Onan Fischer Panda Volvo Changing Engine Oil Engine manufacturers typically recommend an oil change every 100-200 hours, and at least once a year. Even if your engine manual allows for a longer interval between oil changes, changing the oil more often will extend the life of the engine. For some reason engine manufacturers are very liberal with oil change intervals while most marine technicians agree that shorter intervals of say at least every 100 hours, is especially important for boaters who use their engines for short trips or only a few hours per outing.
Dirty oil sitting idle becomes destructive to the internal surfaces of the engine.
Unfortunately regular oil changes are more often the exception rather than the rule, mainly because changing the oil in a boat engine can be a difficult and messy job. While it takes only a minute to drain the oil from an automobile engine, the oil drain plug in a boat is most often either out of reach or non-existent. And even where the plug is accessible, there is usually inadequate space beneath the engine for a container to catch the draining oil. The trick to hassle-free oil changing is to find a method that works for your engine installation. Here are some possibilities.