4225 E. Madison Street Phoenix, Arizona 85034 602-231-6081 800-525-5823 Fax: 602-267-8787 Email: Info@FluidEvacuators.com

Let Your Business Go "Up the Tube" 7 Questions for Dan Widmar Reprinted from moderncarcare.com Dan Widmar is the president of Fluid Evacuators Inc. in Mesa, AZ. His is among several companies that manufacturer equipment that uses vacuum presssure to extract air and fluids from automotive systems like transmissions, brakes and engines. These machines offer a quick, relatively low-cost way for carwashers, detailers and other professionals to expand their menu of services. Why should a car care professional consider a vacuum system for servicing vehicle fluids? To be able to offer customers more services--and, of course, to make more money. These systems are not just for changing oil. In fact, that's only No. 3 on the list for most of my customers. Most people use them for changing differential fluid, then for changing transmission fluid. You can also use them for bleeding brakes or changing power steering fluid. One of my customers charges $15.99 to change power steering fluid. That takes about 30 seconds to remove a quart of oil, and that's a pretty profitable service. Other than eliminating the need for a lift or a pit, are there any other advantages to using a vacuum system to change a vehicle's oil? It eliminates the possibility of a stripped drain plug, for one thing. It is also a labor-saver, especially with brake bleeding. One person can operate it safely and effectively. A technician can even set it up to drain fluid and do something else while it is working. Another big advantage of these systems is their ability to deal with overfills. When you have an overfill of any kind of fluid in a conventional service bay, it takes a lot of time to put the vehicle back on the lift or do whatever you have to do to correct the situation. With a fluid extractor it's very quick and simple--it's about the biggest money-saver you can have. I have one customer who runs a regular quick lube who has an evacuator just to deal with overfills. Do these systems effectively remove all the oil from an engine? Even removing the drain plug from the pan won't remove all the oil from an engine. There will still be about a quarter of an inch in the bottom and some that clings to internal surfaces. However, an evacuator will take out just as much fluid as removing the drain plug would. Can you use a vacuum system on all makes and models? The only make you cannot use vacuum evacuation on that I'm aware of is Subaru. They have a baffle in the channel that prevents the tube from penetrating. Some models may need an adapter, and these are available. Mercedes are built to change oil through a hollow dipstick. They've been doing it for 30 years. Does it take any more time to service a vehicle with this type of system? For engine oil changes it depends on the oil temperature. If the oil is hot like it would be in most normal commercial situations, it takes less than five minutes to drain an engine. If a vehicle hasn't been running and is sitting around on a cold-say 45 degree (F)-day, it could take 20 minutes or more. That's because the tube through which it drains is small. Then there's the filter. On models where it's located in front and is easily accessible, it's a simple matter to put some cardboard on the floor and reach under and unscrew it. Otherwise you'll need a lift or a pit or the vehicle will have to be jacked up. The transmission tube is different. It's wider so it's not as affected by fluid temperature. How much training is required? I could teach it to anybody in about three minutes. It's very simple. What options are available, and what sort of investment do these machines require? Systems come in a range of tank sizes with both gravity and low pressure draining. Features can include wall mounts, wheeled carts and various adapters. Prices for our line range from $200 up to about $900, and we're probably representative.   Highlights of An Article in The Arizona Republic by Click & Clack, a weekly automotive Q & A column, July 19, 1997: "Dear Tom And Ray: The quick-oil-change dealer in my town has begun to siphon the oil from cars through the dipstick tube. He still changes the filter, and the new oil looks clean, but it seems to me that debris could be left in the oil pan at the bottom of the engine, causing problems. What do you think? - Keith RAY: I don't think it's a problem, Keith. I think it's a great idea. It'll probably even remove some stuff that you wouldn't get out through the normal oil-change process. TOM: Whichever method you use, you're going to get only about 95 percent of the old oil out. But that's good enough. And the advantage of sucking the oil out through the dipstick tube is that it eliminates the possibility that some knuckle-scraper at the quick-oil-change place is going to strip your oil pan by over tightening the drain plug. So long as they change the filter, were all for this new method because it makes the job almost foolproof." Highlights of An Article in The National Oil & Lube News Mystery Shopper of March 1995: EDITOR'S NOTE: The following review is part of an on-going series of articles written by an anonymous fast lube operator who tests and evaluates products on a "mystery shopper" basis. "...We tested the EZ1 on all types of fluids including oil, transmission fluid, water, gasoline, differential fluid, kerosene, coolants and windshield washer fluid. We've never had a problem using any of them." (For safety reasons never use evacuators with flammable liquids) "The EZ1 is very portable. It stands a little over 30 inches high with a ten inch diameter tank. When empty it weighs about 19 pounds. It is bright red and easy to see." "...As for how the equipment held up, I can report that the probes are still in great shape. The unit has a few dents and bruises but that is because it was dropped into the pit twice. But like a Timex, it still works great." Complete article on request 1-800-525-LUBE (5823).