YeOldeStonecat
Active Member
- Jun 10, 2018
- 332
- Boat Info
- '97 300 DA "Me-Shell"
- Engines
- Twin 5.7 V-Drive
I've been reading up on changing oil in the 5.7's...that there are pump kits out there you use on the dipstick. While some articles or reviews or opinions say they don't get enough old oil out, and can't suck up the sludge that accumulates on the bottom of the oil pan, I think these pump kits will still help me in that I'll change the oil more often anyways..and perhaps have the marina do the "full" oil change every year or two that gets the bottom sludge out.
So..I've read the pumps utilize the dipstick tube..and that there are also optional "larger diameter" tubes that allow the pump to work faster...instead of trying to sip it all out through a skinny straw. I notice my engines have a second tube with a yellow rubber nipple on them? Is this an add-on kit for the pump kit? Each engine has one, and they appear to be at the same fore/aft level as the regular dipstick.
I'm also concerned with what appears to be some engines thirsty for oil. I checked the oil levels before doing a 2 hour ride out (and then back) across the sound last weekend, they were 3/4 low so I topped both engines up. About 6 weeks ago I topped off starboard engine with almost 1 qt. But I notice prior owner appeared to use 10/30 oil based on seeing oil jugs in one of the storage lockers. Wondering if that oil is just too thin, appears Merc recommends 20/40 or something thicker. We closed on the boat end of June, engines around 600 hours. While the bilge isn't the cleanest around (I'm working on it)...appears to be just typical 20 years of built up slop 'n sludge down there, no free running wet oil that I can see...so I'm doubting a leak. Had compression test done on one engine that backfired a lot from the sea trial (ended up replacing distie and rotor and wires fixed that)..comp test results were decent..2x cylinders with a hair lower than others but mechanic said within 15% margin.
Recommendations on pump kit that does the best at sucking out all the old thicker oil that accumulates down in the sump pan?
Below pics taken after hosing her down hence why it's all wet in there. Dipstick is obvious..with the yellow loop handle, but opposite it on each engine, is what looks similar to a dipstick but has the yellow nipple on it.
So..I've read the pumps utilize the dipstick tube..and that there are also optional "larger diameter" tubes that allow the pump to work faster...instead of trying to sip it all out through a skinny straw. I notice my engines have a second tube with a yellow rubber nipple on them? Is this an add-on kit for the pump kit? Each engine has one, and they appear to be at the same fore/aft level as the regular dipstick.
I'm also concerned with what appears to be some engines thirsty for oil. I checked the oil levels before doing a 2 hour ride out (and then back) across the sound last weekend, they were 3/4 low so I topped both engines up. About 6 weeks ago I topped off starboard engine with almost 1 qt. But I notice prior owner appeared to use 10/30 oil based on seeing oil jugs in one of the storage lockers. Wondering if that oil is just too thin, appears Merc recommends 20/40 or something thicker. We closed on the boat end of June, engines around 600 hours. While the bilge isn't the cleanest around (I'm working on it)...appears to be just typical 20 years of built up slop 'n sludge down there, no free running wet oil that I can see...so I'm doubting a leak. Had compression test done on one engine that backfired a lot from the sea trial (ended up replacing distie and rotor and wires fixed that)..comp test results were decent..2x cylinders with a hair lower than others but mechanic said within 15% margin.
Recommendations on pump kit that does the best at sucking out all the old thicker oil that accumulates down in the sump pan?
Below pics taken after hosing her down hence why it's all wet in there. Dipstick is obvious..with the yellow loop handle, but opposite it on each engine, is what looks similar to a dipstick but has the yellow nipple on it.