A Better Oil Extraction Pump?

gandy

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Hi,

We have a Pela vacuum extractor, the model with globular container and the pump stuck on top. It works OK, but it's a pain that the pump isn't positively retained so needs two hands to work, one to hold the pump down and one to work the handle. Any recommendations for alternatives that don't suffer this problem?

Thanks, Tony S
 
I put a 1/4 ball valve in the line, so you can pump up a vacuum then faff with the hose after.

Something that could be operated with 1 finger (or toe?) would be better than the 1/4 turn valve.
 
I have always found the vacuum extractors a pain, although others seem to like them. I inherited an old Jabsco pump from a boat we bought probably used for a deck hose or similar. I had no use for it so I added suitable hoses and tried it as an oil extractor. Works brilliant. Just connect it with two croc clips to the battery, one end of the tube down the dipstick with the other end in the waste container. Switch on and have a cup of tea and all the oil transfers from the sump to the container. No mess. Easy peazy. Point to note - run the engine to heat the oil up first to make the oil easier to sook up.
 
Hi,

We have a Pela vacuum extractor, the model with globular container and the pump stuck on top. It works OK, but it's a pain that the pump isn't positively retained so needs two hands to work, one to hold the pump down and one to work the handle. Any recommendations for alternatives that don't suffer this problem?

Thanks, Tony S
I've just junked one the same as it was such a PITA to use on your own. OK if you could get the end of the sucker tube positively located somewhere but if you need to hold it the pump comes off the globe. Bought a bigger Pela that has a pump screwed into a cylindrical pot. Used it a few weeks ago to take 120 litres of diesel out of a tank to clean the tank. Would have taken ten times as long with the old pump.
 
I put a 1/4 ball valve in the line, so you can pump up a vacuum then faff with the hose after.

Something that could be operated with 1 finger (or toe?) would be better than the 1/4 turn valve.

Nice thinking! A push button valve might be the answer, like on garden sprayers.

I use the device quite a lot to suck up small spillages, and you definitely need a free hand to hold the hose for that sort of thing. Actual oil change is OK because the pipe stays put once it's located in the sump.
 
Nice thinking! A push button valve might be the answer, like on garden sprayers.

I use the device quite a lot to suck up small spillages, and you definitely need a free hand to hold the hose for that sort of thing. Actual oil change is OK because the pipe stays put once it's located in the sump.
 
I found the Pela useless after many years struggling. The cheap ebay ones work a lot better.
 
I found the Pela useless after many years struggling. The cheap ebay ones work a lot better.

In what way? The cheap ebay ones seem to be much the same design. I ask because Im needing to buy one for an oil change. No point in spending £50 on a Pela when £16.99 buys an Ebay cheapie.
 
The pump screws onto the body with a nut and has an O ring. It seems to hold vacuum much better. I don't think Pela understood much about vacuum sealing.
 
My genuine one works grand!

My Pela works fine.
But it's not much use on my current car because poking the tube down the dipstick hole leaves too much oil behind.
On boats, I use it for bilge water or sampling the bottom of the diesel tank as often as for oil changes.
 
You missed out! Lidl recently had a 12v oil extraction pump
INo he didn't. The Lidl one is crap. it does not have a seal on the shaft and so draws air and if used to pump diesel/kerosene it leaks through the pump. When pumping oil, it is so sloooow even with the oil at running temp. How do I know? I bought one, tried it and took it back for a refund.
 
INo he didn't. The Lidl one is crap. it does not have a seal on the shaft and so draws air and if used to pump diesel/kerosene it leaks through the pump. When pumping oil, it is so sloooow even with the oil at running temp. How do I know? I bought one, tried it and took it back for a refund.

I didn't see your post until I'd written mine (note to self) but although I agree on the speed, mine certainly hasn't shown any sign of leaking. I will admit that I fully expected to be taking it back though.
 
INo he didn't. The Lidl one is crap. it does not have a seal on the shaft and so draws air and if used to pump diesel/kerosene it leaks through the pump. When pumping oil, it is so sloooow even with the oil at running temp. How do I know? I bought one, tried it and took it back for a refund.

I also have a Lidl one and first used it about a month ago to pump 2 litres of cold 90 weight gear oil uphill into a gearbox. Did the job perfectly in a couple of minutes without any leaks.

Richard
 
I used the globe Pela and didn't have any prob. Then used a a bigger e-bay cylindrical 6lt one to suck the oils out of three 6 cyl. engines on a barge, along with changing the g/box oils. Worked fine except that one of the two screws holding the bottom plate had cracked the casing, causing an air leak. Bit of Sika fixed that.We decided it was not worth sending it back for a replacement. Just recently I used an identical cylindrical one, but badged Pela?? Also did the job.
Someone else was raving about good the Lidl one was. Personally, if space is not a problem, I would go for the e-bay 'Pela' cylindrical one.
 
I have sometimes fancied a Pela, but it's just another thing I'd have to find somewhere to stow. I use the brass pump that came with the Volvo engine and drain the oil into an empty oil can, which I then have the choice of retaining or disposing. I stow the small pump with the tubes in place, and fortunately the smaller one fits neatly into the larger so that I can create a closed system that doesn't drip. this small object I just put into a plastic bag in the lazarette.

For one-handed use, which I would like to do, I would mount the pump in the engine compartment, as it is designed for. I might make this my winter task.
 
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