WTB - Oil Extractor - Power vs Manual - Suggestions Please.

Little Ducky

Well-Known Member
Jun 5, 2017
2,652
Dickson, TN / Chattanooga, TN
Boat Info
1998 290 Sundancer
Engines
Twin EFI 5.0L w/Alphas
Kohler 4kW
I'm looking to add a Oil Extractor to my arsenal of tools and equipment to work on LDII.

I've aways gotten the Marina to do this task on LDI but because this is a boat on a budget and I'm quite handy I can do some of these simpler tasks and save some coin for when the Marina Techs need to step in and do their magic.

I'm pretty sure we have a good number of DIY'ers online and I'm looking for a good (not over the top) oil extractor to pull the oil out of the 2 - 5.0's and generator probably on an annual basis if not more frequent depending on hours...... plus probably allow my dock mates to borrow to do their own boats.

Which ones work and which ones do I need to stay away from?

Thanks
 
I picked up the larger of the two manual oil extractors from West Marine on sale and it is absolutely wonderful. About 10 pumps and you walk away, in less than 5 minutes the oil is out of the engine with zero mess. The pump comes with a mercruiser specific fitting that makes for an airtight seal. I changed my 2 engines and generator oil in a matter of under an hour with no drips/spills or mess. Other benefit of the extractors is that you can fill the engine with new oil, then pour the old oil right into the new oil containers for recycling.

This is the one I bought, on sale it was around $60
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west...MIiIfM_I3d2AIVArjACh3yugQ5EAQYASABEgLNCvD_BwE
 
Subscribed.
 
https://www.amazon.com/Jabsco-17800...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B000O8F562

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I've got one of these, can't remember where I bought it. It works greate, have used it countless times on several boats I have owned. Some type of oil extractor, electric or manual is a must have for anyone doing even basic DIY maintenance.
 
I have a Jabsco 12v bucket that's pretty old. The impeller finally gave out. I didn't think that was a big deal, but I can't find a replacement, so I guess I have to trash the whole thing? Jabsco support is non-existent AFAICT.
 
The "Top Sider" from Norther Tool gets high marks. Plenty of YouTubers reviews to go by as well.
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I've had this one for several years. I'm looking for something different as well, that's why I'm keeping an eye on this thread.
It works OK, but it can be slow.
It usually takes several times of pressurizing it to get all of the oil out, just a pita all the way around for me, and that's been on one engine only.
If you pump it too many times it will crush.
I haven't done that, but it cautions you in the manual.
 
I picked up a simple pump extractor like this one on Amazon. I made an adapter for the garden hose fitting on my Mercuiser 8.1s that has a short run of tubing attached (you would want to keep it short because the suction can collapse the tube when it is full of warm oil and softens). I pump right into 1-gallon containers that I save up before the oil change. In my case I use a couple since the 8.1s hold 9 qts. Then they are ready to be dropped off with out having to transfer. Once the oil is warm the pump pulls it out fast.

I have considered upgrading to a pump like this one from Amazon that I could permanently attach to the top of a 5 gallon pail. For now I am sticking with what I have because it is small and easy to store when not in use and it gets the job done.

I did upgrade the flimsy clips but for the price I could not go wrong and if I drop or break it I will not worry.

-Kevin
 
I've had this one for several years. I'm looking for something different as well, that's why I'm keeping an eye on this thread.
It works OK, but it can be slow.
It usually takes several times of pressurizing it to get all of the oil out, just a pita all the way around for me, and that's been on one engine only.
If you pump it too many times it will crush.
I haven't done that, but it cautions you in the manual.
I agree ...I have the topsider.. its great for the lawnmower, dingy outboard... but I would want something bigger in terms of capacity and a bit more automated for the engines and Generator...
 
I picked up a simple pump extractor like this one on Amazon. I made an adapter for the garden hose fitting on my Mercuiser 8.1s that has a short run of tubing attached (you would want to keep it short because the suction can collapse the tube when it is full of warm oil and softens). I pump right into 1-gallon containers that I save up before the oil change. In my case I use a couple since the 8.1s hold 9 qts. Then they are ready to be dropped off with out having to transfer. Once the oil is warm the pump pulls it out fast.

I have considered upgrading to a pump like this one from Amazon that I could permanently attach to the top of a 5 gallon pail. For now I am sticking with what I have because it is small and easy to store when not in use and it gets the job done.

I did upgrade the flimsy clips but for the price I could not go wrong and if I drop or break it I will not worry.

-Kevin

Your links don't seem to work for me.
 

That’s the one I have had for several years now and it works great.
Had the cheaper Jabsco version that comes attached to the rectangular container first but it crapped out after two years and the pump on it wasn’t serviceable so it was junk.
Didn’t want to make that mistake again so I bought the better one. Supposedly the pump on the better one is serviceable. It was a good move and I should have done that in the first place.
Current boat has a built in reverso system (I love it) but I still use my Jabsco for a couple of other friend and family boats and it’s still going strong.
 
I have replaced my impeller several times over the 14 years I have owned it...
 
Changing your own oil is probably one of the best DIY things you can do, ridiculous to pay your dealer or marina to change oil. I have even gone back to changing my own car oil, Lexus wants upwards of $200 for an oil change service and I caught Firestone not changing the filter once (I have this bad habit of writing the hrs/miles/date on my filters). The pump you buy will pay for itself the first time you use it and you will know things are done right.
 
Had the cheaper Jabsco version that comes attached to the rectangular container first but it crapped out after two years and the pump on it wasn’t serviceable so it was junk.

There's a cover plate over my impeller housing, so it looks to be serviceable, if only I could find an replacement impeller. That big brass pump looks to be a significant improvement.

I have replaced my impeller several times over the 14 years I have owned it...

Do you let it run dry? When I start to hear it suck air, I hold a few fingers over the coverplate. When it gets too warm, I bump the motor into reverse just long enough to get some oil back to the impeller.

It's final job was sucking cold oil. It was taking so long that i walked away and the impeller overheated and gave up. It never lost a blade, but is too weak to pull any suction.
 

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