Change my oil for the first time, it was a PITA

[Otruba_843]

I changed the oil for the first time today in my 2011 RXT 260 IS. Getting the oil filter off and back on was the most annoying thing I have ever done. The torx was on there so tight that I had to call the dealer and get some advice. I tried for about an hour and got nowhere. They told me to put WD-40 on it for an hour and come back and just keep working at it. I finally got it loose. Taking the oil out was really easy, especially with the pump I got from west marine. Only had to pump it 3 times and the oil kept flowing. The tube is the perfect size for the dip stick. Here is the link for anyone who is interested http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...2#.UVtZnnB8s3E

Getting back to the oil filter. Tightening the torx was just as bad. There is so little room down there on an IS ski to turn the ratchet. You can only turn it about and inch if even. For those of you with IS ski's, how do you take your oil filter off so easily? The cap slid right out as I finally was able to undo the torx. Then when I put it back in and tried to pull it up again just to make sure I had it in right, the damn thing wouldn't come out. Just to make sure, the oil filter comes out attached to the cap right? I never want to go through this again. It took me about 3 hours to work on the filter. Saved me a boat load of money though. The ski took a whole gallon of oil too.

 

[red2blue]

I changed the oil for the first time today in my 2011 RXT 260 IS. Getting the oil filter off and back on was the most annoying thing I have ever done. The torx was on there so tight that I had to call the dealer and get some advice. I tried for about an hour and got nowhere. They told me to put WD-40 on it for an hour and come back and just keep working at it. I finally got it loose. Taking the oil out was really easy, especially with the pump I got from west marine. Only had to pump it 3 times and the oil kept flowing. The tube is the perfect size for the dip stick. Here is the link for anyone who is interested http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...2#.UVtZnnB8s3E

Getting back to the oil filter. Tightening the torx was just as bad. There is so little room down there on an IS ski to turn the ratchet. You can only turn it about and inch if even. For those of you with IS ski's, how do you take your oil filter off so easily? The cap slid right out as I finally was able to undo the torx. Then when I put it back in and tried to pull it up again just to make sure I had it in right, the damn thing wouldn't come out. Just to make sure, the oil filter comes out attached to the cap right? I never want to go through this again. It took me about 3 hours to work on the filter. Saved me a boat load of money though. The ski took a whole gallon of oil too.

A 12" long, 3/8" socket extension will help greatly with the oil filter. Double check the dipstick on a warmed up motor...you want the oil between the bends. I've never come close to pulling out 4qts of oil from mine.....maybe 3.5qts....rarely. Usually just a tick over 3qts....and I only return what I remove....not what's supposed to have been removed. Easy enough to add more...pain in the butt to remove half a qt.

 

[Otruba_843]

A 12" long, 3/8" socket extension will help greatly with the oil filter. Double check the dipstick on a warmed up motor...you want the oil between the bends. I've never come close to pulling out 4qts of oil from mine.....maybe 3.5qts....rarely. Usually just a tick over 3qts....and I only return what I remove....not what's supposed to have been removed. Easy enough to add more...pain in the butt to remove half a qt.

Will do tomorrow, thanks. When I originally got it from the dealer, the dipstick was at the full mark. Before I changed it, it was down to 1/4 from the add mark. So should I run it for 2 minutes on the water in the drive way, let it sit for 30 seconds then check it again? Are you sure the 12 inch extension will work? It kind of has to go in at an angle. Any tips on getting the cap of too? These IS skis are so hard to work on.

 

[Coastiejoe]

Our ski's do NOT like too much oil.
It puts excessive crankcase pressure due to the movement of the pistons and the ski will actually slow down..

 

[red2blue]

Will do tomorrow, thanks. When I originally got it from the dealer, the dipstick was at the full mark. Before I changed it, it was down to 1/4 from the add mark. So should I run it for 2 minutes on the water in the drive way, let it sit for 30 seconds then check it again? Are you sure the 12 inch extension will work? It kind of has to go in at an angle. Any tips on getting the cap of too? These IS skis are so hard to work on.

Well, shoot.....try a shorter extension...say a 6" if you don't think a 12" will clear the seat opening. I hate busting knuckles....the clearer the path of the wrench the better...for me. Re the cap....I use an old hawk's bill knife...to gently pry around the cap...till I can work it back and forth with my fingers. Always get yourself an o-ring set when replacing the filter...may only have to replace the top one....but sure would hate to knick the lower and have it fail.

Some use a plastic putty knife on the cap...what ever you use...get a set of o-rings when changing the filter.

30 sec off the hose is usually enough to warm the oil enough...give it another 30 sec with motor off then check the level. That reading gets me to the lake...I then check it again after a few minutes run....just to be sure.

 

[Otruba_843]

Well, shoot.....try a shorter extension...say a 6" if you don't think a 12" will clear the seat opening. I hate busting knuckles....the clearer the path of the wrench the better...for me. Re the cap....I use an old hawk's bill knife...to gently pry around the cap...till I can work it back and forth with my fingers. Always get yourself an o-ring set when replacing the filter...may only have to replace the top one....but sure would hate to knick the lower and have it fail.

Some use a plastic putty knife on the cap...what ever you use...get a set of o-rings when changing the filter.

30 sec off the hose is usually enough to warm the oil enough...give it another 30 sec with motor off then check the level. That reading gets me to the lake...I then check it again after a few minutes run....just to be sure.

Is there any reason why my oil fill cap came off with the oil filter attached once I loosened the torx? Like the cap started spinning as I was undoing it and it just came right out without any problem at all. Why did it do this? When I put it back on, I tried to take it off just because I had heard it was hard and I could not get it off. Why was I so lucky the first time?

 

[red2blue]

Dunno.....

After I loosen the torx bolt....a lot....I pry the cap loose. When I remove the cap the bolt comes with...I always have to use my fingers to remove the filter from the canister.