Don wrote:

I know that it is best to use the drain plug, but there are times I
hate crawling on the floor or sometimes it rains or in the winter it
is very cold.

I saw at sears an air operated oil extractor that has a ridgid
dipstick tube. It can also remove transmission fluid without taking
off the pan.

Would the life of a vehicle be shortened by using this method? By the
way the item I looked at was made by Mity-Vac and held 8.8 liters. You
use it with your air compressor.
you not gonna get any metal parts in the oil that fell to the bottom....
at least when you take out the drain plug you have a chance to get out
all the trash as it going to settle to the bottom.....
mityvac makes some good products, but that is one that i would not want
from any manufacturer.....