I have a vacuum one, it looks like a massive vacu vin wine saver if you are familiar with those. Like other poster say, they are a dream to use. Stick it in the dipstick tube and it sucks the oil out in a short time. I've changed my oil this way whenever the service light comes on. From 100k when I bought it through to 220k now. It hasn't suffered an oil related failure in that time. Call that 9 oil changes for around £30 I paid for the extractor. 9 services at a garage could cost £1000+

It's easier and less messy than removing sump plug. I don't have my own drive so this is all round the best option for me.

As an example my 1997 petrol Mondeo Zetec-e with 262,000 miles on the clock takes 9 minutes to get 4.05 litres out. The full capacity is 4.25 with the remaining oil in the filter of course that cannot be got with this method. Including the time to pour in the just over 4 litres of fresh oil it takes around 10 minutes from start to finish. The extractor cost £30 over a decade past and is still working fine. Some vehicles may pose additional challenges but dumping that amount of oil in 10 mins I find very useful.

If its the hassle of draining, invest in a Fumoto quick drain valve, once fitted every time you go to change the oil in future it's completely mess free, all you need is to slip the can underneath and turn the valve open and the oil will flow out at a sensible rate, you really could change the oil in your suit from then on.

www.quickvalve.co.uk/

Had a Pela 6000 for probably 12 years now. Only used it with 0w30 and 5w30.

I agree that it does not get all the oil out but nether does the sump plug.

Instructions said to warm the engine but not to use it with a hot engine so the first time I used it (on a warm summers day) I drove towards town, round the first roundabout and back home, probably a mile. Tried sucking the oil out and it did nothing, very disappointed. So back in the car drive to the M1 and back, probably 6 miles and try again, perfect.

IMHO well worth the money.

"Also many vehicles with a full length under tray with no access panels to the drain plug, can be a real faff to remove "

Toyota Yaris and Honda Jazz have a little flap in the tray which opens to access oil plug and another for oil filter....

Toyota Yaris and Honda Jazz have a little flap in the tray which opens to access oil plug and another for oil filter.

Which of course means that the "yoof" doing your service does not get the opportunity to check for oil leaks and any other minor issue before it could become a major issue.

And after previously reading comments on here I thought Toyota and Honda were far to diligent to miss any opportunity to ensure their vehicles are tip top and according to some repair them FOC even after 15 years.