Drain valve...

Hmmm. Seems like much of what's said in SureDrainTechGuide.pdf
supports why the whole thing is a bad idea. What's wrong with
the normal drain plug?
.
_H*

 

I've used Fumoto drains on my past gas vehicles, and they're FANTASTIC for doing your own oil changes. If you don't know what's wrong with the normal plug, I have to guess that you don't change your own oil! With the drain, you hook up a tube, and put the other end in your catch basin. Turn the thing on, and you don't have oil running down your hand and dripping off your elbow! VERY nice.

I still can't figure out which model of Fumoto will work with the Prius, however. This is the first time I've heard of Fram offering a similar product! I'll have to check them out. Been putting it off since it'll be awhile before my first oil change... and I sure don't need to swap the drain before then!

 

OK... after reading about the Fram unit, and having experience with the Fumoto - I still like the Futo better. From what I can tell, the outlet hole of the Fram is quite small! The Fumoto uses a standard ball valve that has a pretty large opening. There is no reason to fear the valve "handle" catching on anything. It is tucked up out of the way, and even if by some freak of nature it DID catch on something, the valve would still not open. It takes two different motions to open it - like a child-proof cap. I've used them for about 500,000 miles on three vehicles, and have nothing but good experiences to report.

 

I use the Fram product. Very happy. I just drain directly into a milk or window washer fluid jug. I do use a drain pan for the filter but I use a Fram filter with the grip material and ....Abbracadabra .... the no tools oil change. I also use a big piece of cardboard to lay down on and bam even I don't get dirty. Last tip use the plastic ramps.

 

Several Prius owners have installed the Fumoto valve with good results. I have had mine for over two years and have had no problems. It makes DIY oil changes much easier. At one time they offered a 10% discount to Priuschat members. Check it out.

There is nothing wrong with the factory plug as long as you use a new washer each time you change the oil. My problem was thatI spent more time fishing it out of the used oil than it now takes to drain the engine.

 

Can you guys tell me which Fumoto model number you're using for the Prius II? The "product chooser" is way too vague. I never feel good about ordering one that fits "all other."

AS for the clogging problem - I don't live in an area like that, so probably shouldn't comment. but I still just can't imagine the Fumoto really getting "clogged." The hole is pretty big! You could just wiggle a screwdriver in the hole first if you had to - but I doubt you would.

 

The Prius is the fifth car that I've used a Fumoto valve on. That being said it is possible to have one opened on the road. The first car I used one of these on was an 83 Saab. Keep in mind that on the Saab the valve hung a little lower than on all my other cars. Very early one morning (no traffic) I was driving on the freeway and a smallish cardboard box (about 6"x6"x6") blew from the side of the road directly under my car. I Heard it hit the car and then looked in my rearview mirror and saw that it wasn't stuck underneath. About 15 seconds later the red oil light came on, I "knew" that the oil level was fine because I had checked it a few days earlier. Like an idiot I kept driving for another 1/2-1 minute. Then the car started sounding funny and the temp started spiking, so I popped it into neutral killed the engine and coasted down the offramp that was luckily close by. After coming to a stop I opened the hood and pulled the dipstick. Seeing smoke come out of the dipstick tube is never a good sign. When I stuck my head underneath the car I saw that the valve was wide open. My theory is that the box got caught on the lever and was able to slide it past the detent and then swing it open. Even though this happened I chalked it up to a freak event and am still an avid proponent of these valves.

If you're wondering about the car. I closed the valve and filled the engine back up with oil. When I cranked it over to start it made the most horrible scraping/grinding noise I've ever heard. A noise that you never want to hear on mechanical components. But then the engine kicked over, the noise went away and it ran fine. After that incident I put another 50k plus miles on the car. It finally died with a major front suspension failure at 230k miles. All those miles were on the original engine and original turbo.

Jeff

 

I have two cars and use the Fram product on both. The protective cap fell off of one. I would suggest just a little bit of pipe dope to prevent that but I have not taken that precaution myself. I am not worried about it one way or another. Both are working fine. I lived in Syracuse (Delaware now) and the oil drain will not attract crud to the point of blockage (salt forms a thin film, gravity and drain location are working in the right direction in this case; also each drain will flush it out). Just use a brush or rag on the threads if they get gunked up before you screw on the drain tube.

 

Wow, what a story, Jeff!

Just goes to show you that I've been wrong before, and I'll be wrong again.

No love on the Fumoto number for the Prius???

 

The Fumoto valve can be fitted with a small hose clip that prevents the valve from opening as a result of road debris. It's mentioned on all the sites that sell the Fumoto valves. You can even see it on the Lubrication Specialist site mentioned at the top of the thread:

[Broken External Image]:http://www.lubricationspecialist.com/graphics/products/valvewithclip.gif

 

Thanks! Don't know why search didn't turn it up for me!

That little clip is new since I've bought my last one.

Yes, no question I'll continue to use the Fumoto (or at least SOME drain valve.) I hear about horrible car wrecks all the time too... but I still drive.

 

careful of ground clearance... that would be a disaster.

 

I've been using a fluid extractor. So far, after each extraction, I've removed the plug and not a drop of oil has come out - so removal of the drain plug doesn't seem necessary.

The only oil left is a small amount in the filter.

 

You're probably right, expensive they are.

Advantages:
*I can get several extractions into the extractor reservoir - one trip down to the recycling center to dispose of the oil.
*It's very clean. No messy drain pans to keep around.
*I don't really have to remove and replace the drain plug and risk stripping the threads (a moot point if you replace the plug with the valve)
*I can use the extractor for all my lawn equipment without a huge mess (ever try to change the oil on a push mower or an old garden tractor? Oil everywhere!).