Help with my first oil change?

[jake's02-22i]

I am going to attempt to change my own oil after coming off the water this Sunday. I just want to make sure that I have everything covered.

1) Drive the boat around the river to get the engine hot then put on trailer.

2) Put that drain tube through my drain plug hole.

3) Set up something to catch the oil and unscrew the plug in the hose.

4) After I have about 5 quarts drained out plug back up and fill up with oil.

I know i just made it sound easier then it probably is. Am i missing any steps? What oil should i use? Can I get that oil at Autozone? it is a 2002 350 mercury MerCruiser.

[Lightning Rod]

Don't forget the filter, That's a PITA all by itself, get ready for a mess

I used 10-40 Marine Grade Amsoil, just changed mine last week

Have Fun

[zad0030]

If you have the filter that sits upside down, poke a hole in the top with a screwdriver so the oil runs out.

[jake's02-22i]

Good ideas. Thanks.

So 10-40 Oil? does it matter what kind? Does it have to be marine grade?

[whitlock87]

If you are draining it through the black hose, it will take a few hours to drain completely.

I drain mine over night so it does not matter if it hot or not.

Have fun

[bobbysky]

If your filter sits upside down. Use a heavy duty ziplock bag and put it around the whole thing as you unscrew it. Should catch all the oil and make absolutely no mess.

[jake's02-22i]

Great Idea Bobbyski. Thanks.

[jake's02-22i]

I just looked at the Mercury website and it states this below.

Mercury MerCruiser Full-Synthetic Engine Oil, 20W-40, NMMC FC-W rated

[murphini]

ditto on ziplock bag for filter. I just showed that trick to my son changing oil on his 2002 Camry.

Other idea is get one of the suction dipstick pumps to pump oil out. My MarinePower 5.7 has a pre-installed drain hose. The suction pump works great.

[boatwakes]

The Mercury oil is 25w-40 and you can't find it at Autozone. If your filter sits upside down, there's an antidrainback valve in it and you must get the correct filter for replacement: Baldwin B360, Fram PH6606 and whatever the Mercruiser/Quicksilver number is but West marine carries the filters and the oil.

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

And get some old beach towels you arent too attached to. It's messier than a drunken prom date.

[jake's02-22i]

And get some old beach towels you arent too attached to. It's messier than a drunken prom date.

Haha. I just has a visual.

[IDBoating]

I've changed my oil twice so far. Once with the "drain it out the hose through the hull drain plug" method, which took hours and given the amount (only about three quarts) didn't actually drain all of the oil.

After some discussion, kko (a user here) recommended one of those suction-driven oil extractor pumps - specifically a MityVac 7400. Here's what it looks like:



I bought one and made a quick trip to the hardware store to get the fitting that connected the pump's hose directly to the engine's drain line (the one that comes off the oil pan at the bottom).

Hooked it up and WOW!!! I wish every tool worked as well as this one. I pulled 4+ quarts of warm oil in about two minutes (not a typo), until the hose was sucking air out of the oil pan. Clean, no spills, no mess, not one drop of oil out of place. Best and fastest oil change I've ever performed on any vehicle, and normally inboards are known for being a PITA.

I second (third?) the ziploc around the oil filter. Works like a charm.

The 7400 extractor costs about $70 online. Seriously, order one TODAY and wait until it arrives to change your oil. It's a near-religious experience to see how well the pump works, and how easy and clean and fast an oil change on an inboard can be. You'll never go back.

Hope this helps!

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

WAb's gotta get to church more often... lololol