It's been a while since I checked the condition of the engine oil on my
Westerbeke 13... last time was at purchase.. about 18 mos. ago.

An old oil sample was sent off for analysis as a condition of the purchase,
and nothing out of ordinary was found, but I changed the oil anyway.

I'm thinking that it's that time again, and I was going to send away to have
a sample tested when I ran across this article. It's a heck of lot less
expensive to test it this way vs. the $45 the last time for a one-time test.

Has anyone done this? It seems to be fairly new.

http://www.marinelink.com/Story/Engi...st-210344.html

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
It's been a while since I checked the condition of the engine oil on my
Westerbeke 13... last time was at purchase.. about 18 mos. ago.

An old oil sample was sent off for analysis as a condition of the
purchase, and nothing out of ordinary was found, but I changed the oil
anyway.

I'm thinking that it's that time again, and I was going to send away to
have a sample tested when I ran across this article. It's a heck of lot
less expensive to test it this way vs. the $45 the last time for a
one-time test.

Has anyone done this? It seems to be fairly new.

http://www.marinelink.com/Story/Engi...st-210344.html

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

The oil analysis that we used to do looks at a lot more than the fluid or
chemical contaminants that the kit you reference does.

Typically, a report would consider various metal traces found in the oil and
suggest possible sources.

The full lab analysis gave great comfort.

In my opinion (and for my engine and conditions, your mileage may vary) 18
months is too long to leave oil in an engine. Oil is relatively cheap and
easy to change compared to pistons, valve lifters, etc. I have elected to
change ours twice a season. Probably overkill but provides a lot of peace
of mind.

"Faire dinkum" wrote in message
...

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
It's been a while since I checked the condition of the engine oil on my
Westerbeke 13... last time was at purchase.. about 18 mos. ago.

An old oil sample was sent off for analysis as a condition of the
purchase, and nothing out of ordinary was found, but I changed the oil
anyway.

I'm thinking that it's that time again, and I was going to send away to
have a sample tested when I ran across this article. It's a heck of lot
less expensive to test it this way vs. the $45 the last time for a
one-time test.

Has anyone done this? It seems to be fairly new.

http://www.marinelink.com/Story/Engi...st-210344.html

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

The oil analysis that we used to do looks at a lot more than the fluid or
chemical contaminants that the kit you reference does.

Typically, a report would consider various metal traces found in the oil
and suggest possible sources.

The full lab analysis gave great comfort.

In my opinion (and for my engine and conditions, your mileage may vary) 18
months is too long to leave oil in an engine. Oil is relatively cheap and
easy to change compared to pistons, valve lifters, etc. I have elected to
change ours twice a season. Probably overkill but provides a lot of peace
of mind.



I like Larry's suggestion of every six months. That's not a big deal. In the
spring and then at the end of the sailing season would be about right.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Capt. JG" wrote in news:13uvkpu69qtll41
@corp.supernews.com:

end of the sailing season

End of the sailing season?? Huh??

Sailing season never ends....does it??

How silly.....

SAIL SOUTH!! SOUTH!!

We'll leave the dock lights on for ya....

New Years day, Charleston Harbor, RACE DAY!!

End of the sailing season....yecch.

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Capt. JG" wrote in news:13uvkpu69qtll41
@corp.supernews.com:

end of the sailing season

End of the sailing season?? Huh??

Sailing season never ends....does it??

How silly.....

SAIL SOUTH!! SOUTH!!

We'll leave the dock lights on for ya....

New Years day, Charleston Harbor, RACE DAY!!

End of the sailing season....yecch.



Well, maybe I should have said end of the primary season... typically
December, and I sail only occasionally in Jan/Feb, although this year
several times.


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Capt. JG" wrote in news:13v07b23s0ice34
@corp.supernews.com:

Well, maybe I should have said end of the primary season... typically
December, and I sail only occasionally in Jan/Feb, although this year
several times.



Global Warming is only a downside if you're depending on government grant
money to study it, ad nauseum.

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
It's been a while since I checked the condition of the engine oil on my
Westerbeke 13... last time was at purchase.. about 18 mos. ago.

An old oil sample was sent off for analysis as a condition of the
purchase, and nothing out of ordinary was found, but I changed the oil
anyway.

I'm thinking that it's that time again, and I was going to send away to
have a sample tested when I ran across this article. It's a heck of lot
less expensive to test it this way vs. the $45 the last time for a
one-time test.

Has anyone done this? It seems to be fairly new.

http://www.marinelink.com/Story/Engi...st-210344.html

That test shows only contaminants and I see they include carbon.
Carbon will always be present in the sump oil of a diesel to some degree so
this test is usually going to show it up..
.. The main reason for regular oil changes is that modern oils contain
additives that hold carbon particles in a colloidal
suspension,which is why the oil in a diesel turns black.
If you do not change the oil at specified intervals the additives become
exhausted and the carbon load being held in the oil starts to fall out of
suspension and cook itself onto the pistons, rings and cylinder walls and
form sludge in the sump.
So prolonging the period between oil changes meansyou save a bit on oil
costs and your maintanance bills are much higher.
How easy is it to remove cylinder heads and/or draw pistons from the engine
in your boat?
I change my oil at the end of every season for this reason regardless of
hours run and always well before the engine makers recommended hours.
It pays off in the long run. My engine never has used oil in it during the
cold winter,when acids,water or anything else can condense and start
corrosion
or other problems.

"Edgar" wrote in message
...

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
It's been a while since I checked the condition of the engine oil on my
Westerbeke 13... last time was at purchase.. about 18 mos. ago.

An old oil sample was sent off for analysis as a condition of the
purchase, and nothing out of ordinary was found, but I changed the oil
anyway.

I'm thinking that it's that time again, and I was going to send away to
have a sample tested when I ran across this article. It's a heck of lot
less expensive to test it this way vs. the $45 the last time for a
one-time test.

Has anyone done this? It seems to be fairly new.

http://www.marinelink.com/Story/Engi...st-210344.html

That test shows only contaminants and I see they include carbon.
Carbon will always be present in the sump oil of a diesel to some degree
so
this test is usually going to show it up..
. The main reason for regular oil changes is that modern oils contain
additives that hold carbon particles in a colloidal
suspension,which is why the oil in a diesel turns black.
If you do not change the oil at specified intervals the additives become
exhausted and the carbon load being held in the oil starts to fall out of
suspension and cook itself onto the pistons, rings and cylinder walls and
form sludge in the sump.
So prolonging the period between oil changes meansyou save a bit on oil
costs and your maintanance bills are much higher.
How easy is it to remove cylinder heads and/or draw pistons from the
engine in your boat?

No idea... not sure I have the tools or expertise to try.

I change my oil at the end of every season for this reason regardless of
hours run and always well before the engine makers recommended hours.
It pays off in the long run. My engine never has used oil in it during the
cold winter,when acids,water or anything else can condense and start
corrosion
or other problems.

Fortunately, mine hasn't required a drop so far.




--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

In article ,
"Edgar" wrote:

That test shows only contaminants and I see they include carbon.
Carbon will always be present in the sump oil of a diesel to some degree so
this test is usually going to show it up..

Just a NOTE here.... SOME OEM's put trace elements in their Bearing
Compositions, so as to Identify each individual Bearing in an engine,
should it begin to fail. By doing a Mass Spectrum analysis on the
used Oil, one can identify any bearing that is shedding material in
excessive quantities. CAT does this and REQUIRES Oil analysis be done
if the engine is on one of their Maintainance Agreements.

--
Bruce in alaska
add path after fast to reply

"Bruce in alaska" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Edgar" wrote:

That test shows only contaminants and I see they include carbon.
Carbon will always be present in the sump oil of a diesel to some degree
so
this test is usually going to show it up..

Just a NOTE here.... SOME OEM's put trace elements in their Bearing
Compositions, so as to Identify each individual Bearing in an engine,
should it begin to fail. By doing a Mass Spectrum analysis on the
used Oil, one can identify any bearing that is shedding material in
excessive quantities. CAT does this and REQUIRES Oil analysis be done
if the engine is on one of their Maintainance Agreements.

--
Bruce in alaska
add path after fast to reply


I've got one in the garage... LOL

As a side note, way back in 1982, I had an opportunity to buy a desktop
electron microscope for under $1000. I should have done it.


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com