First Time Mercruiser Oil Change - My Experience

[NatedoggAZ]

OK - first time oil change - wanted to attempt myself instead of paying a few hundred for someone else to do it.
Would I do again - yes

1988 Mercruiser 4.3L 175HP Model 443S100AR 262 Cubic Disp.

I let the engine run for about 10-15 minutes and let the temp get up to 175 I believe on the gauge.

1. Took off the filler cap
2. Took out the dipstick
3. Attached the Quicksilver pump - shown below
4. Pumped until no more oil came out of the hose.. it took a while - maybe 15-20 minutes...it only came out a little at a time - I had a 10-quart flat oil drain pan I got from Walmart for about $9 which worked perfect
5. Put the dipstick back in to verify no oil on dipstick
6. Wrenched off the oil filter - now, this was not an easy task. I do not have a remote filter.. I basically removed this blindly. I had to reach WAY under the engine from the front. The filter was on the port side of the engine and underneath. I could not get to it from the side because of the seats there. If you have short arms - or thick arms, you are not going to be able to get to it. My arms happen to be just the right size, but i may have a little rash from the carpet. Without the oil cap wrench - there was no way it was coming of - it was on so tight, it was actually hard even using the wrench.
7. Added 3 1/2 quarts Quicksilver 25W-40 oil
8. Checked dipstick - it showed oil near the fill mark
9. Started engine - let run for about 3 minutes
10. Checked dipstick again - very little oil was registering
11. Added the rest of the 4-quart container - about 1/2 quart
12. Checked dipstick again - was close to the full mark

OH - when removing the oil filter - I got a big ziploc bag after I broke it loose. I grabbed the oil filter from the bottom of the bag and then twisted the filter the rest of the way off. A lot of oil still came out - not to mention all the oil still in the filter. It saved me from having to clean up a big mess!!!

I will check it again next weekend when I finish up my hydraulic overhaul - will probably need to add another 1/2 quart - because I believe the full capacity on that engine is 4 1/2 quarts...


Tools used:

Oil filter cap wrench type B to remove Quicksilver Oil filter

There was NO WAY I would have been able to remove the filter without this wrench.

Not a nice place to put the dipstick port - but I was able to get it to work without removing the mercathode. Had to bend the tube down a tiny bit in order to screw the pump on.

Pump used:

Quicksilver 802889Q 1 Oil Drain Pump

Took about 15-20 minutes to pump out the oil from the dipstick port.

Old Oil Filter - Mercruiser / Quicksilver: 35-883702Q

New Filter - WIX 51036

Difference - it is a little longer than the Mercruiser / Quicksilver filter by maybe an inch or 2.

-Nathan

 

[wellcraft-classic210]

Nice write up and work --

Its goes to show even a " simple oil change " is not simple.

Surprised we do not see some boat mechanics on the Dr Phil show

 

[Lou C]

That pump may be why it took so long. A good vacuum pump will work better like the Topsider. I have been using one on my '88 OMC 4.3 and fabbed up an adapter for the male garden hose threads on the top of the dipstick tube. With this, it sucks out all the oil in less than 5 min. I use a Merc filter or Sierra, whichever is available and use the cap wrench as you did....

 

[NatedoggAZ]

That topsider looks like a good idea for sure!

I hope I am done changing the oil for this season though!! =)

Will have to look for it probably around this same time next year - looks to be about $45 - $55.

I already spent about $40 on that quicksilver one - urgh...

ND

 

[Grub54891]

I use this, vacuum and pressure, more pricey but works real well. Made by mighty-vac.

 

[DouglasW]

Like the OP, I used the standard manual Quicksilver pump on my 5.7 and it went quickly, maybe 2-3 minutes. Now, the pump was very hot to handle after the heated oil came up so I had to use gloves to hold it.

 

[NatedoggAZ]

Wow - maybe I just got a bad pump... or could not make a tight enough seal due to where the dipstick port is....

 

[Bayou Dave]

Aren't there threads on the dipstick port to attach the pump to?

 

[gapple12]

FYI, rub some fresh oil on that oil filter rubber gasket when putting the new one on. The previous owner of my boat did not do this and the boat has been sitting for 2 years. You dont want to be dealing with this situation in my picture.

 

[Lightwin 3]

Anything but a Wix filter or Fram (Orange can of death). Have you ever cut one apart and compared it to: MerCruiser/Volvo/AC Delco/Motorcraft, even NAPA? You won't like what you see.

Just saying from having done so.

 

[NatedoggAZ]

@ DRS4164 - There are threads on the dipstick port - It was a little difficult to thread it on because of the location - but I was able to turn it a bit... I didn't use a wrench or anything to tighten it - just hand tightened the pump on the dipstick what I could...

@ gapple12 - Oh ya - I have been changing my oil for my cars for a while now - definitely put some new oil on the filter gasket! ...man... that's CRAZY what you are dealing with! Luckily you may have it easier with that remote filter! - I can't imagine what it may be like otherwise!

@ Lightwin 3 - I have seen and read that the WIX filters and the NAPA Gold filters are identical. To get the NAPA equivalent for a WIX - you just apparently drop the first number (WIX 51036 to NAPA 1036)
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/FIL1036

-ND

 

[porscheguy]

Ive got the the hose that comes off the oil pan and feeds through the drain plug hole in the hull. It actually has a small chain that connects to the boat drain plug so I don’t have to feed it through each time.

 

[zul]

Wix way better than Fram. I thought he Wix internals looked pretty good.

Only problem with that black can, will I ever find it upon my next oil change?! Camo black, HA!

 

[Lightwin 3]

@ Lightwin 3 - I have seen and read that the WIX filters and the NAPA Gold filters are identical. To get the NAPA equivalent for a WIX - you just apparently drop the first number (WIX 51036 to NAPA 1036)
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/FIL1036

-ND[/QUOTE]

Read and SEEN are two different things. Half of what you read on the internet is true. MAYBE half.

 

[Lightwin 3]

@ Lightwin 3 - I have seen and read that the WIX filters and the NAPA Gold filters are identical. To get the NAPA equivalent for a WIX - you just apparently drop the first number (WIX 51036 to NAPA 1036)
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/FIL1036

-ND

Read and SEEN are two different things. That's why I list NAPA LAST> Half of what you read on the internet is true. MAYBE half.

OEMs have a very vested interest in keeping their product alive.

[/QUOTE]

 

[NatedoggAZ]

You do realize that Quicksilver does not make their own filters right - they are farmed out to the lowest bidder - whatever manufacturer that is.... Most likely WIX or maybe even Champion, FRAM, Puralator...or even Santa and his Elves - and it probably changes from year to year...... I'm not trying to get into a debate over oil filters - frankly I really don't care ,.... REGARDLESS of what I READ or SEE.

Comes down to personal preference and cost if you are cost conscious...

I have a 30 year old boat - so WHATEVER filter I choose is way better than what was available at that time due to changes in technology and manufacturing standards!

My point was that NAPA Gold and WIX are the same thing - NAPA Gold filters are made by WIX.

Of course the manufacturer wants you to buy their brand... but buying an automotive brand is just as fine

 

[Lightwin 3]

It doesn't matter who manufactures them, it's to what Spec's they're manufactured to.

As an example, there are only two lead/acid battery makers in the US. Exide and Johnson Controls. Spec's for different brands vary widely.

Anyway, Very nice write up on your procedure and experience.

 

[bruceb58]

Wix are great filters and the are identical to the Napa ones. They even share the same part number.

I only use Wix on everything I own.

 

[bruceb58]

As an example, there are only two lead/acid battery makers in the US. Exide and Johnson Controls. Spec's for different brands vary widely

LOL Again not true. Trojan, Deka, Enersys(who makes Oddysey among others)...

 

[Leardriver]

I bought a $29 shop vac that I use only for slurping oil, brake fluid, and other gooey stuff. I keep it stored in a hefty bag to keep the drips and leakage under control. Stick a plastic tube down the oil hole, duct tape to the vacuum end to reduce and mate the fitting size, and slurp away. None of this pumping business.