Anyone use Valvomax drain plug?

[Farmer Fran]

If yes, your thoughts.

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[Ducatti20]

Watching. Got one sitting in my saved list.

 

[jbrnigan]

FWIW - I had the first iteration of these from "Fram" on my 2002 - 8.1L Avalanche (these things have been around for a long time). The first one I installed "broke off" during installation, maybe installation error, but, I installed another one after removing the "threads" from the pan. It worked fine - "kinda" - before one oil chage, I unscrewed the cap and, there was oil in the cap that wasn't there before. I pulled the valve out and cleaned the check ball mechanism with spray cleaner - the Fram unit had a spring loaded check ball (metal cone) and seat, I'm guessing that a small piece of debris caused the ball not to seat fully because it never happened again. Anyway, I sold the Avalanche with the valve. I had already purchased another one, for another 8.1 L GM v-8 (see pics) that I never installed because of that "one" episode on the Avalanche. I installed a Fumoto valve instead, and have used them ever since. The Fumoto valve I installed on my Mustang, has a nipple for attaching a hose to flow oil into the oil pan

 

[UnloosedChewtoy]

I had one on hand from a previous project I didn't do, and went to add it to our Dark Horse for the first oil change (under our ownership). However, when I added it, the ValvoMax stuck out ever so slightly below the underbody subframe(s) of the car, so I aborted and put the regular drain plug back in.

I usually add Fumoto or ValvoMax style drain plugs to all our cars, this is the first one I've done myself that would have been a bad idea.

 

[BimmerDriver]

My thoughts are that it's just another opportunity for a leak, as noted above they tend to stick out lower than the pan, potentially getting sheared off, and is it really that difficult to remove a bolt? Messy, yes, but nothing compared to removing the filter.

Speaking of which, wouldn't it better/easier to find an alternative to removing the entire engine cover to access the filter rather than worrying about the drain plug? That's where all of my frustration and angst comes from, changing oil on this car.

 

[NVERL8]

I have used the Fumoto drain valve on all my vehicles that have metal pans for years with no issues. not really applicable if you have the quarter twist yellow plastic drain plug.

 

[Manual Ronnie]

Subbed:

 

[GhastlyTT]

I use one on my car. It's fine, just ensure the motor and oil is decently warm before you open it or you'll be there all day. As far as potentially sheering off... even with my motor lowered half an inch with a heavy blower on top it's still not the lowest part of my chassis, and it's already survived 2 autocross seasons. But shit happens so ymmv.

 

[LouG]

For the few seconds it takes to undo the factory plug, I'll stick with that. I don't like the idea of some form of tap in the oil pan. I'm a firm believer in Murphy's Law.

 

[Wiley Marmot]

If I ever install mine.........................I'll let you know.

Forum: Slacker!

Wiley: Guilty!

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