Can't Extract Oil from C28 Volvo D4-260

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snestler

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Jun 1, 2023
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Fluid Motion Model
R-21 EC
Hull Identification Number
FMLC2814I415
Vessel Name
Rule Number 8
MMSI Number
338473948
My 2015 Cutwater 28 has a Volvo-Penta D4-260 engine. I have watched a few videos on how to change the oil, but can't seem to get any to come out of the engine. I have tried from both the tube designed for it and the dipstick tube. Using both a 12V powered pump mounted to the top of a bucket and also a separate hand vacuum pump. I did run the engine for awhile (at the dock) using "Throttle Only" at about 1100 rpms and got the coolant temp up to 135F. I figured that would have the oil warmed up enough to come out but not be too hot. I know the engine has plenty of oil in it, based on the fact that it operates just fine and from reading the dipstick. Any advice or suggestion is welcome. Thank you!
 
Perhaps post a picture of how you have setup the vacuum tube? it should work just fine as described
 
Didn't take any pictures when I was at the boat today. But I mean, stick the tube down as far as it will go. Keep the bucket as low as possible to avoid any extra lift required. Make sure there aren't any kinks in it. Etc. How hard can it be?
 
Does the hand pump and 12V have a long hard tube attached to them that you're trying to insert into the oil pickup tube?

There is a large kink at the bottom of that tube as it goes into the oil pan at the bottom of the engine. In my experience, the pickup tube doesn't work, since the hard tube can't get low enough or bend around. I purchased this type of pump as well, and it's pretty miserable experience. It does work great for the transmission, though.

If you can't find an adapter to the oil pickup line, in the past I've wrapped some paper towels around the hard pickup tube and jammed that into the oil pickup line to create a vacuum which has worked marginally. It takes forever to get the oil out still, but it does work.

Plan on getting a pump with an adapter that attaches to to the metal nipple at the top of the hose.
 
watson1987":1qi8gi03 said:
Does the hand pump and 12V have a long hard tube attached to them that you're trying to insert into the oil pickup tube?

There is a large kink at the bottom of that tube as it goes into the oil pan at the bottom of the engine. In my experience, the pickup tube doesn't work, since the hard tube can't get low enough or bend around. I purchased this type of pump as well, and it's pretty miserable experience. It does work great for the transmission, though.

If you can't find an adapter to the oil pickup line, in the past I've wrapped some paper towels around the hard pickup tube and jammed that into the oil pickup line to create a vacuum which has worked marginally. It takes forever to get the oil out still, but it does work.

Plan on getting a pump with an adapter that attaches to to the metal nipple at the top of the hose.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestions! I was thinking in that direction already.
 
I'd test the 12v pump on some clean oil from another bucket just to verify that it's working right.

I spent a day with similar frustrations to yours trying to do my first oil change on a D6-435. I couldn't get anything at all out of the dipstick tube with a hand pump, and got the 12v pump & bucket from West Marine. The suction hose on that pump should fit right over the brass fitting on the oil pan discharge line (the tube "designed for it" that you reference, if your D4 is anything like my D6 on that front).

Turns out the issue was the pump: there was some leftover plastic in the discharge tube from the manufacturing process that was preventing oil flow because the pump discharge was blocked. This is the tube that screws into the discharge side and goes down into the collection bucket. Once I cut that out and scraped out the tube, I got it to work just fine.

Drove me crazy trying to figure out what I was doing wrong until I sorted out the pump issue. I never did get much of anything out of the dipstick line, but haven't tried that method again since I got the pump working.

For this year's maintenance, same pump and zero issues with the oil change.
 
Going to be doing my first oil change on the D6-260 this fall.
What brands/models of pumps work best?
 
The following should work, just remove the dipstick adapter and use the larger diameter hose directly on the metal nipple

https://marinepartssource.com/heavy-dut ... 1MQAvD_BwE

And go buy a 5 gallon bucket and lid from Home Depot. This will be enough to do a D4 + transmission, and then you can take the pump lid off and seal it up with a new one. Not sure about what you have in Oregon, but in Seattle there is a King County disposal site where you can drop off buckets of oil (and even old rusted out propane tanks)
 
Something to think about when buying a pump and bucket system.

1. How will you get the oil out of the bucket
2. How close to the top will the oil be when you drain a Volvo and does that intro issues getting it off the boat. You will suck out about 13 quarts from a d4. A 14 quart bucket will be very full and heavy.

I have a combined unit. The lid is not oil proof in that it will leak if tilted. It holds all the oil but it’s near the top. So when swinging the heavy bucket over the side. There is risk.

Also you likely will not have a battery near the oil dump. Are you going to transfer to another jug on the boat? Bring a spare 12 v battery to the oil disposal tank? Park your car close?
 
Thanks to all who have commented. Regarding one concern ... the bucket that I bought (with the pump attached) has a pour spout that pops up. Also, the top seals well after removing the strip from around it.

Had better luck today (sort of), but used a hand vacuum pump. Managed to get a really small tube down the dipstick. Still can't get anything out of the tube that is supposedly designed for this purpose. Only got 8 qt out though. Just could not get anymore. So I changed the filters and put 8 qt of new oil in. Better than nothing, I figure. Really want to know why the tube that is provided for this purpose doesn't work.
 
I just did the oil change on my d4 260 a couple days ago. I used the manual style vacuum pump with the largest hose. I am not sure on the OD of this tube but it fit snugly into the oil drain tube that runs from under the air filter. The oil suction tube fit well enough that it sealed and I did not have to tape it. It only took about 5 min or so to suck all the oil out, it is important to have a good seal so you don't loose suction. It is possible that your vacuum pump is not working this is what I ran into it could barely draw warm oil up the tub I went and grabbed another one off my fathers boat and it took all of three pumps to get oil flowing. If you can track down a used oil 5 gallon pale with a lid use that and hold onto it super secure lid this is what I like to use but I have them available all the time from my tug boat.
Not a bad idea to see if your vacuum pump can even pull water or something a little thicker.
 
Yes, TristenT has it down regarding the tube near the air filter. Check out this video of a Ranger Tug oil change at 5:45 minutes in for the location of this tube. I used a 12V pump with a 1/2 inch inside diameter suction tube over the oil tube. It took a little while and my pump was getting warm, but it got all the oil out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZZ7jeq0D5Y
 
I had trouble with this too. With the vacuum style extractors I couldn't get all the oil out. This was several years ago when I first bought the boat.

I bought a Reverso portable extraction pump. It's gear driven, very powerful. It came with a hose that slipped over the extraction tube on the D4. Here's a link: https://defender.com/en_us/reverso-port ... em-27-2167

However I didn't pay anywhere near that. I think I paid about $350. That's an incredible price increase. Hard to recommend it at that price, although it does work well.

I take the pump off the bucket and put it in a plastic storage box I have. The bucket gets taken to my local recycling center where they take the oil. I think some of the auto parts stores will take used oil too.

-martin610
 
I ended up buying a new pump with a bigger hose that fit over the oil extraction line on the engine. All done in like 3 minutes. Having the right tool makes a world of difference. It was a Jabsco and cost $279.
 
Thanks for the update Scott!
Would you mind sharing which model of Jabsco pump you ended up using?
 
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