So after doing a couple of oil changes on my 2014 Q7 and getting tired really fast of having the oil run down all over the frame and cross member, I decided to buy a Fumoto drain valve. They give you 5 options for my application. I wanted one that I could put a hose onto it so I have full control on where it is draining. I bought the F316L

So did my oil change today and went to install the new drain. Found out they do not fit right. The oil drain hole in the pan is recessed and when screwing in the plug the barrel where the valve opening and closing stem is starts to hit the oil pan before you can get the valve tight into the oil pan. There fore it leaks because you can not get it tight.

I ended up taking a large flat washer and drilled the hole in it a little larger to fit over the treaded part of the drain. Made another gasket so I would have a gasket on both sides of the washer. I also used my grinder and ground down the the barrel of the closing and opening valve just on the side that goes up against the oil pan just to gain a couple of more mm. I then installed the valve and was able to get it tight without any more problems,

Now these are suppose to fit according to there web site, I have no idea why they wouldn't. But if anyone else decides to purchase the one I did, expect to do some additional work to get it to seal. The one good thing about it, is there is plenty of treads on it that it has room for the washer I used as a spacer.


Bruce

 

Not sure what engine you have but my TDI takes this one.

 

Yes that is one of the options Fumoto gives you. I have a 2014 Q7 3.0 . When you go to the Fumto web site and fill the details in on what you own it sends you to a page on what is available for your vehicle. it gave me 5 choices.

T-106, F106N, F106S, F106SX, F316L

https://www.fumotousa.com/cars-picku...014-q7-3-0l-v6


I picked the one I did because you could attach a hose to it to help drain it. The one you bought did not give me that option so thats why I did not buy that one. I just find it strange that they give you these other options and the one I ordered had to be modified in order to work.

Bruce

 

I put the Fumoto F106N on my 3.0 gas, fit fine and didn't leak. It was totaled before I could do a change with it though.

 

I bought an 8.5 liter oil vacuum pump from Harbor Freight, on sale, and picked up the schwaben oil dipstick tube kit specific for German cars. I pump the vacuum canister, and all the oil cleanly goes into it from the dipstick tube/access point. The oil is contained securely for transport or pouring back into the bottles if I'm returning them to FCP Euro for a refund. What's the point of doing it the hard way?

 

I like to get the belly pans off and poke around since the service is every 10k, things can change quite a bit between inspections..... but I also use my dads lift

Doing all the drive line fluids on the last Q7.

 

I use the lift bays at the military post automotive skills shop for big jobs that are easier when elevated, but I still poke my head in from ground level regularly with a strong flashlight to look for the 'normal' leak spots, etc., which are readily viewable from certain location & angles, even with the splash guards in place. If I need to do an oil flush, I'll do the bottom-change to get a nice, long, gravity-drain of all the 'nasty' removed by the flush product. Not everyone has access to a lift bay, or even a nice 3 ton racing-style jack to get this puppy up in the air a bit higher than usual.

If you don't have the tools or access to them, just be smart about how you maintain your car and combine services where they overlap or it makes sense to do them at the same time; like the driveline fluids change & checking the undercarriage for any issues, the driveshaft bearing for failure, corrosion issues, etc., etc. A strong set of Rhino ramps offers enough extra ground clearance for doing the driveline maintenance, or you can just park one end on a high curb and/or set the air susp to Lift mode, if you have that feature. Where there's a will, there's a way...just be safe about it.