Opinion on Oil Change?

[Relentlessfishing]

Just wanted to get a cpl of different opinions here. I just changed the oil in my engines and have put 35 hours on them would you change the oil again before you laid up for the winter or has the oil not been run enough for it to be a factor?? Any ideas would be appreciated.

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

Change it at whatever the motor spec is.

Mine is 250 hours.

[Capt.Troy Crane]

I agree,
at 35 hours the oil has not even begun to break down.

The only consideration would be if the engine was run hot or the oil has been deluted by fuel.

Troy

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

Ok I re-read the original post, I guess you are asking if you should put the boat away for the winter with new oil.

I would not.

If you have any question about it, put new oil in it at the beginning of the season next year, but you don't need to put it up with new oil.

[JD5652]

Guess I'm the odd man out here...I agree that the oil is not even close to the point of breaking down with only 35 hours...

However I always change my oil before putting the boat away for the winter. For me it excludes any possibility of any contaminants sitting over the winter in the engine whether they be a little condensation, acids, etc. that I may not know about.

Regardless of when you change the oil, it's a good idea to have a sample analyzed each oil change so you get a trend of how your engine is running. This will detect problems before you can even tell there's an issue.

[seapower]

Oil is the cheapest "insurance" you can buy. Good oil and good filter's = a healthy engine. When in doubt, you know the rest. Frank

[Prime Time]

Just changed the oil in our mains for the winter layup....didn't need it yet, but for $150 in oil and 2 filters and time alone in the engine room on Sunday it was worth it.....It can't hurt to have fresh clean oil in them over the winter.