Transmission Oil Change

M

mawyatt

New Member
Dec 13, 2007
1,001
Clearwater, Fl
Boat Info
2008 Sundancer 38DA
Engines
8.1L Mercruisers
I got ZF63 IV oil and filter changed and created a real mess with transmission fluid all over the bildge. The filters were easy except watch out the large O-ring seats properly. It must hold the filter assembly in place otherwise you will have oil spraying all over!! The 63 IV with electronic shifting (have DTS) must have the oil drained not pumped out. The drain plug is at the bottom of the casting. I tried to "catch" the oil in various makeshift pans but most of the oil ended up in the bildge and on me!! What a mess!! The port transmission drain has about 1/2" clearance as faces to the port, the starboard isn't as bad as it faces to the center with 1~2" clearance. I spend a few hours with Serious Marine Cleaner cleaning things up.

Any ideas on how to avoid this in the future?
 
short of plumbing for a pump, all you need is a couple of strategically placed heavy duty plastic trash bags.
 
As Dave alluded to... Get a Reverso oil change system hooked up to the transmissions. Life will be good.
 
I wonder why Sea Ray doesn't put in a 5 point system to include the trannys instead of the 3 point system they currently install...:huh:

Four Suns said:
As Dave alluded to... Get a Reverso oil change system hooked up to the transmissions. Life will be good.
Click to expand...
 
mawyatt said:
I got ZF63 IV oil and filter changed and created a real mess with transmission fluid all over the bildge. The filters were easy except watch out the large O-ring seats properly. It must hold the filter assembly in place otherwise you will have oil spraying all over!! The 63 IV with electronic shifting (have DTS) must have the oil drained not pumped out. The drain plug is at the bottom of the casting. I tried to "catch" the oil in various makeshift pans but most of the oil ended up in the bildge and on me!! What a mess!! The port transmission drain has about 1/2" clearance as faces to the port, the starboard isn't as bad as it faces to the center with 1~2" clearance. I spend a few hours with Serious Marine Cleaner cleaning things up.

Any ideas on how to avoid this in the future?
Click to expand...


Mike,

What I would do is take a few high quality digital pictures of your situation in your bilge and then go visit a hydraulic hose supply store and show them what you have. They will be able to easily rig up something with a valve that you can screw into the drain hole on the transmission housing that you can then attach a flexible hose to which you can then drain into a container of some sort. I have installed two reverso oil change pumps on two different boats in the past and I was able to have my local hydraulic repair shop make all the hoses and their connections for me. You could probably buy what you need for less than $30.00. Your threads on your trans housing should be 1/2 inch tapered

Hope this helps
 
Why not just modify the existing Reverso oil change system by adding tees, nipples and valves to permit plumbing the two extra zones? Reverso sells the valves separately.

The transmissions are added by ½" NPT to hose barb. I used 5/8" hose for better flow.


OilChangeFuelCutoffFireExtinguisher.jpg
 
all you need is a couple of strategically placed heavy duty plastic trash bags.
Click to expand...

Wee wee pads from pet supply store work great too.
 
6 qrts of hot oil rushing out of the trani is a lot different than dog pee. Use the bags or get a reverso.
 
bmac said:
I wonder why Sea Ray doesn't put in a 5 point system to include the trannys instead of the 3 point system they currently install...:huh:
Click to expand...

My boat came with a 5 point system from Sea Ray....
 
Wee wee pads for overspill, obviously not for collecting 6 quarts.

Can't you evacuate 4+ quarts with an oil extracter through the dipstick? Then get the rest through the drain plug?

FrankW has often extolled the virtues of professional custom made hoses for tranny fluid extraction.

366982973_bg.jpg
 
rondds said:
Wee wee pads for overspill, obviously not for collecting 6 quarts.

Can't you evacuate 4+ quarts with an oil extracter through the dipstick? Then get the rest through the drain plug?

FrankW has often extolled the virtues of professional custom made hoses for tranny fluid extraction.

366982973_bg.jpg
Click to expand...

Ron,

These are the ZF 63 IV transmissions with electronic shifting. I wasn't able to get more than 1 qt thru the filter port, the other 3 qts from the drain.

As suggested I may install some plumming to make this easier in the future, the bag idea is really good also. Wish I knew that before the oil change, I would have had much less of a mess to clean up!!
 
bluebelly said:
Mike,

What I would do is take a few high quality digital pictures of your situation in your bilge and then go visit a hydraulic hose supply store and show them what you have. They will be able to easily rig up something with a valve that you can screw into the drain hole on the transmission housing that you can then attach a flexible hose to which you can then drain into a container of some sort. I have installed two reverso oil change pumps on two different boats in the past and I was able to have my local hydraulic repair shop make all the hoses and their connections for me. You could probably buy what you need for less than $30.00. Your threads on your trans housing should be 1/2 inch tapered

Hope this helps
Click to expand...

Thanks. Good idea!!
 
Four Suns said:
Cheaper to put in a new Reverso.
Click to expand...

Five valve Reverso System - $545
Hoses and auxiliarys - $200
Reason to trade up that wife won't question (too much) - priceless
 
bmac said:
I wonder why Sea Ray doesn't put in a 5 point system to include the trannys instead of the 3 point system they currently install...:huh:
Click to expand...

Mike would have no use for a five-point oil change system on his gas boat.
The ZF 63 (I own one) takes transmission fluid- not oil. I don't think pumping ATF into his engines is going to help their longevity...
 
tobnpr said:
Mike would have no use for a five-point oil change system on his gas boat.
The ZF 63 (I own one) takes transmission fluid- not oil. I don't think pumping ATF into his engines is going to help their longevity...
Click to expand...

Didn't think of that. Good point.
 
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