fuel /water separator installation

[Don S]

Re: fuel /water separator installation

If you have burned oil in a new 3.0L Alpha drive, there is a problem.<br />If you have had overheat problems, that's a different story, but if no overheats, and burned oil, there is something wrong with the drive.<br />No other Mercruiser dealers in your area???

 

[ron7000]

Re: fuel /water separator installation

I have a 3.0L in a 2002 Bayliner.<br /><br />I don't know how the Sea Ray is setup to accomodate the 3.0L, but mine is pretty nice. The motor sits above the floor and the engine cover removes completely. I installed the fuel/water sep. myself. Hardest part was fabbing up a steel bracket, just a 8" x 3" piece of steel to secure the sep. housing from the stringer. For me there was only about a foot of fuel line running from the gas tank directly to the fuel pump on motor. Didn't need any extra fuel line, I had to remove a few inches actually to fit the filter housing inline. Filter kit was around $40 from boat store + a few dollars for 2 3/8" fittings and clamps. If your mechanically inclined, I recommend installing it yourself, unless your engine compartment is a beyatch to get into. Looks like you have to go over the rear set and work upside down? Up to you. All you are doing is putting the filter inline between the gas tank and fuel pump on the motor. The quicksilver filter kits cost more than the sierra brands, there's no difference in the filter housing so I say buy the cheap kit; you can always buy quicksilver/merc filters later on. I don't remember seeing any practical location on the motor to mount the filter housing, so the dealer would be justified in charging more for extra parts they would have to buy or fab up to mount the filter wherever.

 

[ron7000]

Re: fuel /water separator installation

Service guy says the gear lube is burned in the drive. Ha, that's a good one. He's either an idiot, or all the guys are laughing about telling you that after you leave the shop.<br />Always remember, shops don't make money on warranty work like they would regular paying repairs, just like auto delears. Time is money, so they push the warranty claims aside to make as much room for the paying repairs.<br />You might like to know that the outdrive is a sealed, closed system for lubrication. Seals on the propshaft and upper drive shaft. No oil leaks out. No water gets in. There is no air vent, like on transmissions or gearboxes. So, only oil can escape, and water possibly enter, due to a bad seal. Also, with the outdrive 90% in the water, the gear lube temp probably doesn't get over 100F with water temp < 80F. So the oil is not going to burn up! And if it somehow did, it's going to remain in the drive, and when you eventually drain the oil you notice black burnt oxidized gear lube.<br /><br />Adding a few ounces one time is normal, probably the drive wasn't filled fully initially like was said. If you notice the gear lube level on the bottle on the engine going down and you keep adding to it to keep it to the full mark, then you have a leak. That's what that bottle is there for.<br /><br />Sorry Don, but I disagree with your view on boat oil changes. I don't understand why the boat would get pulled out of the water, or moved to a working area. All the service guy's gonna due is use a vacuum oil extractor or similar and pump out the oil from the dipstick. Undo the oil filter, the 3.0L is really easy, and use a few shop rags. There is no mess. Changing the oil on my 3.0L is easier than doing any vehicle I've ever had, but I admit that's mostly because of how the motor sits in the boat.

 

[Don S]

Re: fuel /water separator installation

Originally posted by ron7000:<br /> Sorry Don, but I disagree with your view on boat oil changes. I don't understand why the boat would get pulled out of the water, or moved to a working area.

Oh well, some people can walk the walk, some can only talk the talk. How long have you been a marine tech?

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: fuel /water separator installation

ron7000<br /><br />Some people trailer thier boats,some keep them in water,and I suspect in Don's case,many use the rack system.When you want your boat,you call ahead.they take it from the rack and launch it for you.when you're done,it gets reracked.<br />Your motor seems easy to work on.Next oil change time yourself.but start the clock when you grab the oil pump,before getting into the boat,not when you start pumping.Don't forget the 10 minute warm up.<br /><br />DHP<br /><br />OH keep the clock going until you dispose of the oil,and wash your hands

 

[tommays]

Re: fuel /water separator installation

i cant change my oil without removeing the engine cover which takes two men and a small boy not to dammage any parts of the boat <br /><br />i think most boats are built this way to allow the best deck layout and not worry if any service can be performed<br /><br />tommays

 

[lakelivin]

Re: fuel /water separator installation

As to the oil change, sounds like there is gonna be some variation based on the setup of the particular boat and the Marina setup. Seems to me like it would be a good idea to know both if you're going to have a shop do it.<br /><br />Like DHP said, also sounds like a good idea to time yourself doing it at least once. Even if your boat is fairly straightforward, I suspect more time elapses than what it would seem like if you don't time it.<br /><br />This seems like an area where it makes sense to learn how to do it correctly yourself and pay the mechanic for more complicated things where their expertise is needed.

 

[trog100]

Re: fuel /water separator installation

dunno but its easier to change the oil on my 3.0L engine boat than it is my car.. car needs jacking up.. oil filter is awkward to get at and impossible to remove without making a mess.. i have to grovel underneath.. sump plug needs removing and putting back.. and i have never ever managed to do it withour getting at least a few drips on my driveway.. which of course needs cleaning up.. he he <br /><br />boat assuming its in the water and warmed up.. lift off engine cover.. one man job cos i have fitted handles either side of my engine cover to facilitate this.. oil filter very easy to get at (couldnt possibly be easier) and a few rags underneath mean no mess.. suck out old oil with pump again no mess.. <br /><br />not allowing for warm up which is the same with car or boat.. oil change time would be perhaps ten to fifteen minutes tops with boat praps five minutes longer with car.. but the boat is both quicker and easier for me..<br /><br />thow if u cart your boat on a trailer to a dealer to get the oil changed i can see it taking longer and allowing for time and fuel taking the thing there it strikes me as job best done by yourself after a little run out..no warm up time then.. if not.. well praps u deserve to pay $120 for the job to be done by someone else..<br /><br />as for my car there are places tbat do quick suck out oil and filter changes for less money than i spend on my oil and filter.. i dont use em cos i assume they would put crap (super cheap) oil in..<br /><br />mind u i am inclined to think that if u aint competent enough to do your own oil change praps u shouldnt be in a boat in the first place.. either that or u are rich enough so as money dont matter so how much it costs to have soneone else do it shouldnt come into things..<br /><br />trog100

 

[ron7000]

Re: fuel /water separator installation

Originally posted by DHPMARINE:<br /> ron7000<br /><br />and I suspect in Don's case,many use the rack system.When you want your boat,you call ahead.they take it from the rack and launch it for you.when you're done,it gets reracked.<br />Your motor seems easy to work on.Next oil change time yourself.but start the clock when you grab the oil pump,before getting into the boat,not when you start pumping.Don't forget the 10 minute warm up.<br /><br />DHP<br /><br />OH keep the clock going until you dispose of the oil,and wash your hands

Jeez, do they drive it for you too?<br />Never saw, nor heard, that before. You guys do things different up in Ak I guess, but at least you were a red state.<br /><br />I have timed it, and it's about 40 minutes, with no mess at all and taking my time, and also knowing everything is done right, by my standards. But not counting warm up time because I usually plan it after being out on the boat and do it when I come in. And it does include storing the oil in a 5-gal container back home, ready to be taken to a recycling center. If I could take a picture, you would understand.

 

[Don S]

Re: fuel /water separator installation

I have timed it, and it's about 40 minutes, with no mess at all and taking my time, and also knowing everything is done right, by my standards. But not counting warm up time because I usually plan it after being out on the boat and do it when I come in.

Let's see, 40 minutes and you don't have the warm up time because you plan if for when you come in and the engine is hot.......Cool.But in the real world marine service centers don't schedule things like that, it's impossible.<br />We also don't have racks up here, just a yard and move boats around with a forklift. It all takes time. So add 10 minutes to warm the engine and 10 minutes for moving the boat back and forth and you are right at the hour I mentioned.<br />RED State.....get a grip ron, Oh, I forgot you're an engineer.....Sorry SIR!

 

[ron7000]

Re: fuel /water separator installation

Originally posted by Don S:<br /> How long have you been a marine tech?

Sorry man, I just don't agree. Maybe if it were a big boat with twin motors, but not an 18' with the 3.0L.

 

[ron7000]

Re: fuel /water separator installation

Alright, I agree with you in that there is time involved, and time is money. And a $100 isn't all that much considering what everything else that's involved costs. You win.<br /><br />Can I answer your question in your sig,<br />"Why is there never enough time to do it right the first time, but always enough time to do it again?"<br /><br />... because you're a marine tech getting paid by the hour? <br /><br />sorry man, couldn't resist.<br />And the red state thing was a joke to lighten the mood, guess it didn't work eh? Sorry, your Alaska, not Canada.