I just purchased this new electric oil extractor. (never used one before) Put the tube down the dipstick, easily extracted all the oil. When i removed the tube it was either cut off or melted off. I lost at least 6 inches which is now sitting in my oil pan! Who should i shoot? Myself or the company that made this piece of junk?
Has anyone ever heard of this bizarre experience
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Let's see, Was your engine just run and was it a
plastic hose? I think you answered your own question. I know the last time I asked one of the guys here if he read the directions he said it was a direct violation of the Man Code section 7 paragraph 21.....
r.w.landau
plastic hose? I think you answered your own question. I know the last time I asked one of the guys here if he read the directions he said it was a direct violation of the Man Code section 7 paragraph 21.....
r.w.landauGive the oil a rest, and you a beer
Using an oil extractor makes changing oil a breeze, with a few caveats; first, let the engine warm up if cold, and let it cool down if hot. My rule of thumb is to get all the items together for the oil change after the engine has been shut off. This will usually take about a beer, after which the oil in the sump is usually cool enough to not melt hoses and warm enough to be withdrawn easily. I don't have a good answer for the bits of melted hose in the sump, but if it were my engine, I'd be straining to learn how to remove the oil pan. A new, untried possibility is to cut a piece of the old hose and place it into a pan of motor oil that's being heated to a known temperature. Learn what happens as the oil temp exceeds boiling point while you're stirring the mixture continuously. If it dissolves, you want, no...you need to get the plastic away from the bearings. Good luck!
Using an oil extractor makes changing oil a breeze, with a few caveats; first, let the engine warm up if cold, and let it cool down if hot. My rule of thumb is to get all the items together for the oil change after the engine has been shut off. This will usually take about a beer, after which the oil in the sump is usually cool enough to not melt hoses and warm enough to be withdrawn easily. I don't have a good answer for the bits of melted hose in the sump, but if it were my engine, I'd be straining to learn how to remove the oil pan. A new, untried possibility is to cut a piece of the old hose and place it into a pan of motor oil that's being heated to a known temperature. Learn what happens as the oil temp exceeds boiling point while you're stirring the mixture continuously. If it dissolves, you want, no...you need to get the plastic away from the bearings. Good luck!
Bearings, Bearings, Bearings
Bearings need frictionless surfaces and I don't think melted plastic is condusive to frictionless surfaces
Bearings need frictionless surfaces and I don't think melted plastic is condusive to frictionless surfaces
Most 'plastic' hoses melt at 180 degrees F.
Most engine oil sumps are quite hot ... probably near the boiling point of water - 212def. F. If the oil was hotter than 180 deg F. then the 'plastic' is now floating in the oil sump. You have to let the oil cool some before you insert a plastic hose in a crankcase sump. I can totally sympathize with you, I've done the same thing.
Most engine oil sumps are quite hot ... probably near the boiling point of water - 212def. F. If the oil was hotter than 180 deg F. then the 'plastic' is now floating in the oil sump. You have to let the oil cool some before you insert a plastic hose in a crankcase sump. I can totally sympathize with you, I've done the same thing.
Johnperry , talk to the engine manufacturer.
I would not be so much concerned with melted, diluted plastic hurting your bearings as with a somewhat solid piece blocking an oil passage thus burning bearings or rocker arms. Check with your engine manufacturer and find out if there is a protective mesh at the oil pump pickup which would protect against suspended solids getting into the passages. Get their opinion about running the engine and letting any melted plastic be flushed out to the filter. If possible run the engine for a couple of hours, once again let it cool and change oil and filter. I think plastic being petroleoum based dissolves well into oil so that piece could be diluted enough to never be seen again. Dropping the pan is a big project which I personally would not undertake for a small piece of plastic.
I would not be so much concerned with melted, diluted plastic hurting your bearings as with a somewhat solid piece blocking an oil passage thus burning bearings or rocker arms. Check with your engine manufacturer and find out if there is a protective mesh at the oil pump pickup which would protect against suspended solids getting into the passages. Get their opinion about running the engine and letting any melted plastic be flushed out to the filter. If possible run the engine for a couple of hours, once again let it cool and change oil and filter. I think plastic being petroleoum based dissolves well into oil so that piece could be diluted enough to never be seen again. Dropping the pan is a big project which I personally would not undertake for a small piece of plastic.
Copper Is A Good Idea
Sorry about the plastic hose; you would think that the manufacturer of the equipment would provide a warning! I was going to change my oil this weekend using my electric drill driven impellor unit with a lot of plastic hose. What I learned here is the beneficial use of flexible copper tubing going down the dip stick tube and into the pan. Good luck. Bob Catalina 30 Universal M18
Sorry about the plastic hose; you would think that the manufacturer of the equipment would provide a warning! I was going to change my oil this weekend using my electric drill driven impellor unit with a lot of plastic hose. What I learned here is the beneficial use of flexible copper tubing going down the dip stick tube and into the pan. Good luck. Bob Catalina 30 Universal M18
Shouldn't pose a problem
I don't think I would be too concerned. I've pulled apart several engines that had things in the pan. Most of these engines had 100k plus miles on them and just generally needed rebuilds, but not from what was in the pan. Most oil pumps will pass small pieces to the filter, and then it doesn't matter since it is trapped there. Besides, if it was melting and there was suction, what makes you think it's still in the pan? It probably melted slowly and was sucked up with the oil, but if not it probably won't matter because it will continue to melt the next time the oil gets hot. I'd get the engine oil hot a few times and change the oil while hot a few times ( use a copper or steel line that doesn't melt ). Anyway they don't make stuff like they used to... JerryA
I don't think I would be too concerned. I've pulled apart several engines that had things in the pan. Most of these engines had 100k plus miles on them and just generally needed rebuilds, but not from what was in the pan. Most oil pumps will pass small pieces to the filter, and then it doesn't matter since it is trapped there. Besides, if it was melting and there was suction, what makes you think it's still in the pan?
It probably melted slowly and was sucked up with the oil, but if not it probably won't matter because it will continue to melt the next time the oil gets hot. I'd get the engine oil hot a few times and change the oil while hot a few times ( use a copper or steel line that doesn't melt ). Anyway they don't make stuff like they used to... JerryAMelted Plastic
I'd guess the first place the melted plastic would migrate to if you run the engine would be the oil pump pick-up. I'd try dropping the pan with the engine as-is; that's if you can get a short socket wrench onto the pan bolts. Even if you have to disconnect the shaft flange and motor mounts and lift the engine, I'd rather spend the time and effort than risk melted plastic being sucked into the oil pump.
I'd guess the first place the melted plastic would migrate to if you run the engine would be the oil pump pick-up. I'd try dropping the pan with the engine as-is; that's if you can get a short socket wrench onto the pan bolts. Even if you have to disconnect the shaft flange and motor mounts and lift the engine, I'd rather spend the time and effort than risk melted plastic being sucked into the oil pump.
Did you remove it or leave it
After further review of the left over hose, im sure it cut off and not melted. So the question is, leave it there or remove it? What did you do? Thanks
After further review of the left over hose, im sure it cut off and not melted. So the question is, leave it there or remove it? What did you do? Thanks
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