Best Oil Extractor

77vetter

Cadet
Joined
Nov 24, 2019
Messages
8
I have 4.3 MPI merc and am looking for the best oil extractor. I have tried the blue TopSider and didnt have much luck with it. I had to constantly pump so not sure if it was operator error or what, but it didnt work for me. I have seen the MityVac 7201 and it "seems" like it may a better option?

On the reviews some say its great others say after 3-4 uses it quit working/blew apart, so looking for some real users to hear about their experiences or if there are better options.
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
13,055
With the topsider the trick is to pinch the plastic hose while building vaccum inside and then let go once its hooked up to the dipstick tube. It also works MUCH better with the garden hose adapter than with the thin plastic hose down the dipstick tube. Make sure the garden hose adapter has a rubber gasket in it just like you use on a water hose, that is needed to hold vacuum so the oil will pump. I fabbed this up for mine and it sucks it dry in less than 5 min, both on my ancient OMC 4.3 and on my brother's brand new Merc 4.5. Also when the hoses get old (yellowed and stiff) like the one in this pic replace them because they get too stiff. Engine has to be warmed up for any of the vacuum pumps to work.,
Oil change pump.JPG
 

Scott06

Admiral
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
6,769
I have 4.3 MPI merc and am looking for the best oil extractor. I have tried the blue TopSider and didnt have much luck with it. I had to constantly pump so not sure if it was operator error or what, but it didnt work for me. I have seen the MityVac 7201 and it "seems" like it may a better option?

On the reviews some say its great others say after 3-4 uses it quit working/blew apart, so looking for some real users to hear about their experiences or if there are better options.
I have two of these one at home one at the lake started using it on the boat, liked it so much I bought one for home. I suck the oil out and pump it back into the oil jugs I just emptied.


I just bought my second one to replace a harbor fright one I used three times then it broke...
 

77vetter

Cadet
Joined
Nov 24, 2019
Messages
8
With the topsider the trick is to pinch the plastic hose while building vaccum inside and then let go once its hooked up to the dipstick tube. It also works MUCH better with the garden hose adapter than with the thin plastic hose down the dipstick tube. Make sure the garden hose adapter has a rubber gasket in it just like you use on a water hose, that is needed to hold vacuum so the oil will pump. I fabbed this up for mine and it sucks it dry in less than 5 min, both on my ancient OMC 4.3 and on my brother's brand new Merc 4.5. Also when the hoses get old (yellowed and stiff) like the one in this pic replace them because they get too stiff. Engine has to be warmed up for any of the vacuum pumps to work.,
View attachment 355907
I could never get it to work, I pumped and pumped till the oil started coming into the tank and then if I quit, the oil would go back down into the engine. I pumped so much the handle on the pump broke - POS!
 

77vetter

Cadet
Joined
Nov 24, 2019
Messages
8
I have two of these one at home one at the lake started using it on the boat, liked it so much I bought one for home. I suck the oil out and pump it back into the oil jugs I just emptied.


I just bought my second one to replace a harbor fright one I used three times then it broke...
So how long have you been using yours? Some of the reviews on amazon said after a few times it quit or blew apart?
 

Scott06

Admiral
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
6,769
So how long have you been using yours? Some of the reviews on amazon said after a few times it quit or blew apart?
3 years on one and the second one I just got. My home and lake houses are 5 hrs drive apart so I have ended up buying a lot of duplicate tools for convenience.
 

77vetter

Cadet
Joined
Nov 24, 2019
Messages
8
With the topsider the trick is to pinch the plastic hose while building vaccum inside and then let go once its hooked up to the dipstick tube. It also works MUCH better with the garden hose adapter than with the thin plastic hose down the dipstick tube. Make sure the garden hose adapter has a rubber gasket in it just like you use on a water hose, that is needed to hold vacuum so the oil will pump. I fabbed this up for mine and it sucks it dry in less than 5 min, both on my ancient OMC 4.3 and on my brother's brand new Merc 4.5. Also when the hoses get old (yellowed and stiff) like the one in this pic replace them because they get too stiff. Engine has to be warmed up for any of the vacuum pumps to work.,
View attachment 355907
Sorry for being so dumb but what/how do you attach to the dipstick tube for the male end? Picture would be great!
 

todhunter

Canoeist
Joined
Sep 15, 2020
Messages
1,323
My brother has used a MityVac 7201 for several years and liked it so I bought one for myself. Haven't used it yet though.
 

Scott06

Admiral
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
6,769
Sorry for being so dumb but what/how do you attach to the dipstick tube for the male end? Picture would be great!
I put the plastic tube down the dipstick as mine does not have a garden hose adapter, or suck out the drain hose under my pan.

You can easily put a female garden hose adapter using a compression fitting on hose end and connect it to the garden hose adapter. These are all common hardware store parts
 

Scott06

Admiral
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
6,769
My brother has used a MityVac 7201 for several years and liked it so I bought one for myself. Haven't used it yet though.
Also works great for bleeding brakes...and sucking fuel out of an old rusty fuel tank on my 65 Pontiac ...
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
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Jul 23, 2011
Messages
50,282
I have 4.3 MPI merc and am looking for the best oil extractor. I have tried the blue TopSider and didnt have much luck with it. I had to constantly pump so not sure if it was operator error or what, but it didnt work for me. I have seen the MityVac 7201 and it "seems" like it may a better option?

On the reviews some say its great others say after 3-4 uses it quit working/blew apart, so looking for some real users to hear about their experiences or if there are better options.
your motor should have a factory installed drain hose you pull thru the garboard plug hole.
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
13,055
Most engines have the male end being the threads at the top of the dipstick tube…does yours not have that?
 

Scott06

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Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
6,769
Most engines have the male end being the threads at the top of the dipstick tube…does yours not have that?
Mine no as it is an aftermarket partial engine not OEM merc.

I think that's what the OP was asking as the vac doesn't have a female garden hose end
 

77vetter

Cadet
Joined
Nov 24, 2019
Messages
8
Most engines have the male end being the threads at the top of the dipstick tube…does yours not have that?
Sorry I wasnt aware of that :( Boat is in storage so I'm assuming it has it, just wasn't aware of it. thanks!
 

tpenfield

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
18,149
This is the best oil extractor pump that I have . . . .

oil-pump1.png
.
:ROFLMAO:

I use for both gasoline and oil.
 

nola mike

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2009
Messages
5,429
3 years on one and the second one I just got. My home and lake houses are 5 hrs drive apart so I have ended up buying a lot of duplicate tools for convenience.
And the tool you need is invariably at the other house 🙄
 
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