Oil change Problem

TJC1010101 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007

I bought this West marine oil change apparatus...It's a one gallon white plastic container with a pump..you attach the hose and it's extension which fits down the dipstick hole..

According to directions..pump about 8 times, and the oil then is supposed to siphon..

I'm pumping like a madman.. "US pumping team candidate" it draws up maybe half way and won't go any further..Some one suggested..run the engine to heat the oil...brought it up to 175..helped a bit bit no cigar..10-40 oil

I'm down in Mexico where resources of other apparatus is limited to none...gotta get this to work..any suggestions..

This is a 50 hr oil change on a new Yanmar 4HE Engine...First experience changing the oil...used this on a friends boat..on a Volvo worked just fine..

AjariBonten · #2 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007

Simple question; take no offense......

Did you try pulling the hose back an inch or so? Maybe you've got it jammed so the end is blocked?

It sounds like a physical blockage, rather than a oil-flow problem.

btrayfors · #3 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007

The best time to change engine oil is after a hard run, when the motor is hot and most of the contaminants are suspended in the oil. Failing this opportunity, you need to run your engine until it's up to operating temp (or beyond, if you can), then change the oil.

Changing engine oil via a dipstick suction device is not a good long-term solution, as I found out after doing it for many years. You can't get all the oil out and, if sludge begins to form, you won't get it either.

So, my advice -- earned the hard way -- is to consider this device you have a short-term solution, especially with a new engine.

Think about fitting a real oil change system (like the XChanger) to the engine oil drain plug. I did, several years ago, and I can change my oil in 5 minutes flat (out and in) without getting all messy.

Bill

TrueBlue · #4 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007

Seems like the symptoms of a pressure leak somewhere - shouldn't need to pump that many times to reach a sufficient vacuum for only a one-gal container. I'm not very familiar with the WM version, but I have had two different types of oil pumps with prior boats - both relying upon a vacuum.

The first one was a royal pain - dip-stick hose connected to a steel container with a cylinder pump attached to the cap. It never really sealed well due to a bad O-ring at the cap. I replaced the gasket and it worked well for a while. Finally replaced it with a Tempo Oil Boy:

Well engineered and built - the pump worked very well - but I don't need it any more since my current boat has an integrated oil pump. It's only a 5 Qt capacity, but draws oil after just a few pumps - fills with warm oil in about 10 minutes.

Check all the rubber seals on the input and putput caps, as well as the pump seals. Could also be the cap is cross-threaded.

sailingdog · #5 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007

Also, did you loosen the oil fill cap. In many cases, the tube will block the dipstick and you need to relieve the vacuum by opening the oil fill cap.

daydreams · #6 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007

This happens to me every oil change. The pump seals dry up and need to be primed before they will draw a vacuum. squirt some clean oil into the pump assembly and work it up and down without trying to draw oil. Do this a couple of times you should notice a change in the feel of the pump when the seals ave absorbed enough oil and will draw a vacuum.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJC1010101

I bought this West marine oil change apparatus...It's a one gallon white plastic container with a pump..you attach the hose and it's extension which fits down the dipstick hole..

According to directions..pump about 8 times, and the oil then is supposed to siphon..

I'm pumping like a madman.. "US pumping team candidate" it draws up maybe half way and won't go any further..Some one suggested..run the engine to heat the oil...brought it up to 175..helped a bit bit no cigar..10-40 oil

I'm down in Mexico where resources of other apparatus is limited to none...gotta get this to work..any suggestions..

This is a 50 hr oil change on a new Yanmar 4HE Engine...First experience changing the oil...used this on a friends boat..on a Volvo worked just fine..

TJC1010101 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007

All these suggestions are great..I just need to apply a few..Thanks

AjariBonten · #8 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJC1010101

All these suggestions are great..I just need to apply a few..Thanks

Let us know how it works out!

SEMIJim · #9 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueBlue

Finally replaced it with a Tempo Oil Boy:

Well engineered and built - the pump worked very well - ...

We have one of these. In conjunction with Moyer Marine's oil extraction kit for our venerable old A4, the Oil Boy removes 3 qts. of warm oil in a matter of minutes (as in: Just a couple) with just 15-16 easy pumps of the handle.

All the horror stories I've been reading about oil changes (old oil extraction, mainly), and, with the right tools, it turned out to be a breeze.

I realize this doesn't help the OP. Sorry, I have no ideas. Mainly posted for future searchers.

Jim

jrd22 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007

Our Yanmar does not have a drain plug in the pan so we have always had to use the dipstick tube. With the oil hot it has never been a problem getting the oil to vacuum up the tube. I agree with Ajari, try pulling the tube back a bit, maybe it is curling back up inside the pan up above the oil level. Straighten the tube as much as you can and then carefully push it down the tube until you just feel it hit something and stop there. It's either that or your new pump isn't working properly as suggested above.