oil change system and Trans question

[witeagle]

Has anyone installed an oil change system or use a portable oil system (Cat 3116)
What about the transmissions, how do you get down there to change the oil?

[Newboat]

with a portable changer you can go right through the dip stick hole.

[witeagle]

even for the trans?

[Newboat]

yes, use the hose that comes with the portable changer to remove the tranmisson fluid by entering through the dip stick hole/fluid fill. Mine came with different size hoses so I just attach the appropriate hose to get down to the bottom. I would check your owners manual to see if there is a different way but I did it that way for years on my borg warner.

[CrazyIslandMoFo]

West Marine sells one "Moeller Fluid Extractor" low cost... this model is nice since the jug creates a vacuume effect (so you don't have to constantly pump) and comes with many options for hoses, this unit also has a reasonable cap and spout.... the one I have is 5qt volume, this could be a little larger to do a full oil change, if your running bigger diesels this could be an issue. there are many brands...some are electric,(no gasoline in electric) they all do about the same thing. going through the dipstic hole is common some motors have threaded tops on the dipstic tube, many units will have a adapter to fit this. the Moeller has a rubber grommet that fits into the trany and you adjust the hose to fit... Hope this helps???

[witeagle]

The boat is diesel and holds 20 quarts per engine. The model I was talking about was the permanently installed version. The tube is installed permanently through the oil pan. Not sure how to install this in the trans.

any ideas?

[kcummin]

WitEagle,
I have an 3-port Oil-X-Changer system installed on my boat. It is used to drain the port and starboard engines, and also the generator. They also have a 5 port model where you could have the two transmissions tapped in as well. Depending on your transmission model, there is a plug that will accept a drain fitting.

My thoughts were that the transission oil change interval was much longer and the volume of oil was much less in the tranny's (ZF)for me to worry about them. The diesel engines and the generator have much more oil volume, worthy of the oil-Xchanger to save time. I use a portable tempo to get the tranny oil via the dipstick, and the small volume fits.

http://www.x-change-r.com/

Hope this helps
Kevin

[witeagle]

Kevin,

This is exactly what I was thinking of. Thanks for the link.

[irishrogue]

we had reinforced wire hoses run from our ZF trannies over to the stringers and close off the ends with threaded caps. the hoses can be easily hooked up to a pump - the hoses tap into the bottom of the trannies so they drain completely.

we also had hoses tapped into the bottom of the cat 3116s and run to an inexpensive 12volt inline pump (suitable for oil and diesel) with a hose connection and two t valves with shut offs. the hose end also gets a brass cap in case the t valve is mistakenly turned on. Much cheaper set up than an oil exchange. wired a simply push pull switch next to the pump in the bilge area.