Changine oil - HOT

[REW]

In a recent post on 4-stroke outboard motors, the subject of changing the oil came up.

Remember, your 4-strok outboard is just like your auto when it comes to changing the oil.

Any internal combustion engine which has an oil sump should be at operating temperature - i.e. well warmed up - just before the oil is changed.

You want the oil to be at about 160 degrees so that it flows easily from the oil sump carrying out any debris or wear particles with the oil.

If there is an internal oil screen, you want the nice hot oil to flow quickly away from the screen, carrying any kind of particles that might have been trapped in the screen with the draining oil.

I think that many folks go to work on an engine that has been sitting at room temperature in a garage and do an oil and filter change.

Not a good idea to get the best maintenance for your engine by draining out cold oil and leaving things behind in the engine in the thick cold oil.

Take care
REW

[grasshopper armory]

use amsoil and put a magnet on your oil filter--ever little bit you can do to save your motor will pay out big in the long run.

[angler53]

I change the oil in my F150 between 50 & 75 hours. When it gets black, I change it.
I usually do it after a day on the water as soon as I get home.
I run it for a half hour to make sure it's good and hot.
My problem is I haven't mastered doing this without making one huge mess. I use a tube fitted over that tube that covers the plug but it comes off and oil get everywhere.
The next thing is changing the filter. Man what a mess that makes. Cleaning the outside of the motor is easy. Cleaning up inside the cowl is another story.
The next time I'm taking the plug somewhere and get myself a screw in fitting and make myself a hose for the job.
They use a quick-drain system on aircraft engines that would work wonderfully. And yes, they have a very strong spring in them.
Anybody know what the thread size is for the F150 oil plug?

[rbsangler]

I have a F115, and I know exactly the problem you are having. It is a poor design, that makes you spill oil all over the place. I'm noy suggesting a total redesign, but an accessory like your talking about would be great. Don't know the metric thread size of the plug.

[Rednek_]

put a magnet on your oil filter.

That is a great idea. I've never heard that mentioned before.

[Bill Krejca]

I change the oil in my F150 between 50 & 75 hours. When it gets black, I change it.
I usually do it after a day on the water as soon as I get home.
I run it for a half hour to make sure it's good and hot.
My problem is I haven't mastered doing this without making one huge mess. I use a tube fitted over that tube that covers the plug but it comes off and oil get everywhere.
The next thing is changing the filter. Man what a mess that makes. Cleaning the outside of the motor is easy. Cleaning up inside the cowl is another story.
The next time I'm taking the plug somewhere and get myself a screw in fitting and make myself a hose for the job.
They use a quick-drain system on aircraft engines that would work wonderfully. And yes, they have a very strong spring in them.
Anybody know what the thread size is for the F150 oil plug?

Interesting re: filter mess. I have an F115, 2000 model, and the filter change doesn't get a drop inside the motor. I do drain the motor before changing the filter. Could this be the problem? (Tape cardboard V under the drain so it funnels into the drain container to completely eliminate the outside mess.)

Bill Krejca

[went522]

I have a F115, and I know exactly the problem you are having. It is a poor design, that makes you spill oil all over the place. I'm noy suggesting a total redesign, but an accessory like your talking about would be great. Don't know the metric thread size of the plug.

For the yamaha guys...this may be helpful.

http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152996

BIRDDOG

[rbsangler]

That has got to rank(with me personally) as the BEST tip I've gotten so far on WC. Thanks alot!! It just peeves me off that I couldn't figure it out for myself and on my own. Oh well, that's why I belong to such a great group.:bigsmile::bowdown:

[KLN2 ul]

I know a guy that takes changing oil a step further. After the warm oil is drained from the motor and the plug is still out, he pours in a quart of new oil to flush out any old oil residue. He claims it will extend the life of the motor.

[MarkG]

I know a guy that takes changing oil a step further. After the warm oil is drained from the motor and the plug is still out, he pours in a quart of new oil to flush out any old oil residue. He claims it will extend the life of the motor.

I have always done that,even on my cars,but a quart is way more than needed. Maybe about 8 -10 oz just to flush the residual crud sitting in the bottom of the oil pan.

As far as mess from the oil filter,what I found on my Yamaha is that if drained hot,the filter is full and can be messy. If had been sitting for awhile and not drained hot,most of the oil from the filter had drained back(since the anti-drainbacks are not much good on them) .So not much oil in the filter when removed,no mess. A bit of a dilemma since,as stated,it is better to drain hot.

[angler53]

Interesting re: filter mess. I have an F115, 2000 model, and the filter change doesn't get a drop inside the motor. I do drain the motor before changing the filter. Could this be the problem? (Tape cardboard V under the drain so it funnels into the drain container to completely eliminate the outside mess.)

Bill Krejca

I drain the motor completely before changing the filter. I also use yamaha filters if it means anything. I've tried putting a bag around the thing too and it still makes a mess. I've even punched a hole in the top of the filter thinking it will drain out and that doesn't make any difference. Even 1/3 of a cup of oil in there is a mess, to me. I like to keep it OR clean inside and washing it out with degreaser and high pressure water can breed electrical problems, at least to me, anyway.

[fisher-1]

On my F90 I use a plastic bottle cut like a bailer, http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i193/stinger_1/bailers.gif
the diameter of bottle is bigger then the oil filter and it fits perfactly under it (in my case its an empty Crisco bottle and the lip is cut longer then your regular bailer so you can get your hand on the filter), loosen the filter with a filter wrench, put bailer under and unscrew by hand, the filter drops in the bottle, no mess, usually have a rag under that too so a drop or two of oil is never an issue,
I also take the cap off the bailer and use it as a funnel to drain oil away from the oil drain plug to a plastic oil pan, it gets a little more messy there because the oil has to drain for a while, but not a big mess.

[Blackmacs]

Would tilting the motor all the way up and turning it so the filter is down, or maybe even up, help with the mess? I've done oil changes on 40hp Mercs but nothing bigger. Suprisingly the filter wasn't as big a deal as I was fearing.

[AllenW]

I use a piece of 3 or 4" PVC pipe about 18" long notched back on the top about 8" so it looks like a trough, then a stool to put the drain pan on, the PVC open on top lets you get in to the plug with socket and extension and remove, oil and the plug run down the PVC into the pan...no mess

I'm still under warranty so I run Yammie oil and filters, will prob stay with that.

I'll run mine about 15 minutes and drain.
Al

[F90 Owner]

The way I avoid the mess on my F90 is by being patient. If you have the time here is what you can do.

1) Run the engine to get it hot.
2) Drain the oil.
3) Do not change the filter at this point ! Let the engine sit for at least a couple of hours or over night if possible. Leave the drain plug out as well (using the hose trick that went522 posted).
4) During this time, all of the oil that makes a mess will drain out of the filter, back to the engine crankcase and eventually out of the open drain plug.
5) when you remove the filter, it will be almost empty. NO MESS, trust me !

You will get all the benefit of a hot oil change without any mess from the filter. Usually when changing oil on an outboard, you have some time between trips. Just don't leave the job for days and forget where you were in the process !

[beeman]

Ok so you let your car sit 2 days and decide to change oil. Wouldnt the crap be at the bottom of pan? Does the oil filter come off easier warmed up.:smokin: I just change my oil and dont pay attention if its hot or cold just a long drain.

[perchjerker]

Ok so you let your car sit 2 days and decide to change oil. Wouldnt the crap be at the bottom of pan? Does the oil filter come off easier warmed up.:smokin: I just change my oil and dont pay attention if its hot or cold just a long drain.

yes the crap would be at the bottom of the pan but it would be thick as molasses. If the engine oil is hot then it flows easier and has a better chance to remove the crap

...thats the difference