I'm thinking of getting one of those oil drain valves like those described on the FAQs by Fumoto Engineering

http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/EngineLubrication.htm#Oil_Drain_Valves

Couple of questions for my fellow brickboard members:

Do any of the Fram brand oil drain valves work on B21F/B230F engines? I can't find a compatibility for Volvos on their drain valves.

Are there any other brands that are a little more reasonably priced?

Any positive or negative experiences? I'm really afraid to install it and have it hang 1/2"-1" below the oil pan. Knowing my luck, I'll hit something that will shear the oil drain valve off.

Thanks in advance!

On a car with the drain bolt horizontal on the back of the oil pan, or with a metal skid plate protecting the drain bolt, a drain valve may be worthwhile (indeed a drain valve with a hose may be very useful if you have a metal skid plate covering the drain bolt so that you would otherwise have to remove the skid plate to get to it).

But if the drain valve would just stick down in the path of any road debris without any protection, it does not seem like a good idea.

Knowing my luck, I'll hit something that will shear the oil drain valve off.

In light of how darn easy it is just to unscrew the stock drain bolt for oil changes, this very real possibility puts these drain valves in the "not only no, but hell no" category for me. I wouldn't recommend them to anybody.

I used to have an OEM oil temp gauge on my `83 245. The sensor was the drain plug that had a wire lead going to it. It wasn't uncommon for the smallest piece of road debris to knock the sensor wire off. It light of that, I would avoid any type of "quick drain" valve on these cars. The oil pan just sits too low.
Have you considered one of the magnetic drain plugs? Believe it or not, they can make oil changes easier. When I remove mine, I quickly slide it over and let the magnet stick to the pan. It saves me the trouble of fishing it out of my waste oil container. Just a thought. :)