Oil change? Ther must be an easier way.

[rafiki_]

I changed the oil on the 2 Cat 3126's in my Snazi yesterday. Started at 1 pm, finished at 9.30! 8.5 hours for an oil change anyone? The main problem for me was the bulk to be vacuumed out, 25 litres in each lump. It took more than 3 hours to drain the ld oil, and nearly an hour to fill. Obviously draining was slightly quicker when the oil was still hot, but after a couple of hours cooling, it was thickening up. I then had the challenge of tranferring this to a large container, which became quite a messy business, but not half as messy as filling the engines. 12 fills with my 2 litre oil can for each lump. Not much room between the engines, and getting in and out of the engine room for somebody of my size and lack of flexibility was wearing. I learnt a very important lesson with the stbd engine oil filter, wait until you have sucked out at least 6 litres before removing the filter, as is gushed black slimy stuff into my pristeen bilge! Not happy, and of course, more time to clean up!

So, any suggestions to speed up next time?

 

[A_8]

I changed the oil on the 2 Cat 3126's in my Snazi yesterday. Started at 1 pm, finished at 9.30! 8.5 hours for an oil change anyone? The main problem for me was the bulk to be vacuumed out, 25 litres in each lump. It took more than 3 hours to drain the ld oil, and nearly an hour to fill. Obviously draining was slightly quicker when the oil was still hot, but after a couple of hours cooling, it was thickening up. I then had the challenge of tranferring this to a large container, which became quite a messy business, but not half as messy as filling the engines. 12 fills with my 2 litre oil can for each lump. Not much room between the engines, and getting in and out of the engine room for somebody of my size and lack of flexibility was wearing. I learnt a very important lesson with the stbd engine oil filter, wait until you have sucked out at least 6 litres before removing the filter, as is gushed black slimy stuff into my pristeen bilge! Not happy, and of course, more time to clean up!

So, any suggestions to speed up next time?

3 hours to drain the old oil seems very long, what did you use to get it out of the engine?

Mine is only 10 ltr's each but it takes around 20 minutes with a vacuum suction type thing.

 

[PCUK]

You need a reversible electric pump permanently plumbed into the drain plug hole of each engine and gearbox and selected via valves on a manifold. You can then also refill the engines and gearboxes via the pump. A bit of work to install but the happiness next time the oils need changing makes it all worthwhile. Have a look at the Reverso system.

 

[npf1]

I've got one of these installed. Makes it very easy http://www.x-change-r.com/. Model Model 946D - about £300+shipping and VAT. Been working very well for nearly 20 years! Only thing I've had to replace is an impeller as one gave up the ghost when I tried to pump cold oil. Propably been the most reliable thing on the whole boat!

 

[scubaman]

I purchased the Volvo electric oil extractor (around 470€, iirc) and it completely changed the way I feel about the prospect of oil change. It drains about 20 litres in a couple of minutes and will of course pump the new oil into the engine as well. I have a couple of different diameter hoses for the engines, the generator and the gearboxes.

The system PCUK described would be the ultimate solution but a proper electric pump is a giant leap forward.

 

[Latestarter1]

You need a reversible electric pump permanently plumbed into the drain plug hole of each engine and gearbox and selected via valves on a manifold. You can then also refill the engines and gearboxes via the pump. A bit of work to install but the happiness next time the oils need changing makes it all worthwhile. Have a look at the Reverso system.

+1 with knobs on!

 

[Trundlebug]

You don't even need to go to the trouble of having an electric pump permanently installed.

I have a small electric impeller pump mounted into a portable wooden box with a switch and a length of clear hose attached to the intake and output sides. The box has a removable lid with a handle.

Attach bulldog clips to starter solenoid for +ve and engine earth for -ve, put the output hose into an empty 25L oil drum positioned anywhere convenient.
Attach the intake to the oil drain tube, press the button and away it goes.

On my puny MD31A's with 9L each it takes about 5-10 minutes per engine.

Afterwards it can be flushed through with fresh oil and used to refill the engines by swapping the hoses round. (Note: it's slower with the new oil because it's cooler, but still OK)

My pump's like this http://www.asap-supplies.com/search/oil+change+pump/17830-0012-jabsco-pump

but others are available. It seems very expensive now, I'm sure they were only about £40 a few years ago.

The advantage of not installing it permanently is that it can be used for all sorts of other uses - pumping waste fuel, water, bilge dregs, whatever you need it for.
I've been amazed at how often I've used mine for all sorts of jobs on the boat, and how easy it makes the whole oil change process.
You could even use it for sucking out the oil you spilled into the bilge...

Self priming too.

Keep it portable and you get maximum flexibility from it.

 

[rafiki_]

3 hours to drain the old oil seems very long, what did you use to get it out of the engine?

Mine is only 10 ltr's each but it takes around 20 minutes with a vacuum suction type thing.

I have a Pela vac pump, lifting out through the dipstick tube, hence hose diameter is quite small, and a lot of oil to pump.

 

[maby]

...

So, any suggestions to speed up next time?

Wait till bob-a-job week?

 

[A_8]

I have a Pela vac pump, lifting out through the dipstick tube, hence hose diameter is quite small, and a lot of oil to pump.

Ok, no reason for it to take that long. I Have the same type function vac pump but a larger one that takes 11 ltrs in one go. If it takes you that long your vac pump is spending most of its time pumping air or you are not giving it enough vacuum pressure.
Having said that and realizing you have some 40 ltr's to swap every now and then I would go with the other suggestions in this thread.

 

[jfm]

You need a reversible electric pump permanently plumbed into the drain plug hole of each engine and gearbox and selected via valves on a manifold. You can then also refill the engines and gearboxes via the pump. A bit of work to install but the happiness next time the oils need changing makes it all worthwhile. Have a look at the Reverso system.

Another +1 from me. You could install it in < 9 hours and after that oil changes are a breeze. Once you have this you'll never thing about anything else

I had Reverso (usa) on my last boat but Wasp (uk) on current one. Not much difference; both very nice. Get one with a gear pump not impeller imho

http://www.wasp-pfs.com/explore/oil-change-systems/oil-change-systems
http://reversopumps.com/oil-change-systems/oil-change-3020-medium-duty

 

[volvopaul]

I changed the oil on the 2 Cat 3126's in my Snazi yesterday. Started at 1 pm, finished at 9.30! 8.5 hours for an oil change anyone? The main problem for me was the bulk to be vacuumed out, 25 litres in each lump. It took more than 3 hours to drain the ld oil, and nearly an hour to fill. Obviously draining was slightly quicker when the oil was still hot, but after a couple of hours cooling, it was thickening up. I then had the challenge of tranferring this to a large container, which became quite a messy business, but not half as messy as filling the engines. 12 fills with my 2 litre oil can for each lump. Not much room between the engines, and getting in and out of the engine room for somebody of my size and lack of flexibility was wearing. I learnt a very important lesson with the stbd engine oil filter, wait until you have sucked out at least 6 litres before removing the filter, as is gushed black slimy stuff into my pristeen bilge! Not happy, and of course, more time to clean up!

So, any suggestions to speed up next time?

Yes. It's what you pay us guys for!

Your engines have suction pumps fitted.

 

[aquapower]

Yes. It's what you pay us guys for!

Your engines have suction pumps fitted.

I have not yet seen a CAT without hand or electric pump fitted, also does gearbox

 

[Firefly625]

Yes. It's what you pay us guys for!

Your engines have suction pumps fitted.

+1

It's easy when you know how, if you don't know pay someone who does.

 

[rafiki_]

Yes. It's what you pay us guys for!

Your engines have suction pumps fitted.

Paul, they do, but are the pumps any good?

 

[rafiki_]

+1

It's easy when you know how, if you don't know pay someone who does.

There are jobs I am happy to pay an expert to do, but an oil change is not one of them.

 

[oGaryo]

There are jobs I am happy to pay an expert to do, but an oil change is not one of them.

+1

 

[sunquest]

I changed the oil on the 2 Cat 3126's in my Snazi yesterday. Started at 1 pm, finished at 9.30! 8.5 hours for an oil change anyone? The main problem for me was the bulk to be vacuumed out, 25 litres in each lump. It took more than 3 hours to drain the ld oil, and nearly an hour to fill. Obviously draining was slightly quicker when the oil was still hot, but after a couple of hours cooling, it was thickening up. I then had the challenge of tranferring this to a large container, which became quite a messy business, but not half as messy as filling the engines. 12 fills with my 2 litre oil can for each lump. Not much room between the engines, and getting in and out of the engine room for somebody of my size and lack of flexibility was wearing. I learnt a very important lesson with the stbd engine oil filter, wait until you have sucked out at least 6 litres before removing the filter, as is gushed black slimy stuff into my pristeen bilge! Not happy, and of course, more time to clean up!

So, any suggestions to speed up next time?

Paul, they do, but are the pumps any good?

I have two cat3116 TA's with manual pumps switchable for either gearbox or engine oil change. Only used them once when I wanted to draw off an excess litre of oil. I was shown by an ex Finnings engineer to disconnect the flexible pipe at the pump, connect a hose through an electric Jabsco pump and pump out into an empy can. Refilling was easy by reversing the pump and placing the hose into the oil filler hole. Tip, take out the oil filler cap before pumping out to reduce the vacuum effect.

 

[MapisM]

I have two cat3116 TA's with manual pumps switchable for either gearbox or engine oil change

Same here.
Surely not as convenient as the Reverso thing or similar, but quite manageable.

 

[rafiki_]

Looks like the best thing to do, short of plumbing in an electric pump system, is to disconnect the hose to the internal manual pump, and use a electric pump to evacuate from there.