Best method for changing the oil

[Flyin1500]

Howdy!

I was wondering what y'all use for changing the oil in your sterndrive. I bought one of them cheap electric pumps and it didn't work. I bought the drill pump...didn't work. I spent the money and bought the oil drain plug with the hose that goes out the bilge hole. It was a great idea, but the bilge hole is too small. So as of now I am resigned to putting a drain pan in the bilge..and then using a cup to bail it into an oil container. Very messy. So what do you use when you change your oil?

 

[bigdaddypt]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

I've drained it into the bilge and had a drain plug outside of the boat to collect the oil. After it all drains out, I tip the boat as far back as it can to drain as much as possible and go in there with a rag to clean it up.

Ideally, I want to drain it into a funnel with a house going through the drain hole so it doesn't make a mess of the bilge.

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

i use two trash bags and the pan plug, works the best on my boat

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

Mega-dollar professional oil changers work very well. Wal-Mart drill pumps NOT!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

I was wondering what y'all use for changing the oil in your sterndrive.

Well, which oil are you talking about? The oil in the STERNDRIVE or the oil in the engine?


If you're talking about the oil in the sterndrive then remove the upper and bottom plugs and let it drain out overnight!


If you're talking about the crankcase oil, use a vacuum type pump like this one:

When I did mine, I just pumped it about 15 times and went about my business. after about 5 min or so it removes the oil....hot or cold!



Regards,


Rick

 

[Flyin1500]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

Well, which oil are you talking about? The oil in the STERNDRIVE or the oil in the engine?

Rick

Sorry, the engine oil.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

I spent the money and bought the oil drain plug with the hose that goes out the bilge hole. It was a great idea, but the bilge hole is too small.

I've installed a few of these - and I like them.

I did have one that was a tight fit through the bilge drain... but a little filing was all it needed. You might try that if it is close.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

I have one of the pan-drain hoses installed too, but I clamped the end of it up on my port riser. Then I just hook up the vacuum pump and pump out the oil thru the hose........

That way I don't have to stand on my head (TWICE) trying to "fish" the hose thru the transom drain and then pull it back thru later....... or reach in there and handle anything greasy and oily!!

 

[boat1010]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

I have always used a drill suction pump. Works great for me. Don't remember where I bought it but it works fine.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

That way I don't have to stand on my head (TWICE) trying to "fish" the hose thru the transom drain and then pull it back thru later

My oil drain hose is attached to the boat bilge drain plug with a piece of stainless cable. When the bilge drain plug is unscrewed it hangs by the cable 3 or 4 inches below the hole, keeps me from losing it!

To drain the engine oil, I just pull the cable and the oil drain hose comes out. Just shove it back in when the oil is drained.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

My oil drain hose is attached to the boat bilge drain plug with a piece of stainless cable. When the bilge drain plug is unscrewed it hangs by the cable 3 or 4 inches below the hole, keeps me from losing it!

To drain the engine oil, I just pull the cable and the oil drain hose comes out. Just shove it back in when the oil is drained.

That is the same setup that my 195 came with. Works great, just pull the hose out through the drain, remove the plug and let the hose drip into a bucket for an hour or so while you do something else.

 

[Maxumum]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

The drain hose out the rear plug hole is certainly best if your boat is so equipped but this has only been in use a few years. Older boats won't have it but you do have a garden hose male connection at the top of the dipstick pipe. I use a manual suction pump ($7 at Princess Auto) attached to this connection and suck out the oil. Warm up the engine first so if flows easier.

 

[JES233]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

I bought a pump the goes on the dip-stick on a Mercruiser.Pumped out the motor,didn't look like enough oil.Only got 3 qts.Pulled the plug and drained the rest into the bilge and out the hull drain.Then cleaned up the mess.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

i use two trash bags and the pan plug, works the best on my boat

That sounds like a major pain in the butt. I would do it that way one more time and replace the plug with the drain hose as others are using. What happens when you spill your garbage bag all over the boat?

 

[hoot]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

i used the double garbage bag trick, but 1 snag on a point made me change my mind. the oil in the bilge is really messy. with the drain plug adapter, i would think that lowes or HD would have a fitting and hose to get thru the hull drain plug.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

My oil drain hose is attached to the boat bilge drain plug with a piece of stainless cable. When the bilge drain plug is unscrewed it hangs by the cable 3 or 4 inches below the hole, keeps me from losing it!

That's the style that comes standard on the newer Mercruiser engines I believe. I bought a complete bobtail engine for my boat from Mercruiser back in 2003 - a 5.7 engine. It came with the oil drain hose and brass bilge plug on the end connected by a cable. I loved it because I never lost nor forgot my bilge plug.

i would think that lowes or HD would have a fitting and hose to get thru the hull drain plug.

No need to go to Lowes or anywhere to cobble together some sort of hose and fittings. You can buy the kits from several vendors. Probably even here on Iboats. Looks like this:

 

[danf1000]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

stop by the parts store and get one of those little kits with clear hose and a pump bulb. your finger is the check valve. buy one that either fits all the way down that dipstick tube, or gets stuck within a few inches. either way, you will be able to create suction when you get the siphon effect going. Push the flow end through the transom and into a milk gallon. Start siphon. Go to lunch.

$4.59

dun

 

[ken_23434]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

My local dealer said that Mercruiser stopped using the drain hose through the transom plug a couple years ago.

Apparently, too many people had issues with the drain plug getting clogged by debris (leaves pine needs etc...) getting caught up one the hose/stainless steel wire though the transom hole, and then the boat flooding when it rained... resulting in people getting trashed starters etc...

But still, I wish I had one.

 

[John_S]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

If you're talking about the crankcase oil, use a vacuum type pump like this one:

When I did mine, I just pumped it about 15 times and went about my business. after about 5 min or so it removes the oil....hot or cold!

I use the same pump, no problems. My only wish is that it would hold one additional quart, so I wouldn't have to do two passes to get all the oil from my 5.7L.

 

[Jeepster04]

Re: Best method for changing the oil

Well, which oil are you talking about? The oil in the STERNDRIVE or the oil in the engine?


If you're talking about the oil in the sterndrive then remove the upper and bottom plugs and let it drain out overnight!


If you're talking about the crankcase oil, use a vacuum type pump like this one:

When I did mine, I just pumped it about 15 times and went about my business. after about 5 min or so it removes the oil....hot or cold!



Regards,


Rick

I use the Moeller unit that looks just like that. Very happy with that unit, not a better way to change the oil. I always make sure I get 5 quarts out of the engine if it takes 5 quarts. Never had trouble getting the amount out of the engine that it takes by sucking it out of the dipstick. Works great and there is pretty much no mess. Can also suck the old oil right out of the oil filter when you pull it off so you can throw it right away.