MerCruiser I/0 Oil changes GRRRR!
 

I've owned two boats (Regal) that have had MerCruiser V6 I/Os for power.

Does anyone else out there want to strangle the design engineer(s) that put NO drain outlet in the oil pan? You have to go buy some cheaply made, plastic, P.O.S., pump that you have to chuck up in a drill, stuff a TINY little hose down the DIPSTICK TUBE, in an attempt to remove the oil from the pan! Insanity!!

Does anyone know of a valve/device made for these engines that can be installed to PROPERLY drain the oil??? Or am I going to have to design one and get a Patent myself?

When I had my Four Winns with 5.7 litre I/O I purchased a hand pump designed for pulling the oil out of the engine. It was orange in color about 1.5 inches in diameter and it screwed onto the "garden hose fitting" on the oil tube. You put a empty container in the bilge and start pumping it only took about a minute to pull 5 quarts out it worked slick. It had a rubber hose that went into your empty container.

I believe there is a kit that allows you to drain through the remote oil filter housing. Search some of the aftermarket catalogs.

On my old Cigarette, there was no freakin way to reach the drain plug, so I used one of these:

http://images.westmarine.com/large/6915094.jpg

Just remember to heat up the oil first.

My old Mastercraft you had to put a trash bag around the oil pan and then pull the plug out. You then prayed the bag didn't snag on anything while you carefully pulled it out full of hot oil--ever get oil out of carpet, neither did I. On the Searay I have a hose that connects to the oil pan that goes out the drain plug. I takes a long time to drain since the hose is a small diameter but works very well since the motor is very hard to reach. I know the dealer uses a large suction device that they roll around on dolly--takes them about two minutes to suck all the oil out.

Do a google search for "Oil Boy." It is made by tempo products and does a decent job. Used it on my 5.0 merc.
It looks like a big tire pump. It has the fitting for a mercruiser dip stick tube and others. It comes in handy for changing the oil in all kinds of engines, like lawn mowers and such.

+1, use the above on 30 HP diesel in my sailboat. You definitely do not want to spill any of the motor oil from a diesel.

Try this http://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=9892 I use one around the shop, and love it.

It's also great for auto transmission fluid changes too.

Mercruiser makes and adapter and hose that will come out the drain plug hole. It has a wire to attach to the drain plug so when you pull that out far enough the hose will come out also. It still drains slow so its best to change it warm.

I did end up using the dipstick tube drill pump method when it was cold and I just found a larger hose that sealed to the top of the dipstick, worked fine on a 05 Maxum with 350 mag

+2 on "OilBoy"

MO, I sent PM with my contact info.

I use a home made version of the elctric one shown above. Basically a jabsco pump on a 5 gal bucket. I have fitting with a valve on my oil pans. My race motors have 12 quart pans so this pump comes in handy. I used the dipstick tube pump before on other boats. it works, but i like to drain the pan all the way.
I know alot of guy with trailer boats that just drain it into the bilge and out the drain plug in the hull into a bucket. then they just clean up the bilge.

Thanks for all the tips guys. I will investigate a couple of these suggestions.

I would gladly just dump the oil into the bilge and out the rear drain (although dreading the cleanup), but this current Merc. (1997 model) has the dipstick tube going down, making a 90 degree bend, and attaches INTO the drain plug opening. There is NO additional drain plug . Its a sealed system. :mad:

Re: MerCruiser I/0 Oil changes GRRRR!
 

Plenty is instances in this world where a better design up-front could save tons of aggrivation later. But this sounds like some kind of EPA madated rule or something... I wonder.:confused:

This is what they are afraid of. Imagine all the volatile (and flammable) things used to clean bilges...

I use ZEP citrus orange cleaner to clean mine. works great , destroys any oil or grease,biodegradable. Smells nice too.:p

I have vacuum tank that I use for draining fluids in boats, cars etc...

It's a small fridge compressor mounted to an old BBQ propane tank. The tank is upside down with a ball valve going to a 10 line for sucking stuff up. The compressor is mounted on "top" (tank is upside down)

It only take a few minutes to get 20Hg, which will suck up sludgy 15w40 or gear oil.

Only took an hour or so to make and I use it all the time. Sure beats using those drill pumps.

Every MerCruiser engine has a drain plug in the oil pan. In some cases on product before the mid to late 90's, the dipstick tube extraction method is the only way to get oil out due to room in the engine compartment. This is dictated by boat design - some have very deep compartments and stringer set ups and boat design requires a low CG. In those cases the oil pan sits nearly on the floor of the compartment.

Since then there is a banjo type fitting on the drain plug with a hose that attaches at the rear of the boat in the boat drain plug where the consumer can pull the hose out the drain plug, remove the cap and drain the oil. This would eliminate the method of the pump and small hose going down the dipstick tube.

The boater may be able to add this system, depending on his model and set up, but to do so may require the removal or partial removal of his engine to install the newer system depending on access in his particular bilge. Without serial numbers not sure what we are dealing with but we offer two kits, one is 865277A02 which covers 1995 and older units on V-6's and the other is 865278A02 which covers 1997 and newer V-6 engines.

These are both in the Mercury accessories book page 148.

If you want more specific information about your boat/engine, contact me using the information provided in my PM to you. The engine serial number is the key to all knowledge.