Diesel oil change question

[aprilfool]

another thing that almost no one does is a OIL ANALYSIS!! it is a cheap thing to do and will tell you that you are about to have a problem BEFORE it is a full blown failure!!! it will give you warning signs of all types of problems including inter cooler issues and give you a good basis for the timing of your oil changes! the newer oils dont break down like they did years ago

[giantfan]

I'm having a hard time getting you not to be "cheap" as you called yourself. Just how much do you have invested in those Cummin's engine's anyhow????? And your still letting phrases like "cheaper oil and filter's" come rolling off your lip's!!! You're starting to sound like a SailBoat owner!!! Boy I know that hurt, but do you get my drift??? On the Cummin's Product's I service I only use one brand of oil and filter's, guess what they're not cheap, they're good. Frank,SeaPower

I am cheap that is true... but I was only asking about a lesser filter for the winter layover as the filters that I did put on them are quite expensive. This is a whole new anmial to me... I have always had outboards until last Nov.

It doesn't hurt to ask

I get your point, you can pay me now or you can pay me later.... I get it.

Thank you very much for your help.

Do I really sound like a WAFI.... Damn that sucks

[giantfan]

another thing that almost no one does is a OIL ANALYSIS!! it is a cheap thing to do and will tell you that you are about to have a problem BEFORE it is a full blown failure!!! it will give you warning signs of all types of problems including inter cooler issues and give you a good basis for the timing of your oil changes! the newer oils dont break down like they did years ago

Makes sense,

I did have it done when I had the boat surveyed, but I never thought of it as a maint. aspect.

Thank you.

[clt_capt]

Makes sense,

I did have it done when I had the boat surveyed, but I never thought of it as a maint. aspect.

Thank you.

Can't speak for other brands, or independent labs, but the local Cat dealer charges $12 for the SOS kit - it includes the postage - and I get back a nice report. I do it every time I change the oil - They keep a history of my engines and have pointed out trends...

[perfectscore]

change your oil before winterization and change it again in the spring. who wants to get their boat all ready, nice and clean, shiny, new filters etc...and have old oil in there. it is like putting on brand new clothes with a month old underwear underneath, smartin up

[seapower]

It is a common misconseption that an oil analisys will give you sign's of impending failure, in and of itself. Many time's a customer will ask me to take an oil analisys before he buy's a boat. Truth is if I take a sample and it show's a high iron, chrome,saline, tin, etc... content on the first sample (the one I just took) the damage has already been done. Oil analisys's are meant to be a deliberate test done at deliberate time span's. The first couple are nothing more than a base line for the future test's (sample's). The idea is to document a trend of wear or a lack of wear (that is the good new's). Oil analisys is cheap and very helpful to attain the many thousand's of hour's we are looking to get out of our engine's. A small sample of thing's that will show up are saline,coolant,fuel, iron, chromium,tin etc... All of these contaminant's have a known source (the usual suspect's), and will give you an indication of a problem coming about. The point is the information you are getting in this timely manner can help you head off a catistrophic failure. It's all about TREND'S. Same thing applie's if you start using more fuel than normal, more oil than normal, NORMAL is the "trend" you have based upon hour's(week's, month's,year's of use). Same thing. A single oil sample is not a "silver bullet". There is alot of money poured into these machines and they will last for the most part if proper timely maitainence is adhered to. Frank,SeaPower

[JD5652]

It is a common misconseption that an oil analisys will give you sign's of impending failure, in and of itself. Many time's a customer will ask me to take an oil analisys before he buy's a boat. Truth is if I take a sample and it show's a high iron, chrome,saline, tin, etc... content on the first sample (the one I just took) the damage has already been done. Oil analisys's are meant to be a deliberate test done at deliberate time span's. The first couple are nothing more than a base line for the future test's (sample's). The idea is to document a trend of wear or a lack of wear (that is the good new's). Oil analisys is cheap and very helpful to attain the many thousand's of hour's we are looking to get out of our engine's. A small sample of thing's that will show up are saline,coolant,fuel, iron, chromium,tin etc... All of these contaminant's have a known source (the usual suspect's), and will give you an indication of a problem coming about. The point is the information you are getting in this timely manner can help you head off a catistrophic failure. It's all about TREND'S. Same thing applie's if you start using more fuel than normal, more oil than normal, NORMAL is the "trend" you have based upon hour's(week's, month's,year's of use). Same thing. A single oil sample is not a "silver bullet". There is alot of money poured into these machines and they will last for the most part if proper timely maitainence is adhered to. Frank,SeaPower

Totally agree that trending is the key. I'm in the camp of changing the oil before layup. I have never seen any "milk" in the oil during spring commissioning which would indicate water (condensation). I also perform oil analysis at each oil change. I use Blackstone Laboratories and have good luck with them.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

[Sterling]

I too change mine several hours before winter, then at regular intervals and I always change the filters with the oil. I also always use the same brand/weight. I change mine more frequently than recommended but let's not get crazy on the keyboards. If there's no reason to do it more often you're just wasting time and money and let's face it, even if you've got all the money, there are plenty of other important maintenance items for your time.

[captjohn22]

The contaminants in the oil are from the diesel fuel and carbon from the combustion chamber due to the high compression ratio of a diesel engine. Also, you are circulating all of the contaminants around in the older oil, change it out so those sediments don't get a chance to sit in your oil pan for 6 months and form a layer of grunge. Yes, it is definately best to put her away with fresh oil run through the engine just before running the antifreeze through the raw water system. New oil sticks to the engine parts much better than the older thinned out contaminated oil over the course of the engine sitting. Any condensation that may have gotten in to the oil or engine will steam off when you fire it up and get her hot the first time in the spring.

I agree 100 %. Any moisture will boil off the first time you get to full temperture in the spring as oil runs over 200 deg. f

[seapower]

Oil can run off of the vertical surfaces of the block with time. When the oil is not present , rust can form, rust is abrassive. I have had engines that have had alot of "lay-up" time and had high iron content in the oil analisys report's. The engine's weren't running, oil wasn't flowing and rust formed. Generally took a few "flushing" oil and filter changes to get the number's down. No arguement, just what it is. Frank,SeaPower