Dumb oil change question

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Jun 5, 2004
241
Catalina 30 MkII Foss Harbor Marina, Tacoma, WA
My '90 C30 mk II has the universal MXP25. I normally suck the oil out of the dipstick tube with a small pump. I dont feel like im getting all the oil out. I noticed a plastic tube coming out of the oil sump and just tied off above the motor. Is this for oil extraction? if so, how is it done...same as the dipstick method, or is there a way to gravity drain it?

Thank you

Steve
S/V Sonrisa
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,101
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Smart oil change question

You can't drain stuff uphill, right? That hose is an oil drain tube and you can hook a small hand pump, an oil extraction system pump or an electric pump to it and use it to drain the oil.

Because the engine is tilted backwards somewhat, there is no way, I repeat, no way, to get ALL of the engine oil out of the pan. Some will always remain. These engines have been built that way in Catalinas since the early 80s and most of 'em are still going strong. Change the engine oil every period of your choice and have a happy engine.

I cobbled together a fitting that fits on the end of my hand pump's hose that connects to that hose, no mess, no fuss. Found the fitting at a hardware store.

Read this, too: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5223.0.html
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,101
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
That's a great video, and nice toes, too! :D The key is the connector between the oil sump drain hose and whatever method you choose to extract the oil. Our hand pump puts it into an old plastic orange juice container. For the M25 engine, open the oil refill cap as well as picking up on the dip stick to break that seal.
 
Jun 5, 2004
241
Catalina 30 MkII Foss Harbor Marina, Tacoma, WA
Thanks for the info guys. I like that hand pump, my electric pump slings oil all over the place. Perhaps why my engine doesnt look like Maine's...I'd eat off that thing.
 
May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
None of our engines look like Maine's. I have been sucking mine through the dipstick tube and you will never get it all out. that is okay because you change oil every 50 hours and the filter the same. The engine will be happy this way!
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,721
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
None of our engines look like Maine's. I have been sucking mine through the dipstick tube and you will never get it all out. that is okay because you change oil every 50 hours and the filter the same. The engine will be happy this way!
For most all engines you can buy a sump hose adapter kit which sucks the oil out of the bottom of the pan. Even if you don't, what Bad O said is true. My only caveat would be for those of us that have winters. It would be a good idea to change the oil twice in the fall (flush it) so you know you don't have acids and contaminates sitting in the engine sump.

Another option, to get the rest out, is to use a tin foil baking pan for say lasagna and fill it with bilge pads then stuff it under the engine and pull the drain plug..

It's really not that tough to keep you engine looking that good but you do need to look it over once a week and use a microfiber towel to keep up with any belt dust or oil or salt. I do this when ever I check my fluids and it takes about five extra minutes.

As my dad always said...... "If you don't keep up, you'll never catch up."
 
Jan 4, 2006
262
Catalina 36 MKII Buford, Ga.
Re: It's done like this...

Hi Maine,

I use the PAR Jabsco hand pump... it works fine, it just leaks around the pump seals. I want to upgrade and am going to put the Moeller unit on my Christmas wish list. One question,...did the Moeller unit come with a larger diameter hose that might connect to the oil sump fitting? Santa would need to know this.
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,721
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Hi Maine,

I use the PAR Jabsco hand pump... it works fine, it just leaks around the pump seals. I want to upgrade and am going to put the Moeller unit on my Christmas wish list. One question,...did the Moeller unit come with a larger diameter hose that might connect to the oil sump fitting? Santa would need to know this.
Made my own hose adapter for the sump drain in the Home Depot brass fittings aisle.. Cost about $6.00... The hose is heavy wall outboard motor fuel hose that won't collapse under suction with warm oil. Once you get the Moeller and know the treads on the sump drain it will take you about five minutes at HD to come up with a way to connect the two.
 
May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
Don't forget to run your engine for a while to heat up the oil. It extracts much better warm. This is something that shouldn't be overlooked.

In the end, extract as much oil as you can, change the filter, and then put your oil back in. Do this every 50 hours and you will have a VERY happy diesel that will run for a VERY long time.
 
May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
Don't forget to run your engine for a while to heat up the oil. It extracts much better warm. This is something that shouldn't be overlooked.

In the end, extract as much oil as you can, change the filter, and then put your oil back in. Do this every 50 hours and you will have a VERY happy diesel that will run for a VERY long time.
 
May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
Don't forget to run your engine for a while to heat up the oil. It extracts much better warm. This is something that shouldn't be overlooked.

In the end, extract as much oil as you can, change the filter, and then put your oil back in. Do this every 50 hours and you will have a VERY happy diesel that will run for a VERY long time.
 
Jun 8, 2004
96
Catalina 30 Seabrook Texas
Maine Sail's engine looks great and is the envy of all of us, also the room around the engine. I tried to get to the drain plug on my C30 with the M25, no room to get a wrench on it, you can't even get your fingers there. I think the only way to get a fitting on the pan is to temporarily raise the engine an inch or two to gain space. Has anyone been able to do it without raising the engine? zit sure beats using the dip stick tube.
 
Jun 5, 2004
241
Catalina 30 MkII Foss Harbor Marina, Tacoma, WA
wow...every 50 hrs? I had read somewhere every 100...which for me equates to once a season...guess I need to step it up a bit. Thanks for the info.
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,101
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Don't Do This!!!

Maine Sail's engine looks great and is the envy of all of us, also the room around the engine. I tried to get to the drain plug on my C30 with the M25, no room to get a wrench on it, you can't even get your fingers there. I think the only way to get a fitting on the pan is to temporarily raise the engine an inch or two to gain space. Has anyone been able to do it without raising the engine? zit sure beats using the dip stick tube.
Seriously, with an M25 you DO NOT WANT TO REMOVE THE HOSE from the engine's oil pan. If you do, you will need to go to Universal and buy a new washer, since I recall it is a crush washer that requires replacement. I did it this way once and became firmly convinced to never do it again. Then I tried the dipstick - it is a stupid way to try to remove oil, too small takes forever to pump out. Get the adapter we recommend, and use the bloody hose, that's why they put it there in the first place!!!:):):)

And also, take the experience of this group and learn from it to avoid doing things the hard way. This forum and others were NOT here in 1998 when I did my first oil change.
 
Jun 8, 2004
96
Catalina 30 Seabrook Texas
Stu:

I do not have the hose at the bottom of the pan. I wanted to put one in, only problem is lack of access to do it unless the engine is raised. Did Catalina ever use the drain hose or is that something you added?
 
Jul 10, 2010
23
Catalina 30 Edmonds
Re: It's done like this...

After looking at Maine Sail's video on the Moeller Fluid Extractor, I bought one. It works great; no messy containers to clean up.
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,101
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Catalinas came with the hose, as far as I know It's the engine. A friend with the M25 had an Ericson!
 
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