Oil Changing Pumps

[Tom P]

I tried 2 electric oil change pumps this weekend.

http://www.amazon.com/Stearns-Quick-Change-Oil-Pump/dp/B0019958D0

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=10106&subdeptNum=10434&classNum=10440


Neither worked as advised. In both cases, I followed the directions multiple times to the letter. Yes, I let the boat run for between 10 and 15 minutes before attempting to remove the oil at 1.5k-2k rmps (As stated in the directions). It was 60 degrees in NJ, I used my outside garden hose and muffs to run the engine. The temp gauge moved a little from dead cold. The tube was warm when removed. I then decided to check the reviews on-line for these pumps. What I discovered was that none of them received widespread user approval. I found that on some sites, some units did OK, but none of the units got 5 stars. It seams that they either work for people or they don't. There's no in between. Sites that people included car oil changes did better.

The marinas seem to use these units. Can anyone who has used one of these units share what the tricks are to get one to work before I return the second unit.

Thanks much,

Tom

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

Are you using the small plastic tube going down the dipstick hole?

You should also have the garden hose size threads on top of the engines dipstick tube.That is the way i used those type of pumps.
Just screw the larger hose to it and it should pull it up.I have even done them cold that way.

 

[dubs283]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

one quick check i use to see if the pump is pulling oil out or not is to run the pump, hold your finger over the end of the tube and listen for a change in the tone of the pump while running - it should change tone

once you note the sound the pump makes while it is "sucking", put the end of the tube over the dipstick tube - if the tone changes to the same as when you held your finger over the end, its sucking

if no change is noted, its not sucking and more than likely the dipstick tube does not go to the bottom of the oil pan and you need to fish a smaller diameter tube down the dipstick tube to get the oil out

 

[ziggy]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

You should also have the garden hose size threads on top of the engines dipstick tube.

if it has that feature. my '75 don't.

Are you using the small plastic tube going down the dipstick hole?

that's my only choice. on my boat, ya can't even get the oil drain plug out w/o lifting the ft. of the engine.

i use the vac. type oil extractor. it works better in the dead of summer when it's hot out.
other than that. for end season. i warm her up best i can the do the deed. 20-30 min. to extract the oil. slow, but not messy... i just do other deeds while it's taking it's time..

 

[Tom P]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

I'm using the thin plastic tube that goes into the dipstick. There's no garden hose size that slips over it and/or the dipstick. The plan is to do the ?End of Season/Winterizing? oil change. As I mentioned it was cool in NJ. We had the 1st frost of the year. Air temp was about 60 by lunch time. I did feel a little suction at the end of the hose. Not enough to get a hickey from. Has anyone tried/had better luck with the manual oil pumps like this one?

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=10106&subdeptNum=10434&classNum=10440

Thanks again,

Tom

 

[Don S]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

You need to start the engine and warm the oil, otherwise, none of the pumps will suck the old, thick, cold, oil out of the engine.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

Has anyone tried/had better luck with the manual oil pumps like this one?

that's the type i got..

 

[arks]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

Tom- the Jabsco unit shown is similar to the one I use. I've never had a problem pulling it thru the dipstick tube. Here's mine:

Make sure the pickup is down to the bottom of the oil pan, then pick it up about 1/2". I'm thinking maybe it's sucking itself to the bottom of the pan, preventing oil removal.

 

[kewlkatdady]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

I tried a couple of the little cheap electric ones....
they literally wouldn't suck beer outta my beer can...
so I got this one....

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200007974_200007974


This thing sucks cold oil dry in about 15 minutes...

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

dunno.
I use a vacum charged extraction unit called the "slurrper".
will suck about any oil hot or cold in a few minutes.
its kinda pricey but works with no moving parts,is self contained and I can leave the unit on the dock and avoid a mess on the boat.

 

[Tom P]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

kewlkatdady,
That same one is for sale at West marine for $69. It's the only one that I can't find a bad review for. West Marine has a smaller unit that does 2.85 quarts for $39. What I think is fouling me up with the electric pumps is the oil isn't getting hot enough. I can run my boat all day from the garden hose in October and the temp gauge ain't going to move with cold water coming out of the garden hose.

Thanks,

Tom

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

You wrote "Neither worked as advised. In both cases, I followed the directions multiple times to the letter. Yes, I let the boat run for between 10 and 15 minutes before attempting to remove the oil at 1.5k-2k rmps"
I hope you meant you ran it a 1500 to 2000 rpms then shut it off to change the oil. I assume you were not trying to pull out the oil with the motor turning 2000 R's.
If it won't suck oil start out with some warmed up oil in a container and fill the suction tube up to the pump, ie. prime the pump, then turn it off with the oil in the tube. Remove or loosen the oil cap in case there is no crankcase vent, this eliminates vacuum as a problem. Then put a couple of ounces of oil down the dipstick tube, run the suction tube into the dipstick tube and turn on the pump.
This primes & seals off the pump, it's worth a try.

 

[Don S]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

I can run my boat all day from the garden hose in October and the temp gauge ain't going to move with cold water coming out of the garden hose.

What, your lake water is 140? ????? Run the engine, the oil will get warmer, just feel the pan and the oil filter. You might want to think about installing a thermostat to if it does warm up on the hose.
PS: it may take 10 minutes, but the oil will be warm enough for the pumps to work.

 

[kewlkatdady]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

either way its a great unit...at the time when I bought it...I was looking for something "right now"...
I have a now diagnosed cracked block and water in the oil...that is now like pudding. The boat has been in the garage for a month and I this unit sucked it dry yesterday while I was pulling the outdrive...15 minutes or so...

It works GREAT.

kewlkatdady,
That same one is for sale at West marine for $69. It's the only one that I can't find a bad review for.

the one at west marine is a little different...the one i have hold around 8 qts and i think it cost $115-$120.

 

[Tom P]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

I found the trademark for the "sluper" but I couldn't find anyplace that sells them. Is this the type of unit:

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-1-4-quarter-gallon-oil-extractor-46149.html

Tom

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

different looking but uses the same principle.
the one I use is about 400 dollars and can hold about 12QT at a time.
it uses an air powered vacum pump to draw the chamber to about 28"Hg, then you insert the or connect the line to the dip stick, open the valve and vacum does the rest.
nice thing about them is I can charge it here at the shop and extract the oil on a boat on the west coast if I wish to drive that far.
couple that with no moving parts and it works great.
I think paxton marine in norfolk VA distributes them here.
but the company is in searsport maine.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

I'll second priming the pump. I use the crappy little gray ones from US Boat. Oil has to be warm and you have to prime the pump or it will not work.

 

[Tom P]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

Ok - I just got back from West Marine. They took back the old pump without incident. I purchased the large one pictured. I just checked it out. The suction seems real good. It seems like the more you pump, the more suction you get. So even with an ice cold engine, I'd just have to pump more. The hoses could be longer. I think I'm going to need to replace the extension with a real long one. I have some outdrive fluid from the weekend change to test it on. The way I figure, If it can pump cold 90 weight oil it can pump anything. I will report back after the weekend.

Thanks all for the post,

Tom

 

[Bluestream]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

I used to use a plastic vacuum type pump with a plastic container many years ago, but hated it so much I threw it out. Had to keep pumping to keep enough vacuum in tank for it to work. On my previous Merc boat, I installed a Fumoto drain valve with a barbed hose fitting. In the fall just push hose through the hull drain plug hole, and open valve and drain out into a container. That worked great.

On OMC's with the drain pump-out fitting in the oil pan, I bought some plastic poly tubing for $3 At plumbing place that fit into the dipstick tube, and looped it towards the bow and then down into the bilge and out the drain plug hole. works as a siphon drains into a container below drain hole. Both these only work when boat is out of the water of course.

 

[Tom P]

Re: Oil Changing Pumps

The drain hose idea is a real good one. I can get to my drain plug. The problem is that there isn't enough space to put something that can hold a gallon of oil. Even if I could get something down there, I can't see get it out without dumping the oil all over the bilge. I'm not sure if I can get to the transom drain plug from inside the boat. But I'll look over the weekend.

Thanks,

Tom