newbie, please bear with me

[Jimbobo22]

I own a 2K Ski Centurion with the Mercruiser 270 HP 5.7L Inboard Tow Motor. I want to change the oil.<br />I have removed the drain plug from the bottom of the hull and I have run the oil tube (?lack of better words) down through the hole. I have unscrewed the cap on the oil tube yet no oil is coming out. What gives? How do I get the oil out? I know this may sound ridiculous but this is my first time doing it. <br />Any help is appreciated.<br /><br />Jim

 

[JB]

Re: newbie, please bear with me

Moving to Mercruiser forum

 

[tommays]

Re: newbie, please bear with me

normaly you hook up some cooling water and fully warm up the motor before and oil change so it drains better<br /><br />i dont have the hose type but everyone i know who does says it drains really really slow<br /><br />tommays

 

[skicat]

Re: newbie, please bear with me

I don't have this oil drain system, but I have a few suggestions. Follow the tube back to the oil pan and see if there is a valve. Take off the oil fill cap, you may have a vacuum. Oil drain tube could be blocked.

 

[achris]

Re: newbie, please bear with me

Have you tried to suck it out through the dipstick tube? All Mercruiser engines have dipstick tubes that run all the way to the bottom of the oil pan. Merc sell a pump designed to draw the oil out this way. But, as stated already, warm the engine first.<br /><br />Chris............

 

[Don S]

Re: newbie, please bear with me

The newer Mercruisers do have that drain system, and there is no valve, but you have to have the oil warm before it will come out.

 

[Manipulator]

Re: newbie, please bear with me

How were you able to get to the drain plug? I have a 5.7 but it's an OMC and the pan doesn't even have a drain plug and if it did you could never reach it. Anyway my setup is similar to what was mentioned. My engine has a filter relocation kit which makes changing the filter a cinch. Where is your oil filter located? <br /><br />I also have the dipstick design where you can screw on a hose and pump it out. The thing is you CANNOT GET ALL THE OIL OUT when doing it this way. There still will be a quart of dirty oil in the crankcase. I just found this out after I changed the oil for the first time. If you are using the dipstick tube only, the dipstick tube does not go to the bottom of the pan, if it did then the dipstick would not go all the way down as it would be hitting the pan.<br /><br /> I fired it up and ran it and that damn oil was a little dirty. When you change the oil, the oil should be nice and clear for a little while. Mine had a brownish/dark tint right off the bat. Anyway, what I do is run a hose right down the dipstick tube all the way to the bottom of the pan and suck it all out. <br /><br />Get a hand oil pump and avoid the electric ones or the ones that attach to your drill. They're all crap and I've wasted plenty of money on all sorts of them. Nothing beats the hand pump other than a real expensive industrial pump designed for boat shops. I bought one just like this one hear on iboats and it works great.<br /><br /><br />

 

[wake5150]

Re: newbie, please bear with me

Casual Observation: <br /><br />Although I don't know this motor specifically, it seems strange that NO oil is coming out? Sure you should warm the engine to help it flow better.<br /><br />Don S, what gives with HAVING to warm the engine to get ANY out? What am I missing?<br /><br />Wake

 

[weatherz]

Re: newbie, please bear with me

I have the same setup and very little came out initially, but let it sit for 2 days and it filled the pan.

 

[QC]

Re: newbie, please bear with me

The oil should be warm, but it will eventually drain out cold too with the Merc drain hose setup. When it is warm you also get the benefit of getting more contaminants out as the bad stuff doesn't get a chance to settle anywhwere.

 

[Don S]

Re: newbie, please bear with me

Originally posted by wake5150:<br /> <br />Don S, what gives with HAVING to warm the engine to get ANY out? What am I missing?<br />

As mentioned, it will come out cold, EVENTUALLY.<br />But with the small diameter hose and cold oil, it may take some time to start coming out.<br />So, if you warm the engine it flows easier and you can get the oil out within the same lifetime as you start the job.<br />Below is an excerpt from the Mercruiser owners manual that comes with engines with the "Quick Drain" system.<br />The IMPORTANT statement says it all.<br /><br />

 

[deputydawg]

Re: newbie, please bear with me

You sure there is oil in it?

 

[Jimbobo22]

Re: newbie, please bear with me

I just wanted to follow up and say thatI did as Don S said and I warmed my engine up and then let it flow out into the pan. I also changes my oil filter. I bought Quicksilver 25W-40 oil which my manual recommended and presto done, no problem. $100 in my pocket.<br /><br />Thanks for all the advice/<br />Jim

 

[Bondo]

Re: newbie, please bear with me

What I've found to be the Best of Both Worlds is,...<br /><br />I put the remote drain on my engine when I built it,.... 3/8ths" Hyd. line....<br />It drained a little Slower than Death..... Changing the oil was an Overnite Experince.....<br /><br />Well,......... I went,+ got Me 1 of those Ele. Oilpumps,........ Then rigged it up to the end of my drain hose,.......<br />Quick,.. Clean,... Oil Changes are a Snap........<br />I could even change it at a berth,... Hose is long enough to reach up,+ out........ Don't really need the bilge plug out........<br /><br />At 50hr. changes,.... Mobil 1 15W-50 doesn't even change color......... Ayuh,..... Over-Kill,.... O Well,........