470 oil pan plug thread size

[dccordell]

I'm considering installing the fumoto valve on my oil pan while I still have access to it with the cap off the boat. Mix reviews on using these types of products, but I figure for around $25 it's worth a shot. Doesn't hurt anything if I decide not to use it later. Anyways.. I'm not sure on the thread size/pitch for the plug. MercruiserParts.com has a similiar "kit" for Mercruiser Inboard engines which is listed as being a 3/8" x 18 thread. Does that sound right? Unfortunately, their site doesn't list which specific Mercruiser engines that fits. I would just check the darn bolt itself, but I just filled the motor up with fresh oil before she went back in the boat. The motor is a 1978 model.

Long shot, but maybe somebody knows?

Thanks all..

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 470 oil pan plug thread size

I don't know what the tread size for your engine is. But if you have a thread gage (that most tap&die sets have) you can easily determine it.

Also, why on earth would you want to put a "quick-drain" valve in a boat? you'll still have the problem of getting some sort of container down there to get the oil out and you run the risk of spilling it "all over the place" trying to get the full container out!!


The quick-drain doesn't make anything easier on a boat.....
Just put a a vac pump on the dipstick tube or a drain hose on it to use with the pump.

 

[dccordell]

Re: 470 oil pan plug thread size

The valve I am considering has a hose nipple on it so I could run a piece of hose from the valve through the bilge drain into a drain pan on the ground.
The main reason I would want to do this is because I worry about the sludge that is leftover in the bottom of the oil pan when using a pump through the stick. I know it's not much but after several oil changes it could be a reasonable amount. I searched on here and found other people using them with good results. It may not be any better than using a pump but I like the idea of opening the valve and coming back later to finish instead of pumping inside the boat till it's empty.

Still just a thought at this point...

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 470 oil pan plug thread size

The main reason I would want to do this is because I worry about the sludge that is leftover in the bottom of the oil pan when using a pump through the stick. I know it's not much but after several oil changes it could be a reasonable amount.

I hate to turn this into an oil thread but you worry about something that doesn't happen!

You're using detergent oil and you're changing it at least once per year.

You will not get sludge.

Use the time and money you'll spend doing this to go boating!


Regards,


Rick

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: 470 oil pan plug thread size

470's use 3/8-18 NPT, so the kit you are lookin at is correct...

 

[dccordell]

Re: 470 oil pan plug thread size

HT, I realize what you are saying is most likely correct and I'm worried (very little) about nothing. I guess the main reason I was thinking about getting the valve is because I don't already have the manual oil pump that most use to get the oil out of the dip stick. So I have to buy either the pump or the valve. Any recommendations on a good economical oil pump that I can fit/adapt to the dip stick hose fitting? Seems like either way is at least around $20. Cheapest on iboats seems to be $18 but doesn't look like it has the female hose fitting.

Thanks for the size verification zb.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 470 oil pan plug thread size

Any recommendations on a good economical oil pump that I can fit/adapt to the dip stick hose fitting? Seems like either way is at least around $20. Cheapest on iboats seems to be $18 but doesn't look like it has the female hose fitting.

Well if you want a GOOD pump, get the Moeller pump. They're more money than the "cheap" ones but I have heard that the cheap ones don't last very long...........

You can also use it for other things like sucking the ATF out of your auto-trans etc.

Otherwise, you could get an OEM Mercruiser drain hose that (I think) has an end on it that you can "fish" thru your transom drain. I never liked using a gravity drain through a hose because it's VERY slow. (faster if the oil is hot but still slow)

Using a VAC pump just makes the whole process faster. AND you can hook it up first, pump the thing rapidly for 10-15 times and go over and pull the filter while the vac is sucking out the oil.

 

[dccordell]

Re: 470 oil pan plug thread size

I guess I figured that it would be cheaper for the drain than the pump. I don't know if I will ever have a need for the pump for anything else. I can see it for the trans oil but heck that's a seldom procedure. I got the idea originally from those Mercruiser hoses that you mentioned, that you can fish through the transom drain. But I read (in more than one post) that the hose on those things are too big to fit through the drain hole so it was useless for anything other than having something handy to hookup a pump to.

I don't know which way I'll go with this.. going to do some research on pumps tonight or tomorrow. Thanks for all the good info.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 470 oil pan plug thread size

I guess I figured that it would be cheaper for the drain than the pump.

Well, yes. It would most likely be cheaper.

Just know that they are slow and the aftermarket models usually won't fit through the drain hole.....yes you won't probably get every drop of oil out of the engine, but if you just change the oil when Mercruiser says to do it or more frequently, you'll never get "sludge" (sludge is a term that oil change people use to get you to change your oil too frequently!)

There's nothing wrong with sucking the oil up through the dipstick tube. (that's the way Mercruiser, Volvo, OMC, etc designed them)