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1979 Mercruiser 260 oil change?

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Robert Wright

New member
First time posting here,

I know motors but am very new to the boating scene. My father-in-law passed away and left us a completely stock 1979 Sea Ray SRV 240 Cuddy Cabin cruiser. The motor in it is a factory Mercruiser 260. When he stored it he knew it was going to sit for a while so he had the motor rebuilt. The boat had sat for 17 years but after a bit of work I got it to turn over and then started 2 winters ago. At the time I was short on cash so I stopped working on it. I have been trying to get the boat water worthy for this summer so I have been working on it. The motor wouldn't idle when I ran it before so I rebuilt the quadrajet, it was pretty dirty from sitting in the ocean air for all that time. I installed the carb yesterday and when I tried to turn it over the motor was locked. I grabbed a wrench and socket and tried to turn it over by hand and it still wouldn't budge. I then pulled the dipstiick out and sure enough there was water in the oil. The oil was like new when i ran it a 2 years ago.

I am now wondering what I should do next. I know I need to get the water and oil out of the crankcase but I have no idea how to change the oil in the motor. I am a very big guy (6'3") and have tried to get at the drain plug but can't get at it with my big arm and shoulder. I am now wondering what is the easiest way to do it? I don't have any books or literature on the boat, so I have no clue how a lot of stuff is done.

I am also wondering how water got in the crankcase? The motor was in great shape and stored properly by my father-in-law and it only has around 90 hours on it. When I ran it before it was only for a little bit to test the motor and it ran fine other then the idle.

Thank you in advance for any help you guys can give,
Robert
 
Hi Robert,
Do a search for an oil change system. The system has a tube that goes down the engine dipstick tube. You can get manual hand pump versions or electric pumps that run off of the boat battery. I use a Jabsco brand and have had good luck with it.

To get better help on the engine problems you will need to post what engine and drive you have on the boat.
 
The motor is a 350 chevy (merc 260) 260 hp rating......

How did water get in the motor? did it get in from rain or rain filling the boat from the inside or did it get below freezing for a few days since you last worked on it? Your answers will lead to better answers from us........

If water has siezed the rings to cyclinder walls the motor may need to be tore down and resealed and rehoned (worse case).

the mercriuser dip stick should have a threaded end on it. Check and see. It uses a standard garden hose fitting and any marina will sell the hand pump to get the oil out......
 
I use a drill pump kit w/a long siphon tube. Cheap and effective...use a battery powered drill for convenience.
 
I like the vacuum pump that came with my boat. It takes just a few pumps (fewer than 20) to suck all the oil out using a flexible tube inserted into the dipstick tube. If there's more oil than the pump's container can hold it will just stop sucking. You don't even have to touch the oil - you can take the whole works to the recycle barrel and empty it there. Here's an example: http://www.moellermarine.com/aftermarket/maintenance/fluid_extractors/
 
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