Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

[Caveman Charlie]

On my 73 Silverline boat with 140 mercruiser I can't figure out how to drain the old engine oil. (I just purchesed the boat last fall.) There is no easy to see, or feel, drain plug. There may be one on the back of the pan but, there is no way to reach it. The previous owner had the boat serviced somewhere. How did they change the oil? Do the service departments have a way to suck the oil out through the dipstick tube? I've heard of this being done but, never have seen it. How do you guys change your oil if you can't reach the drain plug?

Thanks, Caveman Charlie

 

[oops!]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

there is a tool that goes thru the bilge water drain...its a hose...connected to a funnel.....the funnel catches the oil....drains thru the tube.....

but ya gotta be an octopus to work it on some boats.....

 

[reeldutch]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

they run the motor thill its nice and warm so the oil is thin and than they hook up a suckup through the dipstick.
make sure you put as much oil in as you take out.
dont over fill it.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

i use something like this.

http://www.iboats.com/Moeller_Fluid....246638--list_time.1202517106--view_id.341308

i got one made by tempo though..... works good thru the dipstick tube.....

 

[wvit1001]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

I bought an electric pump from NAPA that has alligator clips that attach to the battery. Once the oil is warm it sucks the oil up through the dipstick with no problem. I got it a couple years ago but I think it was about $30.

 

[Coors]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

On my 5.7, an electric pump ($30) would not get it all out the dipstick tube.
A$14 walmart hand pump sucked it dry, just warm the oil up first.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

I have a 73 SeaSwirl with a 3.0, the plug is in the middle back of the sump. To drain the oil I take 2 big leaf bags and double them up, then feed one side of the bag around the bottom of the pan to straddle the pan with the bags. If the plug is stuck tight you might have interlock another wrench on the end plug's wrench kind of a cheater bar. Pop the plug, let it drain, reinstall plug and then carefully pull the bags out of the bilge. Pretty quick and simple as long as you don't rip open the bags.

Of course the suction tube or drain tube might be easier, but it's the way I've always done it.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

its just to easy to suck it out the dipstick, as designed.

 

[cbear34]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

Definitely make sure the engine is warm and suck it out through the dipstick. I use a hand pump and it works fine. Just takes a little time.

 

[gstanton]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

I use the (Moeller) oil bouy just like ziggy. Warm the engine and suck it out of the dipstick tube. It comes with an assortment of tubes that will fit down the dipstick tube, but my dipstick tube has a screw-on fitting that matches one of the tubes. I usually have to stop and dump the oil bouy once and then finish, since it holds 4 qts. and I hold 5/6. Once you pump the oil bouy a few times to get the vacumn, it continues to suck the oil. You'll hear it gurgle when its done. West Marine has it for ~ 65.00. Also figure a six pack if it's a really nice day.

 

[magster65]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

its just to easy to suck it out the dipstick, as designed.

Yeah... what he said.

 

[hazwild]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

Mine has a hose i had to route out though the drain plug hole.

 

[flabum]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

Those older motors did not have any easy way to get the oil out. You can get a kit that has a hos that hooks up to the bottom of the oil pan to make oil changes easier and MORE COMPLETE. The kit will come with a hose and the necessary fittings to install. You will, however, have to get all the oil out the hard way to install this kit. If it is on a trailer, the mean, nasty way is to put the bow of the boat way up and remove the boat drain plug and put a 2 gallon container under the drain, then go inside the boat and pull the engine drain plug. After the kit is installed, clean the bilge real well with Dawn and never have to deal with a mess or fight to get the oil out.

 

[flabum]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

Mine has a hose i had to route out though the drain plug hole.

Merc has a service bullitien on that...... pretty funny actually. seems that the boat drain plug is hooked to that hose that drains the engine oil. A lot of people have the habit of pulling the drain plug at the ramp and don't re-install it for the trip home. Well, since that drain plug is haging on the back of the boat by the oil drain hose, two problems became quite a proble. 1) the drain plug would whip around behind the boat while trailering it and beat the crap out oft the drive and 2) Sometimes the hose would break from problem #1 and dump oil all over the road all the way to the owners' house.

The service bullitien reccomends disconnecting the hose from the boat drain plug and securing the hose inside the boat .

 

[ziggy]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

its just to easy to suck it out the dipstick

i don't get what folks don't understand...... get an oil sucker..... suck it out the dip stick tube.... clean, easy, no mess, ya don't even need a driver........... pay up and be hip......

 

[watermellonI]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

I think it s the "pay up" part zig.

 

[Coors]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

lol; just suck it out of the dipstick, sounds wierd, but it works.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

I'm using the Moeller oil sucker someone mentioned.

About 15 pumps on the handle is about all it takes hot or cold. It just takes a little longer when it's cold but it still works just great. When it starts sucking air you know it's done!

It gets no easier.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Changing engine oil, not as easy as it sounds.

myself
I use a product called the slurrper.
its rather pricey,about 400 bucks.
but I can pre charge it at the shop and take it anywhere in the world and suck out 12 qts.
its nice to leave it on the dock and change engine oils without making any mess on the deck.
but it also works on gear cases and clutch's.