Yanmar oil pans

[sailaway78]

With the combination of first off being messy, and secondly not being able to get all the oil out, because of the engine tilt. Every time I change oil there is approx. a quart that can't be removed via the dip stick. I would like to put a drain plug in the back of the oil pan on a Yanmar 3GM. The thought is to remove the oil pan, and drill and tap a fitting at the rear. Then install a small electric pump, which would be much less messy, and would get all the oil out. I know the pan is cast aluminum, but have no idea of how thick the material is. Has anyone ever done this, or does anyone know if the pan material is thick enough, or strong enough to hold a fitting like this, without a danger of cracking or breaking or leaking. My thinking is to just attach a threaded "L", possibly using something like Marine Tex or other epoxy to reinforce it, and go with tubing from there, not having much weight on the pan itself. As usual, any thoughts, ideas or suggestions greatly appreciated.

 

[DougM]

As long as you plan to drop the pan anyway, rather than take the chance on a threaded fitting, have you considered taking the pan to your local friendly weld shop and having the fitting brazed to the pan from both sides?

The metal gauge is relatively thin and this might be a way to add some reinforcemint around the fitting.

 

[kloudie1]

Haven't done it yet, Phil.. Was on the list for last winter but mast compression post took precidence.. And... a dockmate was changing his oil. He was using an old plastic sprayer, like a 1.5 gallon one to spray for bugs .. He reversed the hose in the tank so there is a long fairly stiff plastic tube (was teh tank dip tube) that can go into the dipstick hole. He took off the pump part and inserted a vacuum hose from a small shop vac in the top of the big opening of the tank. Tank works to separate the oil from teh air going to the vacuum.. the tank catches all the oil.. Worked very well when he turned on the vacuum! I have all of the components but have not tried it yet.. looks prretty slick.. I will report when I use my rig. Going to try that before pulling the pan.

 

[sailaway78]

Is what I'm using now

Kloudie,
The shop vac, bug sprayer is what I am using now. It is much better than any of the other pumps etc. that I have used before. Still requires another transfer of the old oil into something to dispose of it in. Also still leaves quite a bit of oil in the pan, which cannot be removed through the dip stick. My engine is mounted with a fairly severe angle. If it was mounted a little flatter, I would probably stick with that method. But it just seems that changing the oil when you are forced to leave quite a bit of the old oil in there is not the best idea. The new oil is black within a very short time. As to having a welding shop weld the fitting in there, is an idea, but not sure I can find a suitable aluminum fitting. Don't think that a brass or copper fitting can be welded to aluminum.

 

[SamLust]

Easy;

I did this on the 3GM30 I installed in my Hunter 33. The aluminim is more than thick enough, about 3/8". I use a valve and hose arrangement. I drilled and tapped for 1/4" pipe thread. Out of the pan there is: 90 degrees street ell facing forward, ball valve, hose barb, hose, 90 degree barb fitting, hose going vertical to a point above the oil level. the last , vertical hose is open ended. No rteason to close it. I stick my oil pump-out pipe into the vertical hose, open the valve and pump away. Speed of the pump doesn't matter because the oil can't go above it's own level. I Have been doing this for over 10 years. Never spilled a drop and I get as much oil out of the pan as is possible.

 

[BroadReach]

Yanmar 3GM30 oil pan

Gentlemen,
Have a look at these pictures and you will see why some cannot get out all the oil.
Broad reach.

 

[BroadReach]

Oil Pan Pix #2

Sorry missed on the pix trx.

BR

 

[Alan]

I did exactly that the year I bought my boat. Removed and tapped a 90 degree bronze elbow into the pan facing forward. To that I added a small ball valve from an old Jaguar radiator. For oil changes I slide a one gallon anti freeze jug under the oil pan drain with a hole cut out. I open the ball valve and let gravity do all the work. I usually let it drain overnight and close and fill the next day. The engine only holds 3 qts so the gallon jug is just fine. Never any mess or cussin' and ALL the oil is changed.