Just curious what you think about changing the oil from the top through the
dip stick opening? I've seen kits advertised for this purpose along with
the claim that "Mercedes Techs" are taught to do it that way.


Steve

--

 

I,m told that some European cars dont have a sump drain plug anymore so one
has to use the filler. Seems cost cutting in the extreme.

 

"John" <susan48@aapt.net.au> wrote in message
news:hbdqll$pj7$1@news-01.bur.connect.com.au...
> I,m told that some European cars dont have a sump drain plug anymore so
> one has to use the filler. Seems cost cutting in the extreme.
>

I first saw that done in the 1960's at a Merit gas station. The even sold
re-refined oil for 15¢ a quart. I imagine the technology has improved and
it can be just as effective as pulling a plug if it gets all the old oil
out. No matter how you change it, some residue is going to be left behind.

 

On Oct 17, 10:17 pm, "Ed Pawlowski" <e...@snet.net> wrote:
> "John" <susa...@aapt.net.au> wrote in message
>
> news:hbdqll$pj7$1@news-01.bur.connect.com.au...
>
> > I,m told that some European cars dont have a sump drain plug anymore so
> > one has to use the filler. Seems cost cutting in the extreme.
>
> I first saw that done in the 1960's at a Merit gas station. The even sold
> re-refined oil for 15¢ a quart. I imagine the technology has improved and
> it can be just as effective as pulling a plug if it gets all the old oil
> out. No matter how you change it, some residue is going to be left behind.

Agree with the others, but if your filter is located under the engine,
what's the point?

 

hyundaitech wrote:
> On Oct 17, 10:17 pm, "Ed Pawlowski" <e...@snet.net> wrote:
>> "John" <susa...@aapt.net.au> wrote in message
>>
>> news:hbdqll$pj7$1@news-01.bur.connect.com.au...
>>
>>> I,m told that some European cars dont have a sump drain plug anymore so
>>> one has to use the filler. Seems cost cutting in the extreme.
>> I first saw that done in the 1960's at a Merit gas station. The even sold
>> re-refined oil for 15¢ a quart. I imagine the technology has improved and
>> it can be just as effective as pulling a plug if it gets all the old oil
>> out. No matter how you change it, some residue is going to be left behind.
>
> Agree with the others, but if your filter is located under the engine,
> what's the point?

If the filter is at the lowest point under the engine, then there is no
point in a separate drain plug. I've never seen a filter which was at
the lowest point as it would be quite vulnerable to damage unless a skid
plate was included.

Matt

 

"Voyager" <m.whiting@computer.org> wrote in message
news:TlNCm.49786$lR3.18167@newsfe25.iad...
> hyundaitech wrote:
>> On Oct 17, 10:17 pm, "Ed Pawlowski" <e...@snet.net> wrote:
>>> "John" <susa...@aapt.net.au> wrote in message
>>>
>>> news:hbdqll$pj7$1@news-01.bur.connect.com.au...
>>>
>>>> I,m told that some European cars dont have a sump drain plug anymore so
>>>> one has to use the filler. Seems cost cutting in the extreme.
>>> I first saw that done in the 1960's at a Merit gas station. The even
>>> sold
>>> re-refined oil for 15¢ a quart. I imagine the technology has improved
>>> and
>>> it can be just as effective as pulling a plug if it gets all the old oil
>>> out. No matter how you change it, some residue is going to be left
>>> behind.
>>
>> Agree with the others, but if your filter is located under the engine,
>> what's the point?
>
> If the filter is at the lowest point under the engine, then there is no
> point in a separate drain plug. I've never seen a filter which was at the
> lowest point as it would be quite vulnerable to damage unless a skid plate
> was included.
>
> Matt

HT's point was that if the filter is located under the engine (as opposed
to being accessible from above), you have to put the car on a lift
anyways to change it, so there's no advantage to eliminating the
sump drain plug. Unless Hyundai is going back to recommending
changing the filter every other oil change.

 

> hyundaitech wrote:
>> On Oct 17, 10:17 pm, "Ed Pawlowski" <e...@snet.net> wrote:
>>> "John" <susa...@aapt.net.au> wrote in message
>>>
>>> news:hbdqll$pj7$1@news-01.bur.connect.com.au...
>>>
>>>> I,m told that some European cars dont have a sump drain plug anymore so
>>>> one has to use the filler. Seems cost cutting in the extreme.
>>> I first saw that done in the 1960's at a Merit gas station. The even
>>> sold
>>> re-refined oil for 15¢ a quart. I imagine the technology has improved
>>> and
>>> it can be just as effective as pulling a plug if it gets all the old oil
>>> out. No matter how you change it, some residue is going to be left
>>> behind.
>>
>> Agree with the others, but if your filter is located under the engine,
>> what's the point?

One of my company cars (81 Olds Cutlass) was a lease through Avis with full
maintenance. They only changed the filter every other oil change. I always
wonder how well the engine held up long term.

 

"Bob Bailin" <72027.3605@compuserve.com> wrote in message
>
> HT's point was that if the filter is located under the engine (as opposed
> to being accessible from above), you have to put the car on a lift
> anyways to change it, so there's no advantage to eliminating the
> sump drain plug. Unless Hyundai is going back to recommending
> changing the filter every other oil change.

Keep in mind though. the Sonata V-6 has the filter up top.

I quit doing my own oil changes after buying my '91 Regal. It was a real
PITA to change the filter using ramps in the driveway. Twenty years later,
the filter is easy to get at but I'd rather pay than crawl under a car. The
cost of a pump device would have to be cheap enough to justify buying it
though, for a few changes a year.