Need some help -

Gen IV 502 oil change - the hose bottoms out at the bottom of the dipstick tube and does not get in far enough to suck any oil out - is there something I am doing wrong? This was supposed to be the easiest part of my day and has turned into a 2 weekend frustration.

I have also rigged up fittings to put the hose directly on the threaded dipstick to no avail either. Any help would be appreciated before I lose my temper! I am using a "SureFlo" diaphram pump that I just bought at West Marine - the one that is attached directly to a disposal bucket.

Thanks,

Eric

During the past ten years, I have purchased two of the electrical Sure Flo pumps. Neither one ever worked worth a damn and after experiencing several multi weekend frustrations, I threw them both away and ripped up my memebership to Boat US. They were both extraordinarily messy and just plain didn't work. I felt like a total dumb ass each time I used one of them. They just plain couldn't suck the oil out. I tried everything from priming to cursing and nothing worked. I stopped at a West Marine one day and figured I would try one of their tall canisters with a hand pump. I think it was about $60.00. I was amazed. The thing worked great. No fuss and it took all of about 5 minutes to suck the pan dry.

I don't know what the deal with the Sure-Flo units is. I couldn't get mine to work and Boat US just told me that I was doing something wrong. The wrong part was that I bought two of the GD things and wasn't smart enough to know any better.

I use a jabsco pump bucket, I connect hose to top of dipstick secure with a hose clamp. Sometimes find it nec to prime pump and fill lines with oil. For the most part it works very well. Also found the manual vacuum pump works well too.
Jim

How do you know it doesn't get to the bottom?I've used the manual pump that screws to the dipstick top for 12 years.Just bought an electric one,it worked for half a change.The problem with boat engines is you always feel like you're never getting it all out.

Well - thanks everyone - but I got pissed and contortioned myself enough to take the drain plugs out. It was, and still IS messy. I am just going to rig up a hose to be able to drain it out of the back of the boat from now on. I appreciate everyone input - if anyone knows of a company that makes a kit like this let me know. I am off to check West Marine/Boatersworld.

Thanks,

Eric

Trick Marine sells these type of kits for $19

You have to get the pump that is manually operated.In other words the hand pump type sold at West Marine and they work great.I change my oil every 10 to 12 engine hours and it really only takes about 5 minutes to suck all the oil out.The key is to run the motor for a few minutes to get the oil warm...comes right out.

I have the electric oil pump/container from the Overtons catalog. It works awesome. Little pricey, but works like a champ. No mess, at all. Goes all the way down the dipstick tube till it bottoms out.
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/prod...=72071&aID=24A

-Ryan

I ended up getting fittings and rigging up a drain hose off of the plug - wasn't a fun job with the engines IN the boat but after a half a day of hanging upside down in the bilge it is DONE...

Thanks,

Eric

I have the sureflow from west and it works great. It will even pull out room temp 20/50 and I have 14qt pans. The only thing that I can think of that is different on mine......is that my engine builder ran a dedicated #6 drain line from the pan to the dron of my motors. I put a #6 male 90 degree fitting on the sureflow pump and I just screw my number six extension line that I made to the pump with a #6 female and then screw a #6 union to the other end of the extension line and to the pump out on my motor. I do not leak 1 drop of oil.....it could not work any better.