In one of my former lives, about 45 years ago, I did not have the money to pay someone else to change the oil my car. So, I would save up my quarters and buy 5 quarts of oil and an oil filter at the local HEB or gas station. I would drive home and park my car on a rise in the yard. That way I would have room to crawl under the car easily. It would be even better if there was a depression in the ground right before the rise. Then I would have plenty of room.
I would then remove the drain plug on the oil pan and drain the oil on the ground. If there was grass under the car, then I would catch the oil in the bottom of an old 5-gallon gas can. It had been modified by cutting of the top off about 5 inches from the bottom.
Most of the time the oil filter was in easy reach from under the car so I would not have to crawl out from under the car to remove the oil filter. I would then replace the plug and put a new filter on. Then I would get my funnel, where was the funnel, oh well I could hit the filler hole without it. Pouring most of the oil into the engine was the most challenging part of the job. Of course, I knew that you only poured in the first 4 quarts and then started the engine. I always wanted to only pour half of the last quart in so that I would have some to put in when the old clunker would burn some and I would have to replace it.
If I caught the oil in the pan, then I would take it to the nearest red ant bed and pour it down the hole. There was no such thing as a recovery collection center.
I mentioned this only because after changing the oil in the cat engines I was reminiscing the simpler times when life was uncomplicated by rules and regulations. Of course, I could have done things differently and kept from smelling burning oil after every oil change. But I was young and dumb and didn’t know better. Don’t listen to the adults all they do is make things more complicated.
Now for changing oil in my Cats.
First, there is a pump to remove the oil and to put the oil back in.
Third, there are two filters on my Cats on each engine that must be replaced without spilling oil.
Finally, each Cat holds about 2 ½ gallons of oil. There is a disposal problem with this much oil.
The Starboard engine was my starting point. I could remove the oil filters easily since they were in the center of the boat. My filter wrench did the trick. I had a bowl large enough to catch any oil underneath the filter. Getting the oil filters past the hoses was tricky without spilling oil especially since some of the oil spilled down the side of the filter making it very slippery. A thumb in the hole gave me a good hold.
Now the Port engine was another story. The oil filters are on the outboard side of the engine. The exhaust hose, the propeller shaft and the same hoses on the Starboard engine. If I was a contortionist it would not be a problem. So first the exhaust hose comes off. Then straddling the propeller shaft I removed the filters. It is a balancing act first class.
It all takes about half a day to change the oil in both of my Cats. If it had not been for the advice and help of my mentor Valt Melbardis it would have taken a full day if not longer. The moral of this story is find that boater that has experience and patience and keep them close.
Bye George 