How to Extract Oil From a Boat's Engine
A boat's oil should be changed after 100 hours of use, or at least once a year if the boat sits idle.
Draining and removing the oil from the engine is the first step to changing the oil, and for most engine types it is a basic process that should require only a few minutes to complete.
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Things You'll Need
- Ratchet set
- Oil drain pump
- Catch container or absorption pad
- Short hose or PVC pipe (optional)
Instructions
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Use a ratchet to remove the drain plug from the boat's engine. The plug is usually located on the bottom of the engine. Place a container or absorption pad under the drain's hole to catch the used oil.
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Pump or suck the oil through the dipstick tube with an oil-change pump if the drain plug is inaccessible. These adapters are ideal for marine engines that do not have a drain plug. A typical oil-change pump screws directly to the dipstick tube, then the oil is removed by pulling and pumping it's the handle.
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Mount the pump to the bulkhead, if there is not enough access to screw it onto the dipstick. Connect it with a hose, such as a very short garden hose or PVC pipe, and proceed to extract the oil by pumping the adapter's handle. Make sure the tube is long enough to reach the bottom of the engine oil pan.
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Extract the oil from a small marine engine by unscrewing the oil cap and turning the engine upside down, allowing the oil to flow outward and onto an absorption pad or into a container. When finished, turn the engine upward again and reattach the oil cap.
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Refill the boat's engine with fresh oil after extracting the old oil, and replace the oil filter. Remember to reattach the drain plug, dipstick, or oil cap when finished.
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Tips & Warnings
Failure to use the proper size pump could be detrimental to the engine.
Follow all local and state laws concerning storage, disposal or recycling of motor oil.
References
- Photo Credit four people on an inflatable boat image by Xavier MARCHANT from Fotolia.com
