Alpha One oil change and Capacity

[wildman]

HI:<br /><br />I need to know the capacity on an Alpha I, how much oil is that thing supposed to hold??<br /><br />When changing the oil is it ok to fill from vent hole in the top or do you have to use the hole in the bottom...<br /><br />Thanks in advance<br /><br />WM

 

[llerrad]

Re: Alpha One oil change and Capacity

Pick up oil kit which will give you a connector hose and adapt to oil bottle then after you have drained the oil attach and fill from the bottom unitl full to the top vent hole.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Alpha One oil change and Capacity

About 1 quart. I would fill from the bottom like said previosly, buy the pump and the connector tube....best way to go.<br /><br />Bob

 

[brianwhart]

Re: Alpha One oil change and Capacity

It depends on whether you have the reservoir. Mine holds 54 ozs including the reservoir. You always want to fill from the bottom hole until comes out the top hole. Then plug the top hole and refill the reservoir. That oil kit mentioned in the above posts is definitely the way to go.

 

[wildman]

Re: Alpha One oil change and Capacity

So I guess when I bought 5 quarts, that was a little way too much..... I figured that thing held at least 4 quarts.... Shoot.... Anyone need to buy some Mer High Perf gear lube????<br /><br />Thanks for the help folks!<br /><br />WM

 

[dragracer]

Re: Alpha One oil change and Capacity

LOL...don't think it will hold 5 quarts. Yep, the bottle pump adapter makes it a real easy job. Just pump it in from the bottom until it's full. <br /><br />I was told mine would hold about a quart. I was very surprised that it held almost two quarts. What and where is this "resevoir"? Is it visable on the outside or is it internal? Or does the GenII just hold more than the GenI outdrives?

 

[brianwhart]

Re: Alpha One oil change and Capacity

I'm not sure when they started putting the drive oil reservoir on them. I have a 97 4.3L with an Alpha one, which has a translucent drive oil reservoir right on top of the engine with a hose running to your lower unit so that you can monitor your drive oil level and quality.

 

[dragracer]

Re: Alpha One oil change and Capacity

Hmmm...Ok thanks......don't guess I have one. No hoses running to lower unit that I have seen. Still wondering why mine took almost two quarts(over 1.5 quarts). Weird.

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: Alpha One oil change and Capacity

Wildman---I'll take some of that oil. I live in Bloomington, IL. What's your web address?<br /><br />Dragracer---be carfule not to overfill--was it coming out the vent hole near the top of the upper unit? I stop pumping when it just starts coming out and then fill the reservoir from the topside/inside/front of engine compartment.

 

[Baketech]

Re: Alpha One oil change and Capacity

Did my first gear lube change last weekend on my Alpha. My manual said that it would take 2 quarts. (64oz) It ended up taking around 56oz to to top line on the monitor. I am sure that I drained everything completely, so I am not sure where the discrepancy is? Anyway, it has maintained its level after about 8 hours of running time.<br /><br /> Things I learned:<br />Always fill from the bottom. I purchased the little plastic pump from my Merc dealer for $9.75...and then bumped into the exact same thing at Walmart in a generic package for about $2 less.... <br /><br /> Things I still want to know: <br />Whats the trick to quickly getting the pump unscrewed and the plug back in without making a hell of a mess....

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: Alpha One oil change and Capacity

Bake---always a little mess with this stuff. If you put the top vent screw in and the resevoir cap back on after full, then remove the pump from the bottom, not as much lube comes out.<br /><br />However, If you put the vent screw back in and the cap on after you fill, DON'T PUMP anymore---you could blow a seal.

 

[DestinyEscape]

Re: Alpha One oil change and Capacity

Hey Guys,<br /><br />Not that it's all that important to the topic, but mine is an AlphaOne Gen II and it took about 1 1/2 quarts between the unit and the reservoir.<br /><br />CP

 

[dragracer]

Re: Alpha One oil change and Capacity

Yeah dd.....I took the top plug out and also the dipstick out of the very top(only because I didn't know what the hell it was at the time...hehehe). I filled it until it just trickled out the top(side) hole.

 

[Baketech]

Re: Alpha One oil change and Capacity

Bake---always a little mess with this stuff. If you put the top vent screw in and the resevoir cap back on after full, then remove the pump from the bottom, not as much lube comes out.

Jeez, I should have thought of that...LOL<br />Thanks for the tip....