"Capt. JG" wrote in
:

I didn't mean to imply that it just sits... I do start it and run it
for 10-15 minutes, either because I haven't run it in a while or
because I'm going out or coming in. Does that make a difference? I
don't mind changing it myself. The hardest part of doing anything with
the engine is actually checking the oil. The dipstick is in on the
starboard side about mid-engine, but the engine is offset in the bay,
with the forward part inset to starboard. So, basically, I have to
reach around it to get at the stick, which I can't see directly.



One of the very important things you can do for it is to take it out and
toss caution to the wind and run the hell out of it for 10 miles. 15
minutes isn't long enough to boil the water out of the crankcase. You need
to run it hard and hot for that, raising the oil temp above 212 to boil off
any water that may have accumulated, even from just condensation, in the
crankcase. Exhaust water cooling gets back through the open exhaust
valves, condenses in the cold block and always ends up in the
crankcase....under the oil where the pickup tube sucks it into the oil
pump, of course. It's not a serious problem, but is so easy to avoid by
simply running the engine for further than just far enough away from the
dock to get the sails filled. Run her out on the engine, not at idle, let
her breathe at cruising speed...way up there....above 2000 RPM. She won't
explode.

If you haven't run her hard in a long time, set her on 2500 RPM and let her
run an hour. It's really good for it.

......and, no matter what you may have heard, it's not mortal sin!...(c;