I sample my oil and sent for analysis. Costs $20 but the knowledge of whether or not the oil is good as well as what else could be wrong with the engine is invaluable. For anyone who cares about the environmental impacts, not changing the oil is better for the environment too. I use an over-sized oil filter and the very best amsoil marine diesel engine oil. This particular oil has a high TBN of 12. IIRC, TBN stand for total base number, you know base... The opposite of acid. As acids build up in the oil the TBN goes down. If the person doing the analysis sees that the trend suggests the TBN (or any of the oil specs) will be too close to zero before the next oil change, they modify their recommendations.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MaBnvf4Fc9auz-p_Yw-yp5uh-Z7R4N__/view?usp=drivesdk Keeping moisture out of the oil is another key to long life. A block heater keeps the oil dry, the rings from sticking, the cylinders from rusting and the boat warm enough to prevent the bilge from freezing. Josh Muckley S/V Sea Hawk 1989 C&C 37+ Solomons, MD On Thu, Oct 15, 2020, 15:44 Nathan Post <[email protected]> wrote: > Regarding sitting - after winterizing the engine will sit until spring. I > doubt that is really such a big deal although yes these things don’t like > to sit. The boat sat for 2 years before we bought it and the engine has > run well without issues or leaky seals or anything since (had to replace a > bad fuel pump and glow plug relay). So 5-6 months over the winter doesn’t > seem like a big deal. > > I don’t generally put a lot of hours on the engine <50/year and this year > I have only put about 25 hours on the Westerbeke 20B2 in Wisper. We are > hauling out on Monday. I have been pondering if it really makes sense to > change the oil and oil filter at that point (per the change it every fall > on haul out philosophy). Or is that is a waste of resources and oil (more > from an environmental perspective then $ costs) and I should just wait for > it to reach 100 hours to change it. > > Any thoughts? > > - - > Nathan Post > S/V Wisper > 1981 C&C 34 KCB > Lynn MA USA > October is the time to show your appreciation with a small contribution to > this list to help offset the costs. If you want to support the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks > - Stu
October is the time to show your appreciation with a small contribution to this list to help offset the costs. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
