Oil Drainer or Extractor? Is Sucking Oil Out as Good as Draining?

Oil change due but no pit, ramps or lift? Or a workshop that needs somewhere to put 80 litres of waste oil? A gravity drainer catches oil from the sump plug; an extractor pulls it up the dipstick tube. Choose by access, capacity, pan height and power supply.

PartsForMachines stocks 66 Sealey, Draper, SIP, Sykes Pickavant and TIGREN products in its oil drainers range, from hand-pumped extractors to a 120-litre HGV unit, fuel tank drainers and oil filling systems.

Is Extracting Through the Dipstick Tube as Good as Draining the Sump?

It does the job for a routine change, as long as the probe reaches the bottom of the sump, and it is quicker and cleaner: no drain plug to undo, no crawling under the vehicle. If the vehicle handbook says to drain from the plug, though, do that.

With a hand-pumped extractor such as the TP69 6.5-litre oil extractor, push the probe down the dipstick tube and pump the handle. The oil keeps flowing while you get on with something else. The AK470DX oil station collects oil in a clear 10-litre measuring cup, so you can inspect it before it goes into the tank.

Manual or Air-Powered Oil Extractor: Which Is Better?

An air-powered extractor saves pumping and can be faster, but your compressor has to keep up; a hand-pumped one needs no air. The 77057 manual or pneumatic oil extractor does both: hand pumping where there is no compressor, or an air line for faster, higher-volume extraction.

Check the air demand first. The SIP 03711 drainer needs 5cfm and at least a 100-litre air receiver for suction. No compressor? The AK466D extractor runs on 230V mains and holds 12 litres.

What Size Oil Drainer Do I Need, and Will It Fit Under My Lift?

Size the tank to the oil you drain between emptying, then check the pan height, minimum as well as maximum, against your lift, ramp or floor. Hand extractors hold, for example, 5.5 litres (TP696) or 18 litres (TP6908); the AK458DX mobile drainer takes 110 litres.

The AK80D pan works between 940mm and 1,800mm, so measure under your raised vehicle first. The AK462DX 80-litre cantilever drainer spans 150mm to 1,600mm, for use under a lift or on the forecourt, and the AK467D low-level drainer has a 285mm pan for floor work.

Wrong Fuel in the Tank? How Do I Drain It Safely?

Don’t start the engine. Drain the tank with a drainer built for fuel, and flush the fuel system too if the engine has run. No fuel drainer? A mechanic or breakdown service can drain and flush it. An ordinary oil extractor is the wrong tool: the S01169 and TP69 must not be used with petrol.

The TP200S 40-litre fuel drainer and the 90-litre TP201 suit petrol or diesel and draw fuel by air-driven venturi suction. Both come with fuel system adaptors and are ATEX certified for potentially explosive atmospheres.

Work outdoors or somewhere well ventilated, away from pits, drains, naked flames and smoking. Disconnect the battery, use the earth bonding straps, keep a foam or dry powder extinguisher nearby and follow the vehicle maker’s procedure.

What Should I Check Before I Buy?

• drain plug, dipstick tube or both, and what the vehicle handbook allows
• tank capacity, and how it empties: tap, pump or air discharge
• pan height range against your lift, ramp or floor
• power (hand pump, air supply or 230V) and probe sizes for your dipstick tubes
• the temperature rating for warm oil and, for fuel, a drainer rated for petrol or diesel

Browse the oil drainers range, or contact the PartsForMachines team by WhatsApp, telephone or email with the vehicles you service and whether you use a lift.

Product options, delivery options and returns terms are shown on each product page. A 30-day return policy applies to eligible items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should oil be extracted hot or cold?

Warm. Running the engine first suspends dirt and sludge in the oil, but take care, as it will be hot. Stay within the unit’s rating: the AK450DX is rated below 55°C, the AK462DX below 90°C.

Will the probe reach the bottom of the sump?

It should if it fits your dipstick tube and is long enough. The TP69 has 5.8mm and 6.7mm probes, 850mm long, plus a 1m extension tube; the AK466D has rigid and semi-rigid probes from 5mm to 8mm.

How do I know when the tank is full?

Look for a cut-off or level indicator. The TP69 has a float valve that stops the transfer at maximum capacity, the SIP 03722 an 11-litre Perspex chamber to prevent overfilling, and drainers such as the AK451DX a level tube.

Can one extractor handle coolant, water and other fluids?

Some are built for it. The Draper 81315 takes non-corrosive fluids including engine and gear oil, coolant, water and PAS fluid, and the TP6901 also suits low-viscosity fluids such as water. For brake fluid there are dedicated extractors, such as the 22113.

Can an oil extractor be used to refill a gearbox?

Extractors are made to remove fluid, though the 47812 oil suction gun can also inject it when topping up gearboxes and axles. For a full refill, use a filling system such as the VS7009 7-litre oil filling system, which delivers about 70ml per stroke.

What safety features should an air-operated drainer have?

Look for a safety or relief valve and a pressure gauge or level indicator. Draper fits a safety valve to its 90-litre drainers, the TIGREN 70-litre suction drainer has a pressure gauge and relief valve, and the SPEEDLINE1053’s safety valve is preset at 0.5 bar.

Is a big drainer too heavy to move when full?

Not if it is made to be wheeled and emptied in place. The AK80D drainer sits on four castors and empties through a gravity drain tap, and the TP6906 extractor has wheels for moving it when full.

What should I do with the waste oil?

Never pour it down a drain. Store it in a container made for the job, such as the DRP09 drain and recycling container, and take it to a site that accepts used oil, such as a recycling centre with oil containers.

Is it safe to keep fuel drained from a tank?

Only in containers made for fuel. At home, you may keep up to 30 litres of petrol, in suitable portable metal or plastic containers. Check any tank is rated for petrol: the DT53 dispensing tank, for example, is not.

Can an extractor be used on boats, lorries or machinery?

Yes, if the probes suit the dipstick tube. The TP6901 and TP6908 suit engines in cars, motorcycles, boats, stationary engines and industrial machinery, and the 53380400 HGV extractor has six probes for different dipstick sizes and a 120-litre tank.