OIL CHANGE HELP!!!

[watergirl]

Ok guys, don't laugh! I bought an 87 Checkmate with a 135 6 cyl and I need to know step by step how to change the oil and what kind of oil to get. Does the oil go in the reserve tank or right into the engine? Stop laughing fellas!!!! Also, do I need to change gear oil or lower unit oil? This is kind of a project for me and my best friend. Please help us!!!

 

[Boatist]

Re: OIL CHANGE HELP!!!

WaterGirls<br />Not sure what your are talking about. If it is 135 HP I/O then it will be a 4 cylinder engine. If it is a 4 cylinder I/O then you first must get the old oil out, then the ne oil would go in the engine.<br /><br />From your post not sure if you have a I/O or a outboard. Do not know brand is it Merc, Vovo, or OMC.<br /><br />Before anyone can help you need to know what your have.

 

[watergirl]

Re: OIL CHANGE HELP!!!

Hey there!! Thanks for the reply. It's a Merc 6 cyl. Outboard. I know it's a 6.

 

[Thecol]

Re: OIL CHANGE HELP!!!

I may be able to help you. Normaly you change the lower unit oil. Sometimes this is called the gear oil. This can be a little bit tricky. Sometimes you have to use small pump and pump the lower unit full of oil untill it runs out the hole. As for the engine oil is it oil injected or a pre mix. Most outboards I have seen are one or the other. If it is pre- mix then the oil is added to the gas. If it is oil injected then the oil is added to the resevoir. <br /><br />I used to have a 45 hp mariner outboard. It was a pre mix oil engine so all I had to do was add oil to the gas. Only add the ratio that your engine calls for. Too little oil will dammage the engine, and too much will cause it to smoke pretty bad. As for the gear oil aka lower unit oil that is ussualy changed at the start of each season. I think that is what most people would recommend.<br /><br />That is how I would handle the oil in an outboard motor.<br /><br />As far as an i/o engine my guess is you would drain the oil and add it much like you do a car. However being in a boat and not being able to have easy access to drain the oil you may have to use a small electric or hand pump to get the old oil out. These can be purchased from just about any marine supplier. Basicly you shove a small hose down the dip stick case so it is at the bottom of the oil pan and start pumping. If it is an i/o I would also imagine you must change the lower unit oil much like u would an outboard as described above.<br /><br />I hope u find this helpfull, but do not take my word for I am no expert by any meens.<br /><br />Kernal

 

[djvan]

Re: OIL CHANGE HELP!!!

Cahange lower unit oil by removing the lower plug and the upper plug. Look for a screw head about 1/2" across, it will have a slot for a flat head screwdriver. (most likely) Try to use a good fitting flat head as these srews are sometimes a little tough to remove. Refill from the bottom plug until the oil flows out the top plug, use of a pump here is a lot easier, than trying to squeeze bottles of oil. Change both gaskets on these plugs. It is important that you fill from the bottom as you will trap air in the lower if you fill from the top. If you have a tank for oil it should be kept reasonably full (some newer boats have a low oil alarm but don't rely on them). Use 2 cycle mix recomended for you engine. <br /><br />One last note if the lower unit has any water in it, get it looked at by a pro, this will cost you allot of money if not corrected. (I know from experience)<br /><br />HTH's<br />DougV>

 

[rodbolt]

Re: OIL CHANGE HELP!!!

dude<br /> take my advice. take it to a pro. if you have to ask this type of question it means you have not read the manual and probably wont. take it to a pro and be done with it.<br /> good luck and keep posting<br />]

 

[ae708]

Re: OIL CHANGE HELP!!!

Checkmate boats are SOOOOOOO pretty....

 

[Thecol]

Re: OIL CHANGE HELP!!!

WATER GIRL IM SURE YOU CAN DOIT YOUR SELF.ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR MOTOR THE OIL PAN.THERS A BOLT LOOSEN IT PUT SOMETHING TO CATCH THE OILUNDER MOTOR FIRST.THEN DRAIN IN THE CONTAINER UNTIL EMPTY.REMOVE THE OIL FILTER.GET ANEW ONE FILLIT WITHOILNOW PUT IT ON.PUT YOUR PLUG BACKIN TIGHTFILL ENGINE WITH OIL 10/40 OR 10/30 WHICH EVER YOU PREFERAND YOUR DONE. LOWER UNITOIL CHANGE.REMOVE THE SCREW ON THE BOTTOM OF THE OUT DRIVE.PLACE A DRAIN PAN THERE.THEN REMOVE THE VENT SCREW ON THE SIDE OF THE UNIT.AND OIL WILLPOUR OUT.LET DRAIN .YOU WILL NEED LOWER UNIT GEAR OIL FOR THAT.AND APUMPFOR THE GEAROIL THEY SELL THEM TOGETHER MOST PLACES.YOU WILL HOOK YOUR PUMP TO THE BOTTOM HOLE ON THE UNIT.LEAVEING TOP ONE OPEN YOU BEGIN PUMPING.KEEP PUMPING UNTILOIL COMES FROM THE VENTHOLE YOU LEFT OPEN.ASIT DOES PUT VENT SCREW BACKIN.THEN REMOVE PUMP HOSE FROM UNIT PUT DRAIN PLUG BACKIN.DONT WORRY AFTER YOU PUT THE VENT SCREW BACK OIL WONT COME OUT EVERY WHERE GOOD LUCK BE SURE ITS ALL TIGHT IM SURE YOU CAN DO IT

 

[CharlesW]

Re: OIL CHANGE HELP!!!

Hi watergirl:<br />Unfortunately, IMO, not all the information you are getting here is of value to you.<br />Find someone you know to show you a few things about your particular motor, tell you what to buy for a service manual, read it, and have at the maintenance.<br />The year, make, and model should let you find a service manual. I have used both Clymer and Seloc manuals with about the same results.<br />Don't give up, just get some help. So far, I don't think the information you have received here is going to help you much.

 

[Boatist]

Re: OIL CHANGE HELP!!!

WaterGirl<br />If your motor is a outboard you would do better to post in the Mercury outboard section instead of the Inboard/Outboard section (I/O).<br />You have got some bad information above. On a 2 stroke outboard there is no oil pan bolt or any engine oil to drain. The oil is mixed with the gas and is burned up in the engine. Also in a 2 stroke engine you DO NOT use 10-30 0r 10-40 oil. You use 2 CYCLE TCW-3 oil. Depending on your exact engine you either premix the oil in your gas tank by adding the right amount of oil or you put the oil in a oil tank and the oil is mixed with the gas as you run. Also there is no oil filter. <br /><br />Checking for water in the lower unit oil and changeing the oil is pretty easy but there several screws in the lower unit. A drain screw and a vent /full screw. If you take out one of the others in the bottom of the lower unit you can destroy the lower unit. <br /><br />So I strongly recommend if you want to do it your self that you get a manual. Go to a local marine dealer with your boat or a picture of your motor and the model number and get the correct manual. They also sell them here also but important to get the right one. If you have time and some simple tool like a big flat blade screwdriver you can do it your self. If you find water in the lower unit take it in and have it repaired before it is too late.<br /><br />If you know very little about boats then you need to know never start the motor without it in the water or with muffs, not even for 1 minute. It will melt your water pump and then the motor will overheat and freez up. If your do not know when the water pump was changed last then have it changed. Most here will say change it every two years. I change mine about every 15 years and have never had a problem but if the motor get too hot it will destroy it.<br /><br />I hope JB will move this to Mercury Outboards so you can get some correct information.