Stupid mistake

[Loserkid83]

I’ve done dozens and dozens of oil changes in my life.....and the new boat got the best of me.

Wound up putting a hole in the oil filter when installing the new one. I could find my ratchet tool so I used the ultra grippy (sharp teeth) filter tool.....which is more of a removal tool than an install tool.

Boated around for a few hours yesterday and got in the boat this morning and when checking out the engine noticed a bunch of oil in the bottom of the compartment. Overall lost a couple quarts.

One more oil change and it’s all good.

Bottom line. Don’t use the wrong tools. That could have ruined a fun trip. Luckily it was just going to be a bit of fun before switching lakes.

 

[swatski]

I’ve done dozens and dozens of oil changes in my life.....and the new boat got the best of me.

Wound up putting a hole in the oil filter when installing the new one. I could find my ratchet tool so I used the ultra grippy (sharp teeth) filter tool.....which is more of a removal tool than an install tool.

Boated around for a few hours yesterday and got in the boat this morning and when checking out the engine noticed a bunch of oil in the bottom of the compartment. Overall lost a couple quarts.

One more oil change and it’s all good.

Bottom line. Don’t use the wrong tools. That could have ruined a fun trip. Luckily it was just going to be a bit of fun before switching lakes.

Could have been much worse!
I don;t always look inside the engine bay before taking off anymore but I used to, it is such a good habit.

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[MidnightRider]

Glad it all worked out. I will say that I personally have never used a filter wrench to install an oil filter on any engine my entire life - hand tight has always been sufficient for no leaks. But to each their own. ?

 

[Dixie Highway]

I agree with MidnightRider, done literally hundreds of oil changes on cars, boats, bikes, quads, mowers, etc...I was taught from a very young age that using a wrench to install an oil filter is a cardinal sin. And judging by the number of filters I’ve had to destroy in order to remove them, I’d say there are plenty out there that don’t know this rule.

 

[zipper]

Agree wiith statements above...oil filter tools are for the removal of used filters. New filters are to be hand tightened. Smearing a little oil on the rubber seal/gasket with your finger will help it seal properly. Never had one leak after 40+ years of DIY oil changes on cars, trucks, tractors or boats.

 

[Ilmmct]

@Loserkid83 ... you checked your engine bay and discovered the oil lose before real damage was done. I’d say you were “smart”, not stupid. Also username @winnerkid83 is available ;-)

 

[Gym]

Agree with all the above. Thin coating of oil on the O ring and hand tight only. I might add...You may want to migrate to the K&N oil filters which have a nut welded to the top of the filter for easier removal. Good catch on the preflight. I check oil level & engine bay before every trip.

 

[Beachbummer]

I humbly disagree.

The tool that holds the filter with a smooth metal band can be used without harm to give the filter another quarter turn after hand tightening without any self destruction, or nuclear meltdown happening. Folks have different strengths and different length of their hands. As OP pointed out, it was the wrong tool at the time, but the hand is not the only tool to tighten an oil filter correctly either. It's about correct use, and I understand it seems impossible to overtighten by hand so it seems the optimal tool, but another quarter turn with the right tool for some may be the better way to go.

 

[Billtex2000]

 

[zipper]

Agree wiith statements above...oil filter tools are for the removal of used filters. New filters are to be hand tightened. Smearing a little oil on the rubber seal/gasket with your finger will help it seal properly. Never had one leak after 40+ years of DIY oil changes on cars, trucks, tractors or boats.

Well...after looking in my service manual, I am now "eating crow". I understand these tools are used with the filters with the nut on the bottom. How else could you torque to 12 ft. lbs without a torque wrench. My hands are not that accurate. I will still use my hand, but the manual says to use a wrench.

 

[swatski]

Well...after looking in my service manual, I am now "eating crow". I understand these tools are used with the filters with the nut on the bottom. How else could you torque to 12 ft. lbs without a torque wrench. My hands are not that accurate. I will still use my hand, but the manual says to use a wrench.

View attachment 99008

It strikes me as a somewhat similar situation to spark plugs, where the question wold be: torquing to a value with or without anti-seize? Or with or without oil smeared over the filter seal?
My guess is the manual writing guys strive to give an exact data/value point wherever they can, nothing wrong with that but it could be complicated in practice. You know what has worked for you in the past, for whatever many years. And I don’t see you starting to torque your oil filters anytime soon, lol.

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[Gym]

I think the collective here has come up with a better mouse trap, than the Yamaha engineers, on several occasions. I site instances such as the scupper valve, Jeff's steering improvements & the simple EZ Locks for the cleanout plugs and anti seizing the spark plugs just to name a few so while I respect the engineers initial guidance, sometimes you have to think out of the box.

 

[captras]

Years ago I was taught, and I think the standard still is....a light coat of oil on the new seal. When the seal first makes contact, HAND tightened 1/2 to 3/4 turn. In 40 years I have never had one leak, and never had a problem removing it with the proper oil filter wrench.

 

[MidnightRider]

I humbly disagree.

The tool that holds the filter with a smooth metal band can be used without harm to give the filter another quarter turn after hand tightening without any self destruction, or nuclear meltdown happening. Folks have different strengths and different length of their hands. As OP pointed out, it was the wrong tool at the time, but the hand is not the only tool to tighten an oil filter correctly either. It's about correct use, and I understand it seems impossible to overtighten by hand so it seems the optimal tool, but another quarter turn with the right tool for some may be the better way to go.

This is why I added “to each his own”. 30+ years of installing oil filters on numerous equipment, autos, and boats by hand successfully (was how I was taught as a youngster) so not about switch now.