Perkins Oil Exchange Pump - 'Tis a Puzzlement

[Ken Coit]

So, I go to change the oil again with that wonderful Perkins pump and what happens? The pump seems to be pulling a serious vacuum on the engine pan. What gives? I got a drop or two of oil into the container, but the pump handle nearly jumped out of my hand.

After agonizing about this for awhile, I decided that the pump had a problem and that I should remove it. I loosened everying in sight and loose it got, but it would not come out; I think that a bit of corrosion has set in between the pump and the fitting on the block.

Out of curiousity, I tried using the pump in its loose condition and it pumped just fine thank you. The pan was open to the air and it was easily pumped. I bolted it all back together and it still pumped just fine.

So, what gives? I had just run the engine to stir up all the gremlins; the oil could still have been draining into the pan and blocking air from entering. Is that a possibility?

Could the pump inlet have been mired in sludge at the bottom of the pan; would moving it around possibly broken that blockage?

Was the check valve in the pump body stuck closed, but somehow unstuck while I was messing about skinning knuckles and bruising my forearm?

The oil is changed and I am confident I can do it again, but if anyone cares to provide first hand anecdotes or just plain guesses, I'd be delighted to hear them.

Keep on sailing,

Ken Coit
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC




parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com

[Larry DeMers]

Ken,

Could the tubes end have gotten sucked up against the pan? I have done this with my vacuum can that sucks the bad stuff from the crankcase via the dipstick tube. If so, try cutting the tube at a fairly steep angle with a non-straight edge so that it is less likely to meet a flat surface and get stuck (sucker like).

heh..just a guess though..wierd.

Larry DeMers

So, I go to change the oil again with that wonderful Perkins pump and what happens? The pump seems to be pulling a serious vacuum on the engine pan. What gives? I got a drop or two of oil into the container, but the pump handle nearly jumped out of my hand.

After agonizing about this for awhile, I decided that the pump had a problem and that I should remove it. I loosened everying in sight and loose it got, but it would not come out; I think that a bit of corrosion has set in between the pump and the fitting on the block.

Out of curiousity, I tried using the pump in its loose condition and it pumped just fine thank you. The pan was open to the air and it was easily pumped. I bolted it all back together and it still pumped just fine.

So, what gives? I had just run the engine to stir up all the gremlins; the oil could still have been draining into the pan and blocking air from entering. Is that a possibility?

Could the pump inlet have been mired in sludge at the bottom of the pan; would moving it around possibly broken that blockage?

Was the check valve in the pump body stuck closed, but somehow unstuck while I was messing about skinning knuckles and bruising my forearm?

The oil is changed and I am confident I can do it again, but if anyone cares to provide first hand anecdotes or just plain guesses, I'd be delighted to hear them.

Keep on sailing,

Ken Coit
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC

demers@sgi.com

[Ken Coit]

Larry,

Yes, but it worked the last time I tried it. It is permanently mounted, so it should have been in the same environment. I don't think the other times I have changed the oil have been so soon after shutting the engine down, so I am betting on all the oil channels being loaded with oil and there being no way to pull air into the crankcase to replace the oil as quickly as I was trying to remove it. I removed the filler cap to no avail.

I was in no mood to do this last night, but perhaps I will experiment a bit the next time we run the engine. There is no need to wait until I need to change the oil, I can just pour it back in.

Ken

Ken,

Could the tubes end have gotten sucked up against the pan? I have done this with my vacuum can that sucks the bad stuff from the crankcase via the dipstick tube. If so, try cutting the tube at a fairly steep angle with a non-straight edge so that it is less likely to meet a flat surface and get stuck (sucker like).

heh..just a guess though..wierd.

Larry DeMers

So, I go to change the oil again with that wonderful Perkins pump and what happens? The pump seems to be pulling a serious vacuum on the engine pan. What gives? I got a drop or two of oil into the container, but the pump handle nearly jumped out of my hand.

After agonizing about this for awhile, I decided that the pump had a problem and that I should remove it. I loosened everying in sight and loose it got, but it would not come out; I think that a bit of corrosion has set in between the pump and the fitting on the block.

Out of curiousity, I tried using the pump in its loose condition and it pumped just fine thank you. The pan was open to the air and it was easily pumped. I bolted it all back together and it still pumped just fine.

So, what gives? I had just run the engine to stir up all the gremlins; the oil could still have been draining into the pan and blocking air from entering. Is that a possibility?

Could the pump inlet have been mired in sludge at the bottom of the pan; would moving it around possibly broken that blockage?

Was the check valve in the pump body stuck closed, but somehow unstuck while I was messing about skinning knuckles and bruising my forearm?

The oil is changed and I am confident I can do it again, but if anyone cares to provide first hand anecdotes or just plain guesses, I'd be delighted to hear them.

Keep on sailing,

Ken Coit
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC

parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com