[C320-list] Perkins M30 Oil Change

[Jack Brennan]

I have a Yanmar, so some minor details may be different, but here is how I have always changed oil.

I have a West Marine pump with a two-gallon reservoir for holding the oil. Run the diesel for 10 minutes or so to heat up the oil. The tube is relatively stiff, so you can push it down the dipstick hole until it reaches bottom. Pump a couple of times and all of the oil is suctioned out. 

Remove the oil filter after that to minimize leakage. I put an absorbent mat under the filter to catch the drips. You can wipe up any oil slop from the pan under the diesel. 

Wipe some fresh oil on the rubber gasket before you screw on the new filter. Hand tighten only, unless you are pretty weak. I pour oil in about a pint at a time, giving a minute or so between doses, so I can use the dipstick to see how it’s building up. When it looks full, I put in the dipstick, screw on the oil cap and start the engine after putting a paper towel under the filter.

I run it for five minutes and then check the dipstick and the paper towel for drips that mean the filter is not tight enough. The level should have gone down a bit as the oil filter filled. Don’t worry if you see some carbon in the oil. That’s what diesels do. You can change the oil again to get perfectly clean oil, but it practically makes no difference.

The big thing is to change oil every 75 hours or so. It is the single most important maintenance item on your boat (and your car …) Do it and your diesel will likely run 10,000 hours. Neglect it and you will have black smoke puffing out of your exhaust.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.



Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: Bob Borelli
Sent: Monday, February 1, 2021 9:44 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Perkins M30 Oil Change

I use the second method to hand pump the oil out of my Perkins M30.

A is the coolant drain, a 1/4" ID vinyl tube fits over the nipple to drain coolant into container.
B is the tube I use to pump out the used, warm oil from the oil pan, annual oil change, using a threaded barbed fitting.
C is a lube oil tube from the cylinder block to the cylinder head.

I tried pumping oil from the dip stick, also slide tube down dip stick, no success.
So I remove the old oil from B.

I remove the old oil filter first to allow for room.
Then I remove the Cap Nut on B with a 7/16" open end wrench.
Then I screw in a 3/8"x 1/4" Adaptor Barb MIP purchased at Home Depot.
A 3/8" ID vinyl tube is attached to Barb and other end to a PAR Handy Boy hand pump.
A fast, clean oil change!
Re-install Cap Nut, add new Fram PH2951 filter & Shell Rotella T1 SAE 30 Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Oil.

What oil & filter are you guys using on your Perkins M30?

There is also an oil drain plug on the aft end of the pan, under the oil filter, reachable with a socket but how to catch the old oil without a mess.
I use oil absorbant cloths from Amazon Prime.   Plastic gloves, 13 gal plastic trash bags, blue Shop Towels & Spray Nine Marine cleaner.

Bob Borelli 1995 C320 no. 209   Sailing Associates Inc, Georgetown Maryland

________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of mark <mseyler at cox.net>
Sent: Monday, February 1, 2021 8:19 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Perkins M30 Oil Change

A is definitely the drain for coolant, and I'm pretty sure that B is the tube to drain oil.  I'm not sure what the label for C is referering to, but it's not the oil drain tube or coolant drain.

I've been sucking the old oil out the dipstick tube for oil changes on my Perkins.  (I figure that since there are only about 25-30 hours on the engine between my annual oil changes, any small amount of old oil left behind won't matter much.)  But if anyone has figured out the size fitting to attach the hose barb, I'd like to know as well.

Mark Seyler
S/V Reality,
Catalina 320, #232
New Orleans, LA



-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Dave Hupe
Sent: Monday, February 01, 2021 6:57 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Perkins M30 Oil Change

 Dave-
I'm pretty sure "A" is the petcock to drain engine antifreeze,  and "B" I'm pretty sure is another way to drain the engine oil. I think it has a threaded cap on it.
Dave Hupe1994 C320 (#32)Perkins Perama M30