I've got a 3 liter MerCruiser to which I've added a hose to the drain plug,
which can be pulled through the bilge drain hole; the plug can then be
removed from the hose and the oil drained into a container.
I guess I'll just drain it cold, even if some remains in the sump. If I run
the engine, oil will be left throughout the engine.
I appreciate the answers and opinions, including winterizing. I'm lucky to
live in San Diego, 'though, and normally use my boat at least twice a week.
I'm just temporarily traveling for a couple of months.

wrote in message
oups.com...

William Andersen wrote:
Is it necessary to run the engine to get the oil warm before draining
it?
By the time I get to change my oil, the boat will have been sitting for
over
a month. It seems to me that all of the oil will be in the sump and
should
drain right out. If I run the engine to get the oil warm, the oil will
have
to drain back down to the sump again before it can be drained.

Sounds like you have good access to your drain plug, so just unscrew
the plug and let it "slowly" flow forth.

Boaters who need to pump the oil from the engine, (i.e. up the dipstick
tube) really benefit by having the oil hot.