered the same problem with my 2008 Volvo 4.3Gxi that I bought last year with 50 hours on it. I checked the oil when I got it home, but found that the dipstick was always wet above the full mark.

Since the oil looked somewhat dirty, and I wanted to do my own oil changes anyway, I bought a quality 6L vacuum pump with reinforced thin tube to insert down the dipstick tube until it bottomed out, and took out at least 4 litres and added 3.8 litres. But after running the engine for a few minutes, the dipstick was wet above the full line AGAIN and the oil didn't look clean like new oil should, either.

Then, about a month ago, I checked the oil and it was still over full. So I got out the oil pump, checking as I went, and had to suck out 3 litres of oil before it registered as just on the FULL mark. For the first time, I actually get a proper level on the dipstick. Suddenly the light went on!!!! All along, right from the first oil change the motor ever had (when the marina only removed a half litre and put in 3.8 litres) it has NEVER been drained and ALWAYS overfilled!!!!!

Like you, I have tried and can't insert the hose below the level of the bottom of the dipstick. Is there a problem with the casting that doesn't let the hose down the tube? So all this dirty oil has been sitting in the bottom of my engine and I can't get it out. This has been very distressing. I think this is a problem for Volvo to address!

I would surely like an explanation. I always warm up the engine before I use the pump and the oil does flow easily, but what comes out through the clear part of the hose is definitely dirty oil - even only after just a few hours of running.

Steve

 

[dypcdiver]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

Read the posts above.

Sticking a tube down the dipstick tube is gross stupidity. Volvo designed it so that ALL the oil can be removed by placing a suction on the TOP of the dip stick tube. Like I said above have a look where the dip stick tube goes.

 

[Lynall]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

Ive changed the oil a couple of times since and cannot get the dipstick tube to work and every time use the plastic tube down the dipstick tube, works well so cant complain.
Noticed last time oil seemed quite dirty after 50 hours running, needs doing again.
Filters from ebay same as the volvo car d5 diesel engine!, assuming the gxi has the same high black plastic set up as mine?
Yes they dont take much oil which surprises me, my wifes car a 3.2 v6 takes 7 litres!
Mine an old clapped out diesel takes 6.5, so 3.8 sounds a bit pathetic to me.


Lynall

 

[hagedorns]

Re: 4.3 GL oil change vac pump question

Read the posts above.

Sticking a tube down the dipstick tube is gross stupidity. Volvo designed it so that ALL the oil can be removed by placing a suction on the TOP of the dip stick tube. Like I said above have a look where the dip stick tube goes.

Will do. Thanks.
Steve