I've had one for 4 years now on the G and we had them on all of our cars for the past 20+ years. We've never had a problem. This is especially important if your cars average >250K miles and have had tons of oil changes where the chance of stripping the drain hole increases thru time. For added insurance, place a small hose clamp with a butterfly screw (for hand tightening at the end where the lever is) to make sure the tiny lever never slips or moves. This clamp works especially if you're traveling and have to have an oil change at a shop.

The Fumoto valve has been used by truckers, taxi drivers, bus drivers and farmers for decades.

Here's the clamp I use.

 

This will be added to the list of future mods for me. Thanks for posting!

 

I can see how this would definitely simplify oil changes, but I'd be reluctant to give up the magnetic oil plug that I've already installed.

 

^^^^^^^^ Just install a strong magnet to the oil filter, preferably a magnetic band or 2... problem solved (unless heat destroys the magnetic capacity). It may also be the such a magnet might not catch much in the whirl of the fast moving oil, but I don't know.

Occasionally open one up to see what the internals look like. If you have shaving, you have serious troubles, otherwise it will likely be miniscule material that your "good" filter (K&N, Mobil1, Bosch) should have caught. Also, the magnetic plugs only pick up certain metals, it'll skip over metals that can't be magnetized, so it may be missing on >80% of the materials flying by (my rough guess).

 

Don't you still need to reach under the car to replace oil filter?

I don't have a lift or a garage space to do oil change, this looks good but now it comes down to oil filter.

 

^^^ Just build an incline using staggered 2X8's. You can use it to raise the car about 6", which gives you enough room to crawl underneath to work on it. The cost of the wood will be offset within 1-2 oil changes.

I use Castrol Edge or Pennzoil Ultra and a K&N filter, and change it every 8K-10 miles. I used to change the filter every 4-5K, but just decided to switch to K&N, which is an excellent filter.

 

it seems code YM4 finally stopped working when I tried it today.

 

i had a fumoto valve installed on my acura TL, due to the car riding low (slightly lower than the G) it cause my oil pan to be ripped entirely off while driving over a manhole. it caused the engine to rock off the mounts and deployed both front airbags, totalling the vehicle.

i am a HUGE fan of the fumoto valve, but i will never use another one because of my experience. you are better off going to home depot and buying the oil change vacuum pump they sell for tractors and stuff. you can suction all the oil from the pan without removing the plug that way.

 

Just got an e-mail from my local dealer.....oil and filter change plus wash and vac....$19.99.

How simple is that?

Mike

 

The valve sits high on our car, IIRC it doesn't clear the large steel brace so it shouldn't get in the way.

 

While I'm not a fan of easy oil valves (intriguing, but they scare me), I'm definitely not a fan of letting anyone touch my car unless it's absolutely necessary. DIY all the way baby.

 

i put one on during my last oil change and removed it because it wasn't all that recessed. maybe during the next change ill try it again but the valve with the nipple protruded a bit to my recollection. maybe i need to saw the nipple off.

 

They now sell a s model witha shorter nipple but you can also by it without one and let it drip drain.