Jabsco 17850-1012 DIY Oil Changer.....very slow :(

J

jim_m5

Member
Aug 19, 2008
275
Woodstock, GA
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2000
Engines
7.4L 310hp V-Drives
I have been using this for several years and get frustrated each time. It is soo slow. I use full synthetics so it is thicker oil. I always make sure the oil is warm by running the engines for a few moments. It takes 45 - 55min per engine and I never get 7qrts out, usually about 6.

I have replaced the plastic dip stick hose a couple times but I think the trick is to run water or some type of cleaner thru it before you use it. The thick oil creates a residue buildup in the tube and reduces flow. I have also had to replace the impeller a couple times. Not really happy with this unit. Does anyone have any experience with this oil changer or tips to share?

and is there a better type of pump that you use?
 
Jim, at your next oil change try going for a good ride first then try give it a go. Running your engines at idle for a few minutes isn't going to get the oil hot enough. If that doesn't work I would look at the impeller inside the pump. Maybe it is shot or was defective when you bought it.
 
I get my engines good and hot and I'd say it takes 20-25 minutes of pumping to get all of the oil out, per engine. I figure this is par for the course?
 
That unit is "OK" and generally fine for once a year type things. If you want to step up your game, get the Jabsco unit with the bronze head - you'll have that thing for the rest of your life and probably won't even change the impeller again!

With your current unit... using that little plastic tube and sticking it down the dipstick tube is part of the problem... trying to suck all that oil through a tiny straw. Can you adapt your current pump to use a 3/8" ID hose direct from the pump head? A 3/8" ID hose will slip right onto the dipstick tube - often don't even need a clamp to seal tight enough, but it's a good idea. That way you're sucking it out through a larger tube and you should cut your time down a HUGE amount.

About 7qts is fine - that's about what I get out of them. There's still some oil left in the filter (even with it drained, there's a little there) and the filter lines - and I suspect some nooks and crannies here and there. But that's normal - all of these engines are like that. Using the pan drain doesn't really get much more out, so you're not missing anything there.

FYI... with a better setup and larger hose... about 7 or 8 minutes, tops, give or take.
 
This is the one I just bought. Hopefully
It’s the good one. About $215 delivered. 5287CB3D-0675-4710-BF09-802621F4810D.jpeg
 
RBB said:
This is the one I just bought. Hopefully
It’s the good one. About $215 delivered.View attachment 81399
Click to expand...

That’s the better one.
I’ve had it for years and it works great.
I had their cheaper one before that and it only lasted a very short time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RBB
jim_m5 said:
I have been using this for several years and get frustrated each time. It is soo slow. I use full synthetics so it is thicker oil. I always make sure the oil is warm by running the engines for a few moments. It takes 45 - 55min per engine and I never get 7qrts out, usually about 6.

I have replaced the plastic dip stick hose a couple times but I think the trick is to run water or some type of cleaner thru it before you use it. The thick oil creates a residue buildup in the tube and reduces flow. I have also had to replace the impeller a couple times. Not really happy with this unit. Does anyone have any experience with this oil changer or tips to share?

and is there a better type of pump that you use?
Click to expand...

As others have said, take the boat for a ride just before you do the oil changes and the oils will come out a lot faster.
Also, your Mercruisers should have dipsticks that are threaded (3/4” male hose) at the top. If so, use a 3/4” female hose fitting in the end of the black hose coming off of your Jabsco. Thread it on to the dipstick and it will make it even quicker and easier.
If for some reason your dipstick tubes aren’t threaded then you can use other fittings/adapters to get yourself from your pump to a rubber hose you can slip over the end of your dipstick tube tightly, put a hose clamp on it, and get a good seal that way. While not as easy as having a threaded dipstick tube, it will still be better than fishing a hose down in to the pan.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RBB
Take a look at the top of your dipstick tube where you check the oil. Most later MErcruisers have a threaded fitting made into the dipstick tube. The threads are garden hose fitting. You should be able to replace the 1/4" plastic hose with a short length of 1/2"-5/8" garden hose with a simple fitting on the pump inlet which should have NPT threads. Then all you would need to really speed up the fluid transfer is a simple NPT to GHT adapter from Lowes/Home Depot to connect the garden hose end to the oil change pump.
 
Lazy Daze said:
That unit is "OK" and generally fine for once a year type things. If you want to step up your game, get the Jabsco unit with the bronze head - you'll have that thing for the rest of your life and probably won't even change the impeller again!

With your current unit... using that little plastic tube and sticking it down the dipstick tube is part of the problem... trying to suck all that oil through a tiny straw. Can you adapt your current pump to use a 3/8" ID hose direct from the pump head? A 3/8" ID hose will slip right onto the dipstick tube - often don't even need a clamp to seal tight enough, but it's a good idea. That way you're sucking it out through a larger tube and you should cut your time down a HUGE amount.

About 7qts is fine - that's about what I get out of them. There's still some oil left in the filter (even with it drained, there's a little there) and the filter lines - and I suspect some nooks and crannies here and there. But that's normal - all of these engines are like that. Using the pan drain doesn't really get much more out, so you're not missing anything there.

FYI... with a better setup and larger hose... about 7 or 8 minutes, tops, give or take.
Click to expand...
Dennis,

Sorry for being dense....but to clarify...are you saying I can attach a 3/8" ID hose direct to the "top of dipstick tube" vs inserting my tiny straw all the way down the tube? And it will suck the all the oil out?

I guess I don't understand how the "tube" meets the oil pan, does the "tube" go all the way down to bottom of oil pan?
I thought the dip stick goes further down and that is why you have to insert the tiny straw to get to the bottom of pan.
 
jim_m5 said:
Dennis,

Sorry for being dense....but to clarify...are you saying I can attach a 3/8" ID hose direct to the "top of dipstick tube" vs inserting my tiny straw all the way down the tube? And it will suck the all the oil out?

I guess I don't understand how the "tube" meets the oil pan, does the "tube" go all the way down to bottom of oil pan?
I thought the dip stick goes further down and that is why you have to insert the tiny straw to get to the bottom of pan.
Click to expand...
No, not at all! Correct, use the dipstick tube, itself. But, I understand why you're asking. However, the dipstick tube goes close enough to the bottom of the pan as makes no difference. The oil flows up and into the dipstick tube to register on the stick. I (and other guys at the shop) do this with every boat.

One time, with one of my own boats, I was curious about the difference (between sucking and draining via the plug) and if any was left in the pan. I drained via the oil sucker (attached to the dipstick tube) and then unscrewed the drain plug... I got maybe another 6 ounces out - basically nothing.

Also... I do this on my old BMW and Mercedes - even seen the Mercedes dealer doing it! Complete oil/filter change - all from the top of the car!
 
Excellent. Thank you for your expertise and responsiveness! Truly grateful in these crazy times. I guess I will try this
method next spring since I suffered thru the straw drain latest week
 
fwebster said:
Take a look at the top of your dipstick tube where you check the oil. Most later MErcruisers have a threaded fitting made into the dipstick tube. The threads are garden hose fitting. You should be able to replace the 1/4" plastic hose with a short length of 1/2"-5/8" garden hose with a simple fitting on the pump inlet which should have NPT threads. Then all you would need to really speed up the fluid transfer is a simple NPT to GHT adapter from Lowes/Home Depot to connect the garden hose end to the oil change pump.
Click to expand...
I finally got lucky. My dipstick tube has threads.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,116
Messages
1,426,330
Members
61,028
Latest member
ddbyrd329
Back
Top