Oil Pan removal

[SunCat]

I have a Yanmar 1995 3GM30 diesel engine, when I removed all the screws retaining the oil pan it stayed in place because the compression of the gasket, my question is weather there are any places around the block specifically marked to insert a flat head screwdriver to pry out the oil pan? the engine is installed in my Hunter 35.5 legend and I would hate to screw somenthing up on the engine. My aim on this project is to install an oil drain plug on the oil pan to easilly change the oil, putting an small tube thru the oil dip stick does not remove all the oil.

Gene

 

[Neil McDonald]

Yes But

putting an small tube thru the oil dip stick does not remove all the oil

True... ...but a tube can get most of it providing that you know you need to use either a slightly bent or flexible tube to get around the oil pickup assembly which lies right in the path of the dipstick! Using a straight tube will leave a substantial amount of oil in the pan because it can not reach the pan bottom.

 

[SunCat]

Re: Yes But

Neil, an slight bend I think it would be very difficult because of the small diameter of the dipstick tube and I think a flexible tube will collapse under the pressure of the vaccum pump, what system do you use in your boat?.
Thanks for your reply,
Gene

 

[Neil McDonald]

Neil, a slight bend I think it would be very difficult because of the small diameter of the dipstick tube and I think a flexible tube will collapse under the pressure of the vaccum pump, what system do you use in your boat?.

Most oil extraction units come supplied with flexible tube which does work. However this is pathetically slow because the manufacturer does not know the size of tube that the dipstick hole in your engine will accept and therefore conservatively assumes only a very small one.

I discovered that a 5/16 inch outside diameter metal tube will fit snugly in the dip stick hole of a Yanmar 3GM30 with very little room to spare! This tube can be bent by hand very slightly - trial and error - to miss the obstruction and reach the bottom of the pan. I use semi-rigid brake line tube that can be picked up from any autoparts store for less than $5. Just cut the fittings off the ends. The extraction system works best if you try to keep all tubes as large in diameter and as short in length as possible.

 

[Sailgunner]

We all use the extraction system and seems to work for thousands of sailors. Do you really need a drain plug?

 

[SunCat]

I really don't want to go thru the trouble of removing the oil pan and installing a drain plug...so I think I will use suggestions given and stick with a vacuum pump and a flexible tube.
Thanks to you all.
Gene

 

[Neil McDonald]

Brake Tube

I think I will use suggestions given and stick with a vacuum pump and a flexible tube.

The "brake line" tube is much better than a flexible tube for two reasons. Firstly because it is rigid you will get much better control of the tube. Secondly the metal tubes are much thinner walled than than a comparable OD plastic tube and thus have a larger internal diameter and will therefore suck oil out more efficiently, ie quicker.

 

[BroadReach]

Have to find out how.

Sorry for the empty post but I have to find out how to import images from Picassa 3 into this reply thread format.

Broad Reach