Engine oil removel
 

When removing engine oil through the dip stick tube does the oil have to be hot to flow better or letting it cool first? Oil weight 25w40. I have always been told to warm up engine first.But,that wouldn't make sense for oil would become thicker. :confused::confused:

Re: Engine oil removel
 

Warming up the engine and oil (not as high as operating temp) will certainly make the oil more viscous and easier to remove/drain. Whenever i change oil in my vehicles, i always let the engine warm up to about 130 degrees F or so, shut it off, and let the oil drain. Makes the job go quicker and get as much of the old crap out as possible.

Re: Engine oil removel
 

Taking out engine drain plug when oil is hot in vehicals goes faster but taking oil out through dip stick 1/4 inch sucking tube takes longer.

Re: Engine oil removel
 

How so? Same principles still apply, trying to get a fluid through a small orifice. Are we both in agreement that the oil is more viscous when warm? Warm oil vs cold oil though the dipstick tube, i'd still say the warm oil would be quicker. If so, think of a milkshake. When you first start drinking it, it's a PITA to suck the thick ice cream through the straw. Once it begins melting and softens, much easier.

Re: Engine oil removel
 

Good example of cold oil. Just warming up the engine a little shouldn't bring the oil even close to 40w for sucing through tube.

Re: Engine oil removel
 

The oil should definitely be hot. I understand the viscosity issue, but if you've done this numerous times(like I have) by using the old pump can you will definitely know the difference. When the oil is cold it will not even go through the thin hose. See one of my other posts where I took a flexible pan and drilled a hole in the side and put a tube through the hole, caulked it and ran it out through the drain plug hole into a gallon jug. Drained in no time with hot oil. I had taken some pix, but unfortunately the camera was in movie mode for a few and wouldn't post.

Re: Engine oil removel
 

TOM, I THOUGH ABOUT DOING THE SAME THING, USING A PLASTIC GALLON JUG, CUTTING THE SIDE OUT AND FITTING A APPROX 1/2 '' DIA. HOSE TO IT AND RUNNING IT OUT THE DRAIN HOLE IN THE TRANSOM DOWN TO A JUG ON THE FLOOR. THIS WOULD GET A LOT MORE OF THE OLD OIL OUT THAN PUMPING IT OUT THROUGH THE DIP STICK TUBE. AND OFCORSE WITH A WARM ENGINE !:wink_thumbup:

Re: Engine oil removel
 

Found an easier way to drain the old engine oil and filter. I place a Force Flex garbage bag wraped around oil pan drawing the straps from the bag tight .Then slicing a hole with razor knife big anough for a socket wrench and hand to fit through to reach drain plug at the top of bag.After oil drains in bag I took oil filter off and put it in the hole used to take off plug. Tied straps together and pull bag out from bottom of engine.Cut hole in corner of bag to remove oil and retrieve drain plug. No mess at all to clean up in boat. :wink_thumbup:

Re: Engine oil removel
 

Re: Engine oil removel
 

I like it, but the big question is whether you were able to use duct tape to keep the bag attached to the oil pan-my kind of fix!!! Duct tape ala Red Green!

Re: Engine oil removel
 

+1 w00t for duct tape! :) ...and bailing wire.

The bag idea is genius! I've tried the hose n' the jug method before and it did not go well for me. I'm excited to try this bag idea. Thanks for sharing!

Re: Engine oil removel
 

I'm a retired painter. I use the Force Flex garbage bags for lining my paint trays Don't have to clean them out.Wrap up leftover paint for the next day and doesn't dry out. They are strong,flex and won't leak. :wink_thumbup::wink_thumbup:

Re: Engine oil removel
 

I think you need to market this!! It is always the simplest, most obvious thing that stuns the world that someone thought of it. I envisioned the quick oil change business in the mid 70's before it ever became popular. I worked with a bunch of women who always complained about how much time and money it took to get it done at a repair shop or the dealer. Unfortunately, I thought it and never did anything about it, thus I'm still a bottom feeder in the world of thousandaires!!

Re: Engine oil removel
 

If you bend two metal coat hangers tied together inside top poking through bag next to the straps ahead of time to keep it open. Like a fishng net. You can slide it over oil pan from the front of engine. Twist hangers to hold tight onto the oil pan. Makes it much easier to attach. :yes_grin:

Re: Engine oil removel
 

I want to start changing the oil myself as does not sound too difficult to do. Can somebody walk me through where the drain plug is etc. I have a 4.3 Mercruiser. Thanks.

Re: Engine oil removel
 

I'm surprised nobody has come up with an oil change kit that replaces the drain plug in the bottom with a hose you can route to the point where you could easily attach a pump.

The little 4-banger in our sailboat, an old Atomic 4, has no space under the engine, so you have to get the oil out via the dipstick. Or do you? A company called Moyer Marine makes an oil change kit that replaces a plug into the oil pan on the top, side of the block with a plug that has a brass tube in it that reaches down to the bottom of the oil pan. You hook an included rubber hose to that, run that hose to a convenient place (ours ends just behind the removable companionway steps) and then you just hook your vacuum oil extraction pump to that. Gets the oil out in a fraction of the time, gets more of the oil out, and is so simple to use you almost look forward to changing the oil :).

Maybe I'll just fabricate one myself. Wouldn't take much. A replacement drain plug, drill a hole in it, get somebody to braze a small brass tube into it, buy some rubber hose, a fitting and cap for the end, and hose clamps: Done!

With something like that, then all you'd be left with is the oil filter, and a rag would catch whatever dripped from that.

Jim