Oil Change

[John]

Hello All,

I would like to start performing my own oil changes. I am at the 75 hour mark since the last change.

Engines: Cummins 6BTA 5.9 330hp @ 2800
Hours: 1,051 for each engine

I have been trying to identify a step by step process for the oil change protocol, but have not had any luck.

For example, what hardware are you using to extract the oil? I have located various oil change kits on West Marine and Amazon etc…, but I wanted to see what the community has been using.

Under Tony’s tips i do see the information sheet “oil pan capacities for cummins marine engines”….

Any other assistance and guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
John

1 user thanked author for this post.

georg_

Topic

[firehoser75]

Hi John,
My Reverso was factory installed as standard by Nordic Tug.
On my previous boat (a sailboat with a small 29 HP engine) I used a hand pump with a line down the dip stick tube. Unfortunately that would take a long time (guessing 10+ minutes) to drain for an engine this large.
As Rob asked, there may be a capped off line coming from the oil pan that could be accessed??
Richard, definitely read the article that Rob referenced.
Tom

[Rob Schepis]

Richard,

Tom is right on …. It’s all here, read through this: https://www.sbmar.com/articles/oil-pan-capacities-for-cummins-marine-engines/

[Richard G Cook]

Hi Tom,

Maybe I missed something, but my NT37’s 6BTA 5.9 M3 330hp seems to have an oil cpacity of 16 quarts. I’ve used four full gallons every oil change. Was 13 quarts possibly a typo?

Richard

[Stephen Oliver]

Interesting I thought the hand pumps were installed as standard – Makes service easy although its not quick pumping the oil out!

Pumps can be seen here at the side of the aftercooler.

Steve

[John]

Hi Tom,

Thank you for the message and detailed step by step…

Two questions….

(1) did you install the reverso or did you have a QSM install the unit?
(2) did you ever use anything other then a reverso?

Thanks,
John

[firehoser75]

Hi John,
I have the same engine, the Cummins 6BTA 330hp. I also have an installed reverso pump.
My procedure:
Warm up the engine to circulate the oil and “suspend” any particles that should be removed. Empty the oil using the reverso pump (very easy). Take off the oil filter and empty it before disposal. I use a Ziploc plastic bag to “encase” the filter to catch any spillage. Makes the job cleaner.
Clean up the filter mating surface, prefill the new filter with oil, lube the gasket, and install hand tight (just snug).
Add the new oil by hand, ensuring that I only fill to the amount specified by Tony here (13 quarts). I have marked my dip stick and keep the oil at this level.
That is it. I change my oil once a year or every 200 hours. I always change the oil before the winter layup.
Hope that helps,
Tom

[John]

Hi Rob,

Thank you for the reply. To tell you the truth I don’t know. The next time I am at the boat I will check both engines and reply.

Based on my limited research I thought I’d need to pump out via the dip stick unless I buy a Reverso pump.

Thanks,
John

[Rob Schepis]

Welcome. Do you have the usual hose coming off the oil pan? Usually a blue hydraulic style hose that is capped off…

[Author]

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