Dumb question on oil filter removal

[Dirty Dawg]

Wll I feel dumb asking but I cannot seem to get the oil filter off my 2000 merc 5.0L alpha drive. It is buried, no remote absolutely terrrible design and difficult to reach and to make things worse, there is a bracket behind it that limits what you can use. I have a decent oil wrench but it will not move. The only way to see it is thru a mirror and I think the filter is starting to collapse. Any thoughts need help!


Ike

 

[Bondo]

Re: Dumb question on oil filter removal

Ayuh,...

I'd Guess that you'll probably have to disassemble whatever is in your way to get to what you're working on....

That's how most boats are done....

 

[JustJason]

Re: Dumb question on oil filter removal

collapsed oil filters are nothing.... that's what happens when people don't change their oil, don't grease the seal, and think they need every ounce of muscle in their body when they tighten it......
It gets messy, But you can try punching through it with a screw driver and try to turn it that way.
It gets real fun though when you decide to punch through it with a screw driver, spin it all the way around, and tear the oil filter in half. I've had that happen a few times as well.
If your planning on keeping the boat you may want to think about getting an oil filter relocation kit. It makes things a lot easier in the future.
In any event... its still righty tighty - lefty loosey..... but it's upside down. Make sure your trying to turn it the right way.

 

[Dirty Dawg]

Re: Dumb question on oil filter removal

Sadly its the engine compartment that is mostly in the way. The bracket prevents any other wrench other than the slip on kind. This happened once before on my Harley. I had the oil and filter done at a shop because some oil lines were geting changed out as well. Next season I could not get the filter out. I literally had to destroy the filter. They had placed some kind of antivibration material on the threads, probably the wrong kind.

Could that be the situation here? Is it a common practice with marine engines? Any other thoughts why the filter is on so tight? Thanks Ike

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Dumb question on oil filter removal

They make a oil wrench that goes over the end of the can and when you turn it tightens.

Works only one way off.

 

[Backyardhockey]

Re: Dumb question on oil filter removal

They make a oil wrench that goes over the end of the can and when you turn it tightens.

Works only one way off.

Yep. And you use a racket. Helps a ton. Also, get the short filter. And one of those bilge diapers for the spills.

 

[Dirty Dawg]

Re: Dumb question on oil filter removal

Thanks all, gave up for the day. A 10 minute job has turned into a few hours.
Not only is it in a bad spot and there is a bracket of some kind next to it, there also is some kind of electrical component right on top of it. I am not sure on of those end wrench types will have the clearance. Bought a three pronged type but too awkward to use.

The area is so tight and deep into the bilge that I am afraid if I punch the filter it will be impossible to get off if it collapses.

CpatJason, I am new to boating and maybe missing something. I bought the boat used and good deal,so I cannot complain. but if I had bought it new, at full price, I would be pissed. How much more does a remote filter and a oil drain cost a company. It would make this a hell of a lot easier, more likely to get serviced. I don't get it.
First time changing the oil and next project will be a remote oil filter and drain. Thats if I get this one off.

Ike

 

[JustJason]

Re: Dumb question on oil filter removal

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=TRD-1122&view=32&N=700+-149424


something like that will work fine. Just make sure you have an idea of where you want to put it so you don't get hoses that are to short.
And have a plan on mounting it before you start the job.

Are you trying to drain the oil out of the oil pan????? You should be sucking it up through the dipstick with a pump.

 

[Dirty Dawg]

Re: Dumb question on oil filter removal

CaptJason. Thanks for the info. Did not remove the oil by way of the pan, went thru the dipstick. Messy and I wonder if you get all the oil that way?

Is that oil remote as simple as removing the filter and placing that one chrome ection that the hoses then attach a reroute. No unbolting of anything by the oil filter pickup?

Is it motor specific or just have to match the filter size?

Thansk Ike

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Dumb question on oil filter removal

My lowly 140 hp 3.0 has the can right up front. Can't be easier.

Guys want MORE power got to take the good with the bad.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Dumb question on oil filter removal

One boat i used to have it was easier to take the seats and half the engine compartment out to do an oil change.No other way to reach the filter.
Boat designers don't care..

 

[Dirty Dawg]

Re: Dumb question on oil filter removal

Gary there is a small wall about 10 in high, that may make it easier. I am tempted to take it off, but it has 10+ screws and some electrical components bolted to it so it makes me nervous.
The bottom line is that the engine sits down into a "channel" in the engine compartment, for the lower section with solid fiberglass flooring coming up about 1 foot from the engine. Just enough room to get your hand down there, but not enough to reach and get some muscle behind the wrench. Tomorrow is a new day, hopefully i will get some strength to turn the wrench!!

Gary why don't they care???

Ike

 

[Lou C]

Re: Dumb question on oil filter removal

I did it the same way as Gary, I slid the rear seats foward and move the battery on that side backward and then can get in there. It'd be nice to have a remote oil filter mount!

 

[Dirty Dawg]

Re: Dumb question on oil filter removal

Update, Filter off finally. I took the small wall off, it gave me slightly better access and I punctured the filter with a screw driver. That gave me a nice handle that would not slip. It started to turn pretty quickly. I had to puncture it a few times as it spun around. I was nervous that it would start stripping thru the filter but it did not.

Thanks again for all the suggestions!!!!!

P.S.: Thank goodness I read the forum and everyone suggestions. I am a rookie, first boat , first season. I took the drains out water drained out of all of them and stuck my coat hanger up there but nothing else came out. The final one was difficult to get off, and when it finally did no water drained out. I was about to reassemble when at the last second I remembered the coat hanger. Well stuck it in there anad a gallon of water came out . The passageway was blocked by some blackess scale, sand??? I have got to remember those basics!!! Will not forget that again!!

Ike

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: Dumb question on oil filter removal

Glad you got it out. I had that probblem on my previous boat, with a Mercruiser 5.7. The used engine I bought for my present boat, a 5.0, has a remote filter. If it didn't I would put one on. Some remote filter kits require that you remove the filter mounting plate, held on with two bolts, and install a new plate to which the hoses connect. You will probably have to remove that short wall again to get at it. My remote filter is mounted on the port riser, Makes life much easier, Just remember to put a little oil on the filter seal before you screw it on; and don't over-tighten it. Oh, and I change oil through the dipstick with a manual suction tank which holds 6 quarts of oil. Fairly easy to do when you warm the engine to loosen the oil. Good luck. Hy