Oil pump for oil change. All about the pump for pumping oil from the engine: do it yourself

On the website of a popular Chinese online store, in the description of a 12-volt water pump for arranging fountains in aquariums and country decorative mini-pools, we accidentally came across a curious review from a Russian car owner who used this pump as a system for pumping oil from the crankcase of his Fiat engine Bravo!

The pump is designed for water, but the cunning citizen quickly realized that if you connect thin hoses and wires with a pair of alligators to it to power the device from a car battery, you get an extra-budget system for changing the oil in the engine or gearbox! Similar pumps complete with tubes and wires, designated as specialized for pumping oil, cost from 2,000 rubles or more in a Chinese online store, so in this case an ultra-economical option is obtained.

This decision, of course, is not relevant for everyone - after all, what is the use of pumping oil through the dipstick, if then you still need to crawl under the “belly” of the car in order to unscrew the filter? However, there are quite a lot of machines in which modification of the engine and the layout of the engine compartment allows you to easily unscrew the oil filter from above from under the hood: from Grants to Focus and from the “Volgovsky” old man ZMZ-402 to the “Skodovsky” 1.2 MPI with interchangeable paper elements in glasses. Well, the only ones of their kind are the “Volkswagen” CAXA, CFNA, etc. engines, in which the filter is located almost vertically at the level of the block head, as a result of which it is even easier to unscrew it than adding water to the washer reservoir. Plus, the filter is removed completely clean and empty, without a drop of oil.

Let's check how convenient and feasible the proposed solution is. Our goal is to determine the pump's efficiency, is it capable of handling thick oil instead of water, and most importantly, how durable is the pump's design? After all, if in the interval between oil changes the remnants of working out in the pump destroy its plastic from the inside, then there is no point in such “masturbation” ...

Pump design

The design of the pump surprised and upset. There was a feeling that the cunning citizen, who threw the idea to the masses, did not disassemble it before using it as an “oil pump” ... on the basis of metal plungers-pistons, and on the basis of silicone elastic membranes. An eccentric is installed on the motor shaft, which, rotating, alternately raises the pumping membranes located in a circle. One-way fluid flow is provided by check valves made of the same transparent silicone.

A similar design of the pumping unit of the pump raised doubts. Of course, it sucks water without problems, but oil can quickly corrode or soften and deform rubber membranes and valves, rendering the gadget unusable. Therefore, after elucidating the design features of the pump, it was not the ability to pump engine oil that came to the forefront of the experiment, which, in general, is obvious, but the ability of the device to maintain operability after that!

Let's pump oil!

To pump oil through the dipstick hole, you will have to choose a suitable plastic tube. This task is not difficult, but, to some extent, creative. The tube should fit into a narrow hole and have thin enough walls so as not to resist the flow of oil. In our case, a Russian-made television antenna cable came to hand, from the sheath of which we pulled out the central core and the inner braid, holding the tail in a vise.

A real experiment confirmed the efficiency of the pump - about three and a half liters of oil from the WV Polo engine are cheerfully pumped out in about five to six minutes; the motor during this time heats up, but not critically. The control unscrewing of the cork of the oil pan showed that no more than half a glass of oil was not sucked out. In general, a non-critical amount, which can also be reduced by splashing into the oil filler neck after bubbles have come out of the pump, 200 grams of clean fresh oil.

Is the pump durable?

Leaving the pump in an uncleaned state after an oil change is fraught with danger. Grease can corrode or dissolve the rubber filling of the pumping unit while you roll your 10,000 km, waiting for the next replacement ... Therefore, we conducted a control measurement of pump performance on water (which showed that the pump pumps three liters of water in about two minutes), after which washed it thoroughly and measured the performance again a month later to make sure that it had not deteriorated and the efficiency had not decreased.

Your conditions

The oil in the engine loses its properties over time, so it is necessary every 10,000–15,000 km. It is easiest to do this in a car service, but you can save money by doing the work yourself. To the happy owners of a garage with a viewing hole, to drain the oil, you just need to unscrew the drain plug in the engine oil pan. Anyone who does not have access to such a hole can use a pump to pump the oil through the dipstick hole.

We note right away: such a device will only help you out if you can reach the oil filter, which needs to be replaced when filling in new oil, from above. If in your car you can only change the filter from below, an oil pump will not greatly simplify your work. After all, you still have to crawl under the car.

Before work

Already at the stage of preparation for the test, we identified several features of the electric pump. Firstly, our copy was initially inoperative. We dismantled the pump, and it turned out that the electric motor does not rotate, since the mechanical part of the gearbox is screwed to it too tightly. The cause of the malfunction was eliminated - and the device worked.

Secondly, the electric pump does not work dry, so you need to remove the plugs on the holes for the tubes and pour 40–50 ml of oil into the device using a syringe.

Third, the dipstick tube is 6mm in diameter, while the dipstick tube may be smaller on some machines. Simply put, not every engine will be able to connect an electric pump. Among them, for example, 1.8-liter engine, on which we originally wanted to do all the work.

Paradoxically, thanks to this, our experiment has only become “cleaner”: we decided to drain the oil using an electric pump on the same car on which some time ago. This is a Chevrolet Aveo.

pure experiment

Having inserted a tube into the hole for the probe, we connect it to the pump. On the other hand, we fix the second tube - to drain the oil. We lower its second end into a 5-liter plastic bottle from drinking water (a transparent container allows you to control the volume of the drained working fluid). We make sure that the pump is turned off, after that we connect the terminals of the device to the car battery, observing the polarity.

Turn on the pump and start pumping. Oil rises through a tube inserted into the dipstick hole, passes through the device and flows out of the second tube into a plastic container.

After a few minutes, the sound of the oil pump motor changed as the engine became easier to run. This means that the oil is over. We will verify this by moving the tube inserted into the probe hole. If the sound of the pump does not change, turn off the device.

Examination

To understand how efficiently the electric pump coped with its task, we raise the car on a lift and unscrew the drain plug in the pan. The oil flows out pretty fast. During our last experiment, when we used a vacuum unit for similar work, this was not the case.

The conclusion is obvious: using an electric pump alone is not worth it. And although the device is of interest, it clearly needs to be improved.

What's left

Completely draining the oil from the engine, we replaced the oil filter and filled in fresh oil. The result of the experiment did not satisfy us -.

Despite the fact that the experiment with an electric pump cast doubt on the effectiveness of this device, it is possible to change the engine oil in a garage without a viewing hole. If you use a vacuum unit for this. It costs twice as much as an electric pump (2600 rubles versus 1300–1350), but it has two significant advantages over it: a vacuum unit that pumps out oil almost completely is more efficient and versatile, as it allows you to drain it from the engine even through a narrow hole for the oil probe.

Text: Tatyana Turbal

A vacuum pump for pumping oil from a car engine is a very useful device that allows you to quickly get rid of old lubricant. The unit has a simple design, so that almost everyone can make a homemade pump.

The principle of operation and the device of the pump

The electric oil pump has a fairly simple design and small dimensions. The mass of most models is no more than 500 g. The standard equipment of the pumps consists of two clamps for mounting and two hoses for pumping out engine oil.

The internal working chambers of the pump are lubricated with oil, which prevents the parts from being worn out at the first start. At the same time, the chambers are completely sealed and have rubber seals. Pump rotor plates are made of stainless steel, aluminum and copper.

The brake pump is equipped with a reliable motor that drives the vane gearbox. On average, the motor voltage is from 3 to 12 volts. At 12 Volts and a current of 8 A, the shaft speed is approximately 14100 rpm. The gearboxes in most pump models are not lubricated, so the lubricant must be supplied to the part yourself.

The pump for bleeding the brakes operates as a result of fluctuations in working volumes between adjacent plates and sections of the pump housing with rotor surfaces. During this, the chamber on the left side of the unit is enlarged by rotating the eccentric rotor clockwise. This lowers the pressure inside the pump, allowing fluid to enter the pump. The working volume on the right side of the device decreases, which contributes to the injection of liquid.

How to choose an oil pump?

It is quite simple to choose a device for pumping oil on your own. To do this, you need to study a number of important characteristics, which include:

• Pump power - to quickly pump out the oil, you will need a unit with a power of 50 to 150 watts;
• Performance - a device that pumps out at least 500 ml of oil per minute will be a good option;
• The material from which the pump is made - it is best to buy a unit from stainless steel;
• Country of origin - experts do not advise buying Chinese and Korean pumps, as they will not last for a long time. In addition, they are constantly heated;
• Build Quality - The pump must be completely sealed without any gaps.

Having studied all these characteristics, it will be much easier for the buyer to choose the right device, and not overpay for it.

Despite all the benefits of a brake pump, not all car owners want to spend money on it. In this case, you can make a pump for changing the oil through the dipstick with your own hands. To make the simplest device, you will need one large syringe to which the probe will be attached. The only disadvantage of such a mechanical device is that the driver is forced to pump out the oil on his own.

Another option is the manufacture of a pump with a motor. Such a device does not require the constant presence of a person.

To make a homemade oil pump you will need:

• Electric motor;
• Ball pen;
• Waterproof superglue;
• Deodorant cap;
• small gear;
• 4 pieces of plastic. Approximately 1 cm in diameter.

The manufacturing procedure for a vacuum pump for pumping oil from an engine through a dipstick is as follows:

1. First you need to grind off all the teeth of the gear and fit it to the size of the cap;
2. After that, you need to glue the pieces of plastic so that they are located opposite each other at an angle of 90 0;
3. In order to form the body of the device, the walls of the cap must be cut off, leaving them 15 mm high;
4. A hole must be drilled on top of the cap to fix the axis of the motor in it. A second hole must be drilled at the back to accommodate the handle body;
5. After that, it is necessary to completely disassemble the ballpoint pen, leaving only its body. Next, the body must be glued to the side hole of the cap;
6. The motor must be glued to the top hole of the cap;
7. Next, you will need to put on the impeller on the axis of the motor;
8. After that, you need to cut out a plastic panel, the diameter of which should be the same as the diameter of the cap;
9. A hole must be drilled in the panel into which oil will enter. The panel itself is attached to the pump housing.

The manufactured pump does not have high power, but it will successfully cope with its main task. The performance of the device is approximately 200 ml of oil per 1 minute of operation.

The standard procedure for changing the oil in a car engine requires a viewing hole, overpass or lift. In a car service, such a service costs about 1000-1500, while it is not always possible to see the process with your own eyes, which means that there is a risk that the wrong oil that is needed will get into the engine. To save money and nerves and not look for a special platform for changing the oil in the usual way, you can change it yourself through the dipstick tube, for this you use a compact device that is similar in type to a conventional pump.

1 Oil change through the dipstick - how does it work?

To replace the lubricant directly through the dipstick tube, a special device is used. It is a vacuum pump with special tubes and adapters. There are many models on the market that differ in speed, tank capacity, design and durability. Such a gadget can be manual and electric, it may have additional tubes and “chips”, due to which the pumping work is faster. Regardless of type, size and cost, almost all of them consist of the following parts:

• hose or tube for pumping oil;
• main fluid tank;
• a special pump for pumping out and forcing air.

The tank has two holes, one of which is inserted into the main tube, and the other input from the vacuum pump. After that, the procedure for pumping out the waste liquid is carried out. To do this, you need to get the oil dipstick and insert the end of the hose into its tube so that it reaches the bottom of the crankcase. After that, an electric or manual pump is used, with the help of which air is pumped and a pressure difference is created.

Next, the pump is removed, the check valve fixes the required pressure, due to which the oil gradually begins to flow from the sump to the tank. Electric pumps have special stoppers that are configured to stop the operation of the device when the required amount of lubricant is reached.

If there are no such systems, then the tank has a translucent appearance so that the car owner can see how much liquid is received. The process itself takes from 15 minutes to half an hour, it all depends on the type of oil used, its viscosity properties, the degree of contamination and the power of the installation itself.

Before carrying out such a procedure, it is necessary to fix the car on the most even plane and let the engine run for several minutes. This will allow the oil inside to heat up to operating temperatures, sediment will rise from the bottom, and during the pumping process, its maximum amount will flow into the tank along with the main liquid.

2 Pros and cons of changing the oil with a pump

Among the main advantages of changing the oil through the dipstick tube in the engine is the absence of the need to drive the car into an inspection hole or lift, once again unscrew the drain plugs from the pan, remove the crankcase protection, which is on many car models, select suitable containers, etc.

This method is relevant for those car models in which the oil filter is located in the engine compartment, so that it can be reached and unscrewed by hand.

This is especially true for many car models, including the popular Lada Granta, Ford Focus, Volga 3110, almost all Skoda with MPI gasoline engines, some CFNA Volkswagen engines, on which the filter is located directly near the cylinder head. If it is located below, near the crankcase, then you will have to drive the car onto the platform or the lifting device in any case, and without replacing the filter, the whole process loses its meaning.

With all the advantages and convenience of this method, it also has disadvantages, which are often argued among motorists and specialists. The fact is that when using low-quality oil, as well as in case of serious contamination due to a long drive or inconsistency in viscosity and type, combustion products of additives and other deposits that form as a result of intensive engine operation settle to the bottom of the sump.

After pumping out with a vacuum, the heavy components of the sediment remain at the very bottom, and after new oil is poured into the engine, these deposits mix with the new composition, significantly reducing its resource and lubricating efficiency. Therefore, experts recommend, if possible, to alternate both methods, making the replacement both through the dipstick and the classic way to completely drain the oil from the sump with the engine flush procedure.

Remember that when using a high-quality and suitable type of oil, replacing it correctly every 8-10 thousand kilometers, no sediment will form at the bottom, of course, if certain elements in the engine system are serviceable and not worn out, especially parts of the cylinder-piston group.

The advantages of the do-it-yourself oil pumping method by creating a pressure difference also include accessibility, mobility and compactness of the device. The replacement pump is inexpensive, reusable, fits in the trunk, and can operate in a variety of climates. But to ensure long-term operation, it must be periodically cleaned of oil contamination, which is not always fast and not very convenient.

3 How to choose a quality device?

There are a huge number of models of domestic, European and Chinese production on the market, the cost of which varies from 500 to 12,000 rubles. There are more professional options that are found in various car services, as well as manual, electric, rotary, etc.

When choosing a factory-type electrical device, experts recommend paying attention to such parameters as:

• Power and performance. The best option for pumping out an average volume of oil (4-5 liters) for 10-15 minutes is 50-150 watts.
• Material and build quality. The main criterion is tightness: the higher it is, the more efficient the operation of the device. Quality pumps and parts are made of stainless steel.
• manufacturer and cost. You should not buy semi-professional models, they have high performance and speed, but are expensive and more suitable for installation in car services. The optimal price with the declared parameters of a more or less high-quality pump is 1500-2500 rubles.

It is worth noting that both manual and automatic pump types can be made by hand. The easiest and most proven way is to use a conventional electric pump (you can take a compressor for pumping wheels) or use a more compact version of the device, such as a small electric pump for decorative fountains and aquariums. It easily fits in the palm of your hand, has the necessary performance and works from the on-board network.

4 How to make a pump with your own hands - use a proven method

The cost of such a mini-pump does not exceed 500-700 rubles when ordering via the Internet or it will come out a little more expensive when buying in a specialized store. A standard pumping device with tubes and wires will cost about 2000-2500 rubles. As a result, the savings are small, but, as you know, what is done with one's own hands is much more pleasant.

Before you buy or independently make a device for pumping oil through the dipstick, you should once again make sure that the engine equipment and the layout of other parts in the engine compartment allow you to unscrew or remove the oil filter without having to climb under the car.

The principle of operation of such a "water" pump is similar to the more expensive counterparts of the Karcher type, which are based on high pressure technology. But, given the cost of this compact device, instead of metal pistons, silicone membranes with an eccentric on the engine are installed in it. The latter rotates during operation, lifting these same membranes in one direction or the other. Check valves made of silicone material are installed nearby.

In addition to the device itself, you will need two more tubes for pumping oil, a suitable plastic or glass container (for 5-7 liters) and two wires with crocodiles, with which the pump will be powered by a battery. The wiring can be used from any old electrical appliances, for example, from a multimeter, etc. They must be connected to the corresponding terminals on the pump, the connection points must be carefully insulated and connected in series with the battery before starting work, not forgetting to observe the polarity.

The oil drain tube is a little more difficult, as it needs to be thin enough to pass freely into the narrow hole from the dipstick, and at the same time have thin walls so as not to create unnecessary resistance while pumping warm oil. A universal and proven option is to use tubes from the wiper system of some old car. You can also use an unnecessary television cable, from which all the cores and the internal winding are pulled out, or other types of material, there are no limits for a creative approach to the issue.

One part of the tube is lowered into the prepared container, the other is carefully pushed into the hole in the engine. The wires are fed to the battery, they check the tightness of the tubes and wiring at the inlet and outlet of the pump, and start the device. With the right materials, this method can pump out 4-4.5 liters of oil in 10-15 minutes without even getting your hands dirty.

Assembly schemes and materials may vary, but the principle of operation is the same. And to use this device many times, be sure to clean the pump after each pumping. To do this, the inlet and outlet pipes must be lowered into a small container of gasoline and the pump turned on so that it runs for several minutes, then instead of gasoline, use water with the addition of some effective detergent.

Ka Every car owner, who at least occasionally opens the hood of his iron horse, faced with his scheduled maintenance, and the most pragmatic wondered why such an uncomplicated procedure as changing the engine oil costs as much as 500 rubles (on average). After all, for this, all that is needed is to raise the car on a lift, unscrew the drain bolt, change the sealing ring and the oil filter, return the car to the ground and fill it with fresh oil. You can do all this yourself, but in most cases there is no equipped place for this.

In my case, I change the oil every 5000 kilometers and, given that I travel long distances quite often, I have to do this operation every one and a half months. And with the help of arithmetic, you can calculate that for the year I give 4 thousand rubles to someone in my pocket.

And so there was a solution to the problem, and this solution was this little black and yellow device.

Let's start in order.

After a short wandering around Ali, I stumbled upon a product of interest to me, without hesitation and not particularly choosing a seller, I ordered a pump for pumping oil from the engine.

After about 3 weeks of tracking the movement of my order, I found that my order had arrived and was not at the pick-up point of some transport company. I immediately had a doubt and the question arose why my order was not sent by Russian mail and whether I need to pay extra for courier delivery. But after I called this transport company and clarified everything, all doubts disappeared and I was pleasantly surprised, since I don’t need to pay anything extra for delivery, and moreover, my order will be delivered home and handed over to me.

After receiving the order, it was immediately unpacked, and a slightly shabby cardboard package appeared before my eyes. On the box there were images of the device itself, its characteristics and methods of use were indicated, all the inscriptions, as always, were in English. I want to note that although the box was worn out by fate, everything that was in it was intact.

In the box itself were:

Soft transparent silicone hose for draining the pumped oil;

Rigid plastic translucent hose, through which oil is pumped directly from the crankcase;

The device itself is in a plastic bag with wires for connecting to the car battery;

Small bag with 2 clamps to secure hoses to the device;

The instruction is in English (which in most cases no one even opens).

On the pump itself there is a sticker indicating the direction of movement of the pumped liquid and the time of its continuous operation. On the back there is an on/off button. Soft inserts are fitted at the bottom to reduce vibration. The case itself is made quite well, does not play and does not creak.

The pump is powered by a rechargeable battery, to which it is connected by the included red and black alligator clips (tap to "+", black to "-"). The inlet and outlet fittings of the pump are made of aluminum and closed with rubber plugs.

Assembly is very easy and fast.

A solid translucent hose is connected to a fitting that sucks in used oil, and a soft hose is connected to the opposite. After the hoses are put on, they are fixed with clamps. The whole device is ready to use.

After checking the pump in action, I was satisfied with it. This little stray pretty quickly pumped out all the oil from the engine crankcase, never "stalling".

The big advantage of using this device is that you do not need to spend money on services, you can do everything yourself, in a short period of time.

There was only one question left, how to change the oil filter without removing the engine protection.