The B Word
Recruit
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2013
- Messages
- 1
I'm trying to change an oil filter on my Mercruiser 5.7. As most of you know, the filters located on the port side, down under, towards the rear of the engine. it's a completely blind, one hand, operation to remove. I done it on a previous 5.7. The trouble with this one is; there's a "bracket", almost touching the filter and runs the entire length of the filter making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get any filter wrench to work. The space is so tight you can only get a few degrees of turn, not enough to get the wrench to grab. I've come to the conclusion that the only way I'm getting that filter off is to remove that "bracket". In groping around blind, with one hand, I can feel some bolts holding the bracket. I can't imagine what its purpose is and concerned I may get into deeper water by taking it out? Please, someone enlighten me as to what it is? I've tried to look under using a trouble light and mirror, but the "bracket" is at the top of the filter and i could not make out what it does. I do not feel it has anything to do with a motor mount, but then again, what if? I've always felt that Mercruiser did an injustice to their clients and even more to their design reputation by not supplying a remote filter as standard when an operation is so cumbersome. You know I'm doing it, once I get the darn thing off. I know it started out to be an automotive engine but Merc was to make it serviceable as a marine engine. I still feel they're the best out there. Please help me, my arm and hand can't make much more. Thanks