Engine question

[Bill O'Donovan]

Is there in fact an oil drain plug on the bottom of the 18 HP Yanmar 2GMF diesel, to preclude pumping it out?

 

[Steve O.]

well...

Yes, there is, but good luck trying to reach it, and forget about putting a pan under there to drain the oil into. It won't fit. Sucking the oil out is still the easiest way.

 

[Howard]

Manual Sucker Works Best

After years of draining the oil with the plug I finally bought a Tempo manual oild suction unit from West Marine. It coust about $40.00. Is looks like a cylinder with a bycicle pump handel on top. You clip a suction tube on the top and put the tube into the tube into the dipstick area and make about 10 to 15 pumps. It sucks all the oil out. Works great on the transmission oil too. also works on lawn movers, garden tractors and snow blowers. Try it.

 

[Tim Schaaf]

Oil Change Solution

After years of struggling with all manner of half baked solutions, I removed the pan, tapped it (it was much more substantial than predicted by the Yanmar mechanic), put in a drain tube with an elbow to parallel the bottom of the pan, added a valve and a nipple, then attached a hose. This hose has one of those outboard motor gas line squeeze bulbs. To drain my oil, I simply open the valve, and begin pumping. It takes about a minute to a minute and a half, and there is absolutely no mess....takes away all hesitance to undertake an oil change. If you are going to keep your boat for awhile, the investment in time to undertake something like this will be amply repaid. And, if there ALREADY is a drain plug....!I have been contemplating a remote fitting for my oil filter. If it were suspended vertically, instead of horizontally on the engine, I could change this without any mess or hassle, too. If anyone has any ideas on who might have such a fitting, I would love to hear it.