Anyone with advice on replacing remote oil lines on 8.1?

Danny Troy

Danny Troy

Member
Oct 8, 2009
861
Candlewood Lake, CT
Boat Info
2003 280 Sundancer
Engines
496MAG w/genset
I have a small leak in one (and possibly both) remote oil lines on my 8.1. I ordered two new hoses and will be installing them next week. Are there any special considerations when installing these hoses? They will hopefully go it without disassembling any other engine parts, but I don't know. They are sandwiched between the block and the exhaust manifold, and hopefully won't be too big a deal to install.....
 
hopefully you picked up the o-ring and block adapter gasket too. This is one of those jobs you want to do on your workbench to minimize time stuck between the two blocks. Remove the block adapter the hoses are screwed into. 1 bolt and then disconnect the hoses at the oil filter. replace the hoses attached to the adapter then replace the adapter to the block with new o-ring and gasket. sometimes the leak is at the adapter so best to change everything since you are doing the hoses.
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Thanks for that info Steve. My hoses are a bit different from what is in your photo, as you can see from my photo. It looks like it's a simple matter of unscrewing from the block on my 496 setup, without disturbing the adapter. I don't have the O-rings, if any are needed. Hopefully my local marina will have something that matches up, if they are needed.
 

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Its very messy. Get a lot of cheap shop rags and try to find a container that can fit under the hose while you remove it. I have used a plastic jug cut with one side cut out and a 2q milk carton with one side cut out. That will catch some of the oil, but not all of it. That is why you need the rags. On my 7.4's one end of the lines is upside down and right under the manifold so getting it thread started and tight was a pain. Top ends are easy.

I find I also needed a few bandaids, some Aleve (Naproxen) and two ice cold beers.
 
I just did the ones on my port 7.4 last week and it was rough.

I used a foil lasagna pan to catch the oil and some rags and didn’t spill a drop.

My biggest problem was not access, which was not great but the fact that the cooler mount is pretty insubstantial and that made it hard to break the old ones loose as the torque I applied just twisted the cooler on it’s mount.

I got it done with the help of a young and skinny stepson but it stunk.
 
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I'll add this to the other two PITA jobs I did this year.... a water pump change, and a steering swivel pin and u-joint replacement (using the JR Marine shortcut method).

BTW, I can think of two things Merc could have done regarding the remote oil filter to improve the design. First, they didn't need it on my boat. I'm pretty sure a standard filter would work, directly on the block. Second, why did they install the filter upside down, instead of like the fuel filter, which is a lot less messy when changing.
 
If you don't need the remote for access reasons, eliminate it and the lines and get a truck filter adapter. Less things to break and leak.
 
scoflaw said:
If you don't need the remote for access reasons, eliminate it and the lines and get a truck filter adapter. Less things to break and leak.
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Yes, I'm going to take a good look at the space I have, and maybe go that route, and save the $140.00 I spent on the two hoses.
 
I've got an 8.1 in a 2001 Gmc. It takes a short filter because of 4x4 clearance .

If you need the VIN # to source that adapter let me know.
 
scoflaw said:
I've got an 8.1 in a 2001 Gmc. It takes a short filter because of 4x4 clearance .

If you need the VIN # to source that adapter let me know.
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Yes, I would appreciate that part number. I have a first gen 8.1 version, from 2003. Btw, what about the oil cooler issue?
 
I just took a look and there is plenty of room for the filter on my boat. The problem is the oil cooler issue. Does the adapter have provisions for the oil cooler?
 
I installed the two new hoses today. The hardest part was starting the nuts on two of the four ends of the hoses. I was a PITA to get the nuts to catch, while holding the hose in place. Other than that, it was just a matter on gaining access. I had to unbolt the remote filter bracket, as well as the bracket above, which holds the ignition electronics/computer. Luckily, I didn't have to mess with the port exhaust manifold.
 
Just an update, one of the two brand new hoses was leaking where the stainless tube meets the hose. Looks like the crimp was bad. I sent it back and ordered a replacement. The replacement looks good. So, it looks like quality control is hit-and-miss at Merc these days. BTW, the hoses all came directly from Merc in Wisconson.
 
That's a pain in the butt to have to do it twice. After I did mine it was so nice to not have the lines oily all the time. I did not have major leaks, but the lines always had a film of dirty oil and a few drops on the block under the bends and a few on the bilge floor. Every few weeks I would get the rags and Simple Green and clean it all up. No need any more, and my clothes stay clean when I check the strainers and batteries now.
 
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