[C320-list] Drill operated pump

[John Kivel via C320-list]

Hi All,

A couple weeks ago someone asked about using a drill end pump to drain the oil.
I’m not sure if you got an answer to that, but I’m curious as well.

Most of those drill pumps attach to garden hoses which would be way too big to work, I’m wondering if you found a solution.

The commercially available pumps designed for this task seem super over priced!

John Kivel,
Wind Song

[Dave Hupe via C320-list]

This type of hand vacuum pump works very well thru the dipstick tube but would have to be emptied one time before pumping all the oil out:https://www.westmarine.com/west-marine-manual-oil-changer-2.9-quart-11097714.html

This would be another option .... a 12 volt electric pump .... also extracting thru the dipstick tube:https://www.westmarine.com/seafit-oil-changer-12v-dc-20927018.html
Dave Hupe 
1994 C320 #32

Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer

[Michael Stumpfoll via C320-list]

I never had luck with the drill pumps. Even hot oil seems too thick to get drawn up by that feeble suction. Much easier using a vacuum pump. The Smart Jerry hand pump from Amazon is $18 and effective. Better yet is the Four Uncles 6 liter pump for around $40. I have both and use them for everything from the bilge to the toilet.
Thanks,
Mike Stumpfoll

On May 1, 2026, at 3:06 PM, John Kivel via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

Hi All,

[John Kivel via C320-list]

Hey everyone - thanks for the input.



So - The boat is new to me as of last year - my previous boat was a
Capri 18 which needed very little maintenance.



Trying to look at YouTube and read the manual and figure stuff out.
There is no record of maintenance other than receipts for oil changes
for the last several years, so my goal is to change the oil,
transmission fluid, coolant, fuel filters, and anodes, and clean the
cooling tubes before May 27th (changed the impeller last year).
Anything I forgot???



The online Diesel Maintenance course I took said it's best to run the
engine to get the fluids warm before you try to extract them, but the
folks around me seem to say that you do that stuff while the boat is in
the parking lot. . . Does this matter?



I think I could drain (suck or whatever) the oil and transmission fluid
pretty effectively, not sure about the coolant - drain it clearly, but
probably not flush it very well.



Thanks again,



John





--------------------
From: "Michael Stumpfoll" <mi...@stumpfoll.com>
To: <C320...@catalina320.com>
Cc: <C320...@catalina320.com>, "John Kivel" <jki...@charter.net>
Sent: May 1, 2026 at 1:33 PM MDT
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Drill operated pump

[Troy Dunn via C320-list]

John

Almost all of those tasks are best done in the fall, in the water, just
before haul out. There is a great write up on winterizing the 320 on the
association web page.


I recognize that’s not as useful at the moment but there probably are some
useful tips in there regardless of when/where you are doing some of those
items.

It is always best get oil warm before changing it. Boat, car, whatever.
But it can be done cold, just don’t expect it to be as easy.

Don’t run the engine without raw water cooling it will probably damage the
muffler.

Also, attempting to get raw water cooling working on the hard is tricky
business. It’s easy to damage the engine that way.

Finally there is also a checklist on the association web page for all sorts
of maintenance tasks. It is quite thorough. Reccomend printing that out
every year and going through it.

Troy Dunn
Hull #514

[Greg Flanagan via C320-list]

Hi David,

I hope all is well you and Anna and that it went well in Edmonton.

Could you provide me with an account of your exchange with the licensing branch with regard to your health cards & etc. As well, what specific outlet did this occur at?

Thanks,

Greg

> On May 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM, Troy Dunn via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> John

[John Kivel via C320-list]

Thanks Troy,
I’ll check it out.
I did have a friend that told me fall is better than spring, but alas, better late than never!



> On May 1, 2026, at 8:12 PM, Greg Flanagan via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> Hi David,

[Jeff Smith via C320-list]

Do you have the Perkins or the Yanmar? I ask because the Perkins M30 has an accessible drain location near the bottom of the engine. The previous owner (PO) connected a rubber hose to this drain location. It is capped at the front of the engine, where it is easily accessible. The connection there is a male brass threaded fitting in the rubber hose from the drain location that either has a cap when you are not changing the oil or you can screw a pump to it. I use a pump similar to this (https://www.amazon.com/Jabsco-34060-0130-Marine-Engine-Diameter/dp/B000O8F0SU/ref=ast_sto_dp_puis) to pull all of the oil into a bucket. It is much quicker than extracting through the dipstick tube. I also do not recall paying $81 for it. And yes, it should be warm.

I have used a drill pump to transfer diesel to the boat. Just be careful; it can make a mess in a hurry.

Transmission manual calls for ATF Type A. Some on this site use a branded Full Synthetic ATF.

You can soak the inner tube in your heat exchanger in Barnacle Buster (also expensive). This is highly corrosive and will eat through aluminum. It will, however, clean those tubes thoroughly.

Most automotive manufacturers no longer recommend flushing radiators. I suggest you drain in thoroughly and replace with new. The PO did not do this on my boat. When I changed it, it looked brown and was way overdue.

Oil filter for the Perkins M30 is either: Perkins 140516190, NAPAGold 1348, Fram PH 2951. I typically use Rotella T 15W-40 as my oil. Others may choose something different.

Perkins fuel filters are: On engine - Perkins 130366020, Fram 3627, Napa 3386. I use either NAPA or Perkins if I am ordering from Parts4Engine (U.K. distributor).

Good luck.

Jeff
#121, 1994

[John Kivel via C320-list]

Thanks Jeff,

Mine is a Westerbeke 30b.


> On May 1, 2026, at 8:38 PM, Jeff Smith via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> Do you have the Perkins or the Yanmar? I ask because the Perkins M30 has an accessible drain location near the bottom of the engine. The previous owner (PO) connected a rubber hose to this drain location. It is capped at the front of the engine, where it is easily accessible. The connection there is a male brass threaded fitting in the rubber hose from the drain location that either has a cap when you are not changing the oil or you can screw a pump to it. I use a pump similar to this (https://www.amazon.com/Jabsco-34060-0130-Marine-Engine-Diameter/dp/B000O8F0SU/ref=ast_sto_dp_puis) to pull all of the oil into a bucket. It is much quicker than extracting through the dipstick tube. I also do not recall paying $81 for it. And yes, it should be warm.

[Michael Stumpfoll via C320-list]

Running the engine while out of the water is easy with two people, ok with one person after you get some experience. Remove all engine enclosures, hang the steps up out of the way. Put a 5 gallon Home Depot bucket next to the front of the engine. Disconnect the raw water hose from your intake strainer and bring it forward up to the bucket. Put a garden hose in the bucket and keep the bucket at least half full while you run the engine. The second person helps control the garden hose so that you don’t overfill or underfill the bucket and keeps the raw water hose submerged. I have run my current and past boats for hours while out of the water this way. Obviously don’t let your tie dangle in the alternator belt or other foolishness. Small diesel engines aren’t rocket science, they are actually farm equipment.
Thanks,
Mike Stumpfoll

On May 1, 2026, at 3:06 PM, John Kivel via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

Hi All,

[Michael Stumpfoll via C320-list]

In the photo gallery under owner gallery my album is called 1999 donation boat projects. You can see a short video of the engine running from a 5 gallon bucket.
Thanks,
Mike Stumpfoll

On May 2, 2026, at 9:52 AM, Michael Stumpfoll <mi...@stumpfoll.com> wrote:

Running the engine while out of the water is easy with two people, ok with one person after you get some experience. Remove all engine enclosures, hang the steps up out of the way. Put a 5 gallon Home Depot bucket next to the front of the engine. Disconnect the raw water hose from your intake strainer and bring it forward up to the bucket. Put a garden hose in the bucket and keep the bucket at least half full while you run the engine. The second person helps control the garden hose so that you don’t overfill or underfill the bucket and keeps the raw water hose submerged. I have run my current and past boats for hours while out of the water this way. Obviously don’t let your tie dangle in the alternator belt or other foolishness. Small diesel engines aren’t rocket science, they are actually farm equipment.

[Dave Hupe via C320-list]

While on the hard to run my engine,  I have used a rubber hose outside the  boat that slips perfectly (friction fit) up into  my engine feed thruhull and then leads to a 5 gallon bucket positioned higher than the thruhull. I keep the bucket filled with water and can continually run my engine. I can do this alone. 
I use this method in the Fall to winterize by running antifreeze ("pink stuff") thru the engine.  In this way I don't have to pull any hoses off of the engine which I think is asking for trouble. 
I also use this procedure to winterize my air conditioner and toilet. I can do all 3 systems very quickly all by myself. 

Dave Hupe 
1994 C320 #32
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer

On Sat, May 2, 2026 at 10:13 AM, Michael Stumpfoll via C320-list<c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote: In the photo gallery under owner gallery my album is called 1999 donation boat projects. You can see a short video of the engine running from a 5 gallon bucket.