Changing Engine Oil?

[jstamatov]

Probably a dumb question but .....,<br /><br />I want to change the oil in my OMC 4.3 (1987), and realize it's not as simple as changing in my car. I can't seem to find the drain plug, but is that the ticket. But then doesn't that leave a mess in the bilge?<br /><br />Or should i buy one of those dipstick pumps, but doesn't that leave the sludge/heavy stuff forever in the bottom of the pan?<br /><br />Please advise as to best technique - thanks

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Changing Engine Oil?

my 3.0 cobra doesn't have the drain plug either. there is a hand pump u can buy to suck out the oil. one end has a garden hose fitting that screws into the suction tube on the engine. i just pump the oil into a gallon jug. make sure the oil is warm, it's a lot easier to pump out the oil if it is. don't wase your $$$$ on those 12 volt pumps that run off your battery. they ain't worth $.02.

 

[RC]

Re: Changing Engine Oil?

I use the topsider vacuum pump. It doesn't work as quick as it says but it gets out the old oil and that's what counts.

 

[1976_SkiTique]

Re: Changing Engine Oil?

I'm not too familiar with the terms, but I'm probably using the same thing as DeltaR. There is a pump (with a couple of hoses) you can hook up to a drill, and it makes a vacumn. This setup has worked very well for me. You can suck up pretty much all of the oil and the sludge.

 

[MrBill]

Re: Changing Engine Oil?

I have always used a manual suction pump, used properly it works well and allows you to neatly extract oil and pump it into a one gallon milk jug (or two) and dispose of properly. Don't stick any of the plastic pipes down the dipstick tube unless you have to. Most Mercruiser tubes (and others) have a threaded fitting at the top...attach to that and the dipstick tube serves as your suction tube...and you'll get more of the used oil out too. From what I've seen, only one in ten knows what that threaded top of the dipstick tube is for...

 

[Coolerman]

Re: Changing Engine Oil?

I use a $3.49 plastic pump I got at a parts house. It is actually for mounting on a gallon jug to pump oil INTO a trans or differential. It came with a hose that just fits the inside diameter of the dip tube. It's a little slow but works great...<br />Yes you are going to leave a little sludge in the bottom of the pan but with todays high detergent oils and the fact that most of us change the oil more often that needed that little bit of sludge will not harm the engine in any way...

 

[chris in va]

Re: Changing Engine Oil?

Since we're on this subject, my 302's dipstick tube makes a couple hard 90 degree turns near the bottom. I can't seem to get all the oil out due to this! What does everyone do about it?

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: Changing Engine Oil?

Read the "really stupid emergency" entry on this post. I would rather have a mess in the bilge than have plastic tubing stuck in the engine oil pan!

 

[Lark40]

Re: Changing Engine Oil?

You can also buy a Jabsco oil drain kit that attaches to the bottom of the dipstick fitting.<br /><br />Bought one last year. About $50, but makes it easy to drain the oil by hose out through the transom drain hole. Of course, if the boat is in the water, the other methods must be used.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Changing Engine Oil?

I've got a fitting screwed into the drain hole of my oil pan... It has a hose about 2' long, with a cap on the end of it... You can stick the hose out thruogh the transom drain hole if the boat is on the trailer, Or attach a pump to it,+ get All the oil + Sludge out Every time......<br />Of course I've got a Merc... They Do have drain plugs....