ValvoMax Oil Change

740 Views 15 Replies 11 Participants Last post by johnre, 7 h ago

crudzinskas

Discussion Starter · 3 d ago

3

Most people are familiar with Fumoto Valve, but I thought I'd make a post in regards to another option in the market with the ValvoMax product. This option fits both the 2.5 and 2.4L Turbo oil pans without any trouble, as well as many other Subaru models. I personally like this product because the design is very robust having many points of redunancy to reduce the risks of leaking. I haven't heard of any cases of Fumoto valve failures, but my engineering brain really likes this design better. Anyways, it is super simple to install and use and gives you full control of the flow of oil that comes from the pan (obviosuly this isn't important to a lot of people). If the check ball were to fail somehow, it would stay in the closed position. If that were to leak, there is a tight seal on inside the twist on cap. If that were to fail, there is an additional seal around the base of the cap. The cap protrudes maybe 1/2 more than the standard oil pan bolt, so no significant risks of anything hitting it.

I've used this on my Legacy for 7 years now with 0 issues and a lot of super easy oil changes. (My arms are long enough that I don't need to jack up the car!) This is extremely easy to install on the Outback because many people could crawl under without jacking up the car at all.

Not trying to convince anyone that this is a "better" product, but there is very little info/talk about it compared to Fumoto, so I figure I'd bring some attention to it!

First oil change on the '23 Outback. Oil flavor of the day was Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0w-20 - $15 per 5 quarts after rebate.

Some pictures below to show what it looks like installed.

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Reactions: 5

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red cap

· #2 · 3 d ago

crudzinskas said:
Most people are familiar with Fumoto Valve, but I thought I'd make a post in regards to another option in the market with the ValvoMax product. This option fits both the 2.5 and 2.4L Turbo oil pans without any trouble, as well as many other Subaru models. I personally like this product because the design is very robust having many points of redunancy to reduce the risks of leaking. I haven't heard of any cases of Fumoto valve failures, but my engineering brain really likes this design better. Anyways, it is super simple to install and use and gives you full control of the flow of oil that comes from the pan (obviosuly this isn't important to a lot of people). If the check ball were to fail somehow, it would stay in the closed position. If that were to leak, there is a tight seal on inside the twist on cap. If that were to fail, there is an additional seal around the base of the cap. The cap protrudes maybe 1/2 more than the standard oil pan bolt, so no significant risks of anything hitting it.

I've used this on my Legacy for 7 years now with 0 issues and a lot of super easy oil changes. (My arms are long enough that I don't need to jack up the car!) This is extremely easy to install on the Outback because many people could crawl under without jacking up the car at all.

Not trying to convince anyone that this is a "better" product, but there is very little info/talk about it compared to Fumoto, so I figure I'd bring some attention to it!

First oil change on the '23 Outback. Oil flavor of the day was Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0w-20 - $15 per 5 quarts after rebate.

Some pictures below to show what it looks like installed.

Another good option, currently I use the EZ-drain and have had no problems.

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Reactions: 1

Rub

· #3 · 3 d ago

@crudzinskas - I'm a long-time Fumoto user and swear by the product however your post on the ValvoMax is very good and informative.

Reactions: 1

Sniper-Joe

· #4 · 3 d ago

crudzinskas said:
Most people are familiar with Fumoto Valve, but I thought I'd make a post in regards to another option in the market with the ValvoMax product. ...

Curious how long the ValvoMax took to drain the oil for you?

Thanks in advance!

MackDaddy1962

· #5 · 3 d ago

I opted for the ValvoMax setup over Fumoto this time around as well. I've used Fumoto exclusively on the past 4 vehicles, but found this one and wanted to try it. I've yet to do an oil change with it, but the install is painless and quick, no doubt. I'll agree with @crudzinskas I like this design better. Very robust stainless steel design with multiple fail-safe elements built in. Not saying Fumoto is a bad option, as it's not.

Thanks for posting bother, always helps to bring options to light on the forums!

Reactions: 1

crudzinskas

Discussion Starter · #6 · 3 d ago

Sniper-Joe said:
Curious how long the ValvoMax took to drain the oil for you?

Thanks in advance!

On nice warm oil, less than 5 minutes. I normally start by draining the oil, then I work on replacing the filter, and get out my new oil and funnel. By the time that is all done, the oil is normally just about finished draining. I normally just poke around at other things and by the time I'm done it's certainly ready to be filled

Reactions: 3

avk

· #7 · 3 d ago

This valve looks like a clone of the German Stahlbus system (which I looked at but haven't used).

Reactions: 1

Bots

· #8 · 3 d ago

Sniper-Joe said:
Curious how long the ValvoMax took to drain the oil for you?

Thanks in advance!

Just have 1 more cup of coffee

Reactions: 2

bak

· #9 · 3 d ago (Edited)

Call me old-fashioned but I stick to the tried-and-true simplicity of a drain bolt. The probability of failure is magnitudes smaller than anything mechanical it might be replaced with.

Reactions: 2

johnre

· #10 · 2 d ago

avk said:
This valve looks like a clone of the German Stahlbus system (which I looked at but haven't used).

It does appear to be a clone, however it is a US-based company (Texas), and they manufacture them in the USA, per their website.

That being said, it costs almost as much as a Stahlbus, at least for the size that fits my 2008.

Reactions: 1

Cerulean Obsidian

· #11 · 2 d ago

Doesn't this require an adapter to get it to drain? I assume the flow is controlled by how tightly you thread the adapter?

I'd be worried about losing the adapter and not being able to drain the oil.

RobertD

· #12 · 2 d ago

Cerulean Obsidian said:
Doesn't this require an adapter to get it to drain? I assume the flow is controlled by how tightly you thread the adapter?

I'd be worried about losing the adapter and not being able to drain the oil.

From what I see it looks like you can just unscrew the ValvoMax like a drain plug if the adapter is lost.

Reactions: 3

MackDaddy1962

· #13 · 2 d ago

Cerulean Obsidian said:
Doesn't this require an adapter to get it to drain? I assume the flow is controlled by how tightly you thread the adapter?

I'd be worried about losing the adapter and not being able to drain the oil.

Yes it does, and you are correct. You vary the flow by how tight you screw on the adapter & hose. And as @RobertD stated above, if ya loose / forget it when doing your service just unscrew the whole enchilada like a regular drain plug. No worries. I bought 2 adapter / hose assemblies just in case.

johnre

· #14 · 1 d ago

Cerulean Obsidian said:
Doesn't this require an adapter to get it to drain? .... I'd be worried about losing the adapter and not being able to drain the oil.

MackDaddy1962 said:
Yes it does, and you are correct. You vary the flow by how tight you screw on the adapter & hose. And as @RobertD stated above, if ya loose / forget it when doing your service just unscrew the whole enchilada like a regular drain plug. No worries. I bought 2 adapter / hose assemblies just in case.

And so it starts .....
:popcorn:

:popcorn:

Reactions: 1

Cerulean Obsidian

· #15 · 15 h ago

Yes, I understand that you can unscrew the whole thing like a normal drain plug. But with my Fumoto I often do oil changes without any tools, so I can see myself getting stuck in a situation where now I need to go figure out and find what tools I need to remove the whole thing.

If it works for y'all, so be it. I just wanted to make sure people were aware it required an extra part to keep track of.

Reactions: 1

johnre

· #16 · 7 h ago

Cerulean Obsidian said:
I just wanted to make sure people were aware it required an extra part to keep track of.

I would think a 22 mm wrench would be a much easier thing to find in a pinch than the proper drain hose apparatus. And if that's the case, be done with the valve apparatus and go back to the drain plug.

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