3116TA's - How much oil?

[osd9]

Just finished changing the oil for the first time since I took ownership of these Roaring Chambers of Torque. Started off by taking a short 1/2 hour trip in the Barnegat Bay to warm the oil up. Back at the dock, I used the Reverso oil exchanger and man what a breeze it is to get the old oil out of these engines with that gizmo. I used empty "pink stuff" clear gallon jugs to collect the old oil. It made it easy to see when the gallon jug was filled. After I had the engines drained, I then added three quarts of new oil to each engine (don't ask me why three, it just kind of happened that way) and then redrained through the reverso to kind of make sure as much of the old oil was out before I refilled with new oil. Getting the old oil filters off was a bit of a task, but not too bad. I used a craftsman strap wrench, as these filters are Jagundo large. None of the filter wrenches I have even came close to getting around these bad boys. I prefilled each filter with 2 quarts of oil, yes 2 quarts, before spinning them back on "Hand tight ONLY". I did not use the reverso to put the new oil back in. I bought gallons of Rotella T-30 and poured 5 additional gallons in to each engine and checed the sticks to confirm there was oil in the near vicinity of the minimum level tick. I started each engine and let them idle for about 5 minutes while I tidied up a bit and then shut them down and let them sit for about 10-15 more minutes while I continued putting all the jugs of old oil in the garage for my next trip to recycle yard (They're gonna love me....NOT). I rechecked the sticks and added 2 more quarts to each engine to bring them just below the top tick on the sticks. Each engine took 24 quarts.

Thanks for all the tips and advise.....

 

[Four Suns]

When I show up at the recycle center with 20 gallons of oil, I get in an argument with the guy there every time because it's not for "commercial disposal"... I have to explain every time it is from my boat and he still doesn't believe me.

Glad you got it done. Did the impeller not break on you from the reverso? Did you do the genny also?

 

[osd9]

The impeller didn't break, but I got to tell you, all's that kept going through my mind was....I hope the impeller holds out, because I ain't in the mood for changing it....

One more thing...in all my years of changing oil in boats, and cars for that matter, this was THE cleanist oil change I've ever done...bar none. I didn't spill one slippery drop....now I know the 12 gallons of oil in my garage just sprung a leak, and tomorrow moring I'll be cursing myself....

I didn't change the genie oil yet and I might even wait till the spring...heck, I put less than 10 hours on it and the oil was just changed when I took delivery....what weight oil would you guys use in a 7.5 KW diesel Westerbeke?

 

[ImpulseIII]

I used the same 30 weight Rotella T that I used in the engines...Good enough for Caterpillars...good enough for Westerbeke!

 

[Four Suns]

I also use the same oil in the genny as I do in the mains. I use the Valvoline Premium Blue stuff though.

 

[Warren]

I did my oil change about 3 weeks ago and found it to be just as clean and painless as you describe. I used Rotella T-30 also for all 3 engines in 5 gal. pails and I collected the old oil in 2 five gal. pails filling each about 1/2 way and pouring each quantity collected into a 275 gal. waste oil container located about 30 ft. away. I filled each engine with the reverso system after the process that you describe, also from the 5 gal. pail. It was my first change with the boat and it was accomplished with a friend above my head to help lifting the containers, passing the test sample bottles, filter wrench, etc.

One change that I would make next time would be to collect the lab samples directly from the hose rather pouring from the filter, although the test results were OK. I will also change the gennie oil at the same time with the same oil - and pledge to use it more in '08!

I had the Reverso impeller nearby too and share your sentiments about having to change that little item midstream during the process, Dom.
Cheers,
Warren