Oil Change Cost?

MickUsa

MickUsa

Member
Mar 13, 2019
35
Lake Lanier Georgia
Boat Info
2005 340 Sundancer

Garmin 740 Radar/Sonor/GPS
TrackVision
Engines
8.1 Horizon
I'm up on Lake Lanier Georgia and have a 340 Sun dancer with 2x496's - We ran it all last summer and put about 15 hours on the motors.. I think the previous owner stated the oil change was done the year before. What will I be looking at cost wise for an oil change and impellers on this setup? I am new to cruisers - so sorry If I sound like a moron!
 
I've gotten quotes of $150 per engine for each of my 5.0. Changing it myself was the easiest thing I've ever done on this boat. Numerous threads here on the topic. I bought an electric pump on line for $29. and then it's just the filter and oil both of which are dirt cheap. My cheapo pump has done 4 changes so far and no sign of giving up.
 
Wow are you kidding? - Ill definitely look into doing it, I just don't want to make some huge disastrous mess in the bilge. Is there a special oil port this pump plugs into? Ill continue to search the threads here. Thank you!

Edit - I see where a hose is attached to the dipstick tube.. Wonder if my generator is the same. Anyhoo thanks for the information.
 
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Hey Mick, find a buddy with a little experience and do it together the first time and after that, it will be smooth sailing. I had never owned a diesel before and I now have twins that require 6.5 gallons of oil each and 8 filters to swap out too...
My mantra is " I have never done that before but I guess I'm going to learn". Welcome to CSR !!!
 
Hey Mick, welcome. We are at Holiday on R dock. If you need an awesome mechanic even just so you can see how he does it so you can tackle it when you have time, let me know. He also is a Sea Ray guy and has his boat at Holiday.
 
Cocktail Time said:
Hey Mick, welcome. We are at Holiday on R dock. If you need an awesome mechanic even just so you can see how he does it so you can tackle it when you have time, let me know. He also is a Sea Ray guy and has his boat at Holiday.
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Hey thank you! We are on Dock 1 right by the entrance - Ill take you up on that when I get ready to do it. Hope you guys are holding up with the flooding. We are officially roped off as of yesterday.
 
MickUsa said:
Wow are you kidding? - Ill definitely look into doing it, I just don't want to make some huge disastrous mess in the bilge. Is there a special oil port this pump plugs into? Ill continue to search the threads here. Thank you!

Edit - I see where a hose is attached to the dipstick tube.. Wonder if my generator is the same. Anyhoo thanks for the information.
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Its a very simple job for a DIY. Most mechanics by us charge around 150 per engine plus materials.

Each 8.1 takes 9qts 25w-40 and a filter. Use Merc or Quicksilver - they are the same. You can even pick up the oil and filter at Walmart.

Get a good pump that attaches to the garden hose fitting. Don't skimp on this as it will make your life easy. Mine was over $200 but it will last a long time. It pumps the oil out into a bucket quickly and then pumps out of the bucket into containers for drop off.

Bring the engine up to temp before starting the job and the oil will flow easily.

One trick with the inverted remote filter is to loosen it just enough to break the air lock and let it drain back down before pumping out.

-Kevin
 
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I'll let you know tomorrow what it costs, but you probably won't believe me on how low it will be. I buy all the oil (Costco) and filters (WW Grainger). The mechanic, who is a friend of mine, will meet me down there at 10:00. We'll spend a couple of hours getting the oil and filters changed and pumped into the jugs I use to dispose of the oil.

Whether or not he charges me is entirely up to him. It's as much a chance for us to chew the fat away from his office as it is an oil change job. I'll let you know what the charges are.
 
Mick, thanks, we are good so far and still have power but man this is crazy. Our water level on Lake Lanier is the highest it has been since the mid 60's... I think the ACOE needs a good bilge pump.
 
KevinC said:
Its a very simple job for a DIY. Most mechanics by us charge around 150 per engine plus materials.

Each 8.1 takes 9qts 25w-40 and a filter. Use Merc or Quicksilver - they are the same. You can even pick up the oil and filter at Walmart.

Get a good pump that attaches to the garden hose fitting. Don't skimp on this as it will make your life easy. Mine was over $200 but it will last a long time. It pumps the oil out into a bucket quickly and then pumps out of the bucket into containers for drop off.

Bring the engine up to temp before starting the job and the oil will flow easily.

One trick with the inverted remote filter is to loosen it just enough to break the air lock and let it drain back down before pumping out.

-Kevin
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Awesome info can you tell me what pump you use?
 
Gofirstclass said:
I'll let you know tomorrow what it costs, but you probably won't believe me on how low it will be. I buy all the oil (Costco) and filters (WW Grainger). The mechanic, who is a friend of mine, will meet me down there at 10:00. We'll spend a couple of hours getting the oil and filters changed and pumped into the jugs I use to dispose of the oil.

Whether or not he charges me is entirely up to him. It's as much a chance for us to chew the fat away from his office as it is an oil change job. I'll let you know what the charges are.
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Great info - thanks!
 
Stee6043 said:
I was just seconds away from buying that same pump before finding a West Marine rig for $100 less last year.

I'm not sure it's as awesome as the Jabsco but it is...a pump :)
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west...v-oil-changer-flat-tank--14557417?recordNum=2
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I had that one years ago. IMHO: It’s junk. It lasted about 3 years before the pump died and there was no way to fix it. No replacement parts or kits.
Hopefully your will last longer for you.
After mine died I put my tail between my legs and bought the same one KevinC has posted a link to.
That was about 10 years ago and it’s still going strong. It has a much better pump and I believe that if something were to happen to the pump it can be rebuilt.
My current boat has a Reverso system on it but I still use my portable pump on my transmissions, my sons boat and it sometimes gets used on friends boats.
 
+1 on the Jabsco. I spent $300 on it but seeing as mechanics charge $500 per engine up here to change the oil, it's paid for itself several times over. One of the best $300 I've ever spent. Each engine takes about 20 minutes for me in the fall.
 
JVM225 said:
I had that one years ago. IMHO: It’s junk. It lasted about 3 years before the pump died and there was no way to fix it. No replacement parts or kits.
Hopefully your will last longer for you.
After mine died I put my tail between my legs and bought the same one KevinC has posted a link to.
That was about 10 years ago and it’s still going strong. It has a much better pump and I believe that if something were to happen to the pump it can be rebuilt.
My current boat has a Reverso system on it but I still use my portable pump on my transmissions, my sons boat and it sometimes gets used on friends boats.
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This would be my luck, for the record. :)
 
Gofirstclass said:
Whether or not he charges me is entirely up to him. It's as much a chance for us to chew the fat away from his office as it is an oil change job. I'll let you know what the charges are.
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When we parted yesterday we had discovered that I was a bit short on the new oil. I had 15 gallons on board which is about what it usually takes. The only thing I had done different was this time I got down there early and ran the engines for about 25 minutes to warm them up before we changed the oil. I think that may have allowed us to suck more oil out of the engines than we normally get.

Anyways, when we left I was to go to Costco and pick up another case of 3 gallons of Delo 400 oil so I'd have some extra on board. I'll drop it off at his shop and he'll top off both engines and leave the rest on board.

I told him I'd bring it by today then I said "I'll settle up with you then."

His comment was "Well, we'll see about that. Or not."

So before I drop off the oil I'll go by this Mexican store that does a great lunch package for about 6 people and get them lunch. I do that about every three months just to let his crew know I appreciate them. It's kind of a "Golden Rule" thing. I like to treat them all as friends, not just as employees/workers.
 
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