www.iFourWinns.com

This is killing me! For the life of me, I can't get far enough into the engine room to reach the oil filters. Any tips? I have both access covers removed and I've gotten in there the best I can but just can't reach!

Twin Volvo 5.0 engines...

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Fun isn't it. On my last two boats with the 5.7 litre engines I had remote oil filters so they were a piece of cake to change. Our 328 does not have remote oil filters so like yourself last fall I found out they are a bit of a challenge to reach. What I did was lift off the engine covers to gain engine access then lay a board about 2 feet by three feet down on top of the braces that the engine covers rest on. I positioned this board in manner (to lay on) that did allow me to reach down with my oil filter wrench to remove the oil filter. It still is a bit of a stretch but doeable for me. You may also want to try and place something directly under the oil filter to catch any spilled oil.

Mike.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Find a cheap, competent and skinny tech like I did and get him to do it. I changed my oil once and came out of there so bruised and battered that I swore it off. Just not worth it when I can pay someone $40 an hour to do it.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

After you loosen the filters, put a plastic bag over each one to catch any drips when you remove them. +1 for the remote Oil Filters I now have on my Merc's.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Guys, I threw in the towel.

Today, I planned to change both impellers, oil/filters, and fuel filters.

I got done:
Port engine oil changed (could NOT get filter off!!!)
Port engine fuel filter replaced
Port engine impeller replaced
Starboard fuel oil changed (could NOT get filter off!!!)
Starboard engine fuel filter replaced

I emailed my service guy and asked him to clean up my mess. I need to have him replace the starboard imepeller and replace both oil filters. I have never felt so defeated. I am moderately mechanical, but I cant get in to get it done...time to have a pro clean it up/finish it up.

I am sore and bruised and the sad thing is that the job isnt quite complete.

_________________
Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

I had to have a buddy help me with my filters. Same boat as you (as you know) with the same engines. This season I think I'll pay somebody to do it. Very, very difficult to reach those things.

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'01 Vista 298

$40 an hour? Going marine service rate around here is a minimum of $80 an hour. Send your mechanic up this way.

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'01 Vista 298

aguyindallas,

I'm willing to bet you would be able to get those oil filters off next time if you wanted to try again. I too struggled last fall to figure out how the heck does a mechanic get those oil filters off as most mechanics are not skinny little guys.

I just couldn't see how I could position myself to try and get between the engines or between the engine and the hull side to get an oil filter wrench on so I thought I gotta look at trying to come down from the top of the engines with the oil filter wrench.

As I mentioned above, a board about 2 feet by three feet that you can rest across the engine hatch braces and lay on will allow you to get right over the oil filter location and get a oil wrench down on the filter. When laying, you are bending at the waist to get down far enough.I normally then lift the filter up enough that my wife can reach down and grap it before making much of a mess. Not as nice as remote filters but I think at this point for the once a year in the fall I change the oil and oil filters I'll live with it for now. I'll have to ask our marnia how they typically change these oil filters.

Mike.

_________________

Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Also, the filters seem to come off easier useing a strap wrench rather than the typical auto style filter wrench, once you get access to them.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Seriously. Why would you have to be a Marine mechanic to take off an oil filter? Really?
There are a few things on a boat, and mainly to do with the outdrive on a I/O boat that would require a "Marine" mechanic.
Just because they use different names for the engines and such, does not mean it's any different.
You are after all talking about an oil filter. Righty tighty, lefty loosey.
Hell if you can take a complete dip shit and train them to change oil on a car at Walmart, I am sure a good shop can do almost anything.

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1992 Baja 38 Special Twin 502 Mags

03 Stingray 3.0
88 261 Liberator 460 King Cobras
95 Bayliner 1850 3.0
77 Fiber Form 20ft 350/385hp
70 Wescraft 1800 SS 455 Jet

Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the Way!

Seriously. Why would you have to be a Marine mechanic to take off an oil filter? Really?
There are a few things on a boat, and mainly to do with the outdrive on a I/O boat that would require a "Marine" mechanic.
Just because they use different names for the engines and such, does not mean it's any different.
You are after all talking about an oil filter. Righty tighty, lefty loosey.
Hell if you can take a complete dip shit and train them to change oil on a car at Walmart, I am sure a good shop can do almost anything.[/quote]


Listen smartass, I am MORE than capable. I cannot fit far enough into the engine compartment to get it done. Until you have been inside the engine room of a 298, your comment isnt valid.

I venture to think that they may have a more custom oil wrench that allows them to get at it and get the proper leverage.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

I was not being a smartass as far as you getting it off. I was pointing out like someone else above that you can have a skinny mechanic do it instead of a "Marine" mechanic.
There are special tools for Marine work, but not on the engine, just the drives.
Take a chill pill.

_________________
1992 Baja 38 Special Twin 502 Mags

03 Stingray 3.0
88 261 Liberator 460 King Cobras
95 Bayliner 1850 3.0
77 Fiber Form 20ft 350/385hp
70 Wescraft 1800 SS 455 Jet

Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the Way!

Actually, to save some money...........

If you have a slim wife, you say hey dear, how about you lay down on this board right here, take this oil filter wench and turn that round thing down there. Tell her, if you get it it off I'll buy ya dinner and if you get the other one off dessert is included. After she gets it off, inform her that the deal was assumed to mean she also needs to screw the new oil filters full of oil back on. Don't forget to offer to hang onto her ankles so she feels safe and refrain from making any "butt" comments!

I could probably get my wife to try it, but it would take a little coaxing. Kidding aside, I understand the issue is more just getting access to the filter itself.

Mike.

_________________

Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

If you plan on hanging on to the same boat for some years, you should consider fitting remote filter kits; the best upgrade I made on my previous V8 1999 Sundowner ! There must be cheaper ones than the VP ones available in the US as the engine is so common there; not so here!

Graham

I agree on the remote oil filter idea, some inboard applications are very difficult. I am lucky, if I remove the rear seat and bulkhead then I can slide the port side battery back and I can get in there to change the filter. BUT, you have to use a high quality remote filter kit because there were problems with leaks even with the OE ones that Volvo used a few years back.
Two requirements for any future inboard that I MIGHT own vs an outboard will be closed cooling and remote oil filters, yes it costs a bit more up front but over the long term both are well worth it, closed cooling make the engine last longer esp in salt, and makes it easier to winterize, and the remote filter saves a lot of struggling with the oil change. I almost hate to ask guys, but if the oil filter is that hard to get at, what are you going to do when you need a new starter? These pain in the butt I/Os do not have a nice top mounted starter like proper shaft drive inboards do......

Tip--make sure the exhaust manifold drain above the starter does not leak, because if it does, it can drip right on the starter solenoid terminals and make them one big ball of rust.

Over almost 40 years of working on my own vehicles, I have accumulated a nice drawer full of oil filter wrenches, sometimes I use a cap wrench on particularly difficult installations. Strap wrenches can work well too, as well as the clamp type made by Lisle that grips the filter tight when you loosen it..thats the one I use on my boat....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II