Check Oil Every Time - What Do Most Owners Do?

[John]

I'm nevers about my engine oil.

I check my engine right after I got on board.I check my engine oil before I start the engine.I check my engine oil every 10 min' when my engine in running.I check my engine oil after I shut the engine down.I check my engine oil before I left my boat.I don't trust my engine a bit. I believe my engine would start to burn the oil if I don't check it. If I don't check my engine oil as I did, my engine could dead on me at any moment. That all I know about my engine.

 

[Jim]

I used to, but now

I have an engine with gauges on its control panel. Thank you Catalina!

 

[s sauer]

Check General issues

When I access the engine to check the oil, once or more per weekend, I have an opportunity to check the belts, feel around the fuel pump, fuel lines and filter for minor Diesel leaks and generally see if any hoses, wiring or battery cables are rubbing or touching something that could cause wear.I've found small cracks in the alternator belt, or a battery cable touching the sharp edge of the air filter housing or the seawater intake hose rubbing against a motor mount, and once the seawater hose clamp at the pump was wet because the hose under it was just starting to split. I shortened it an inch or so and reinstalled it before I went out for a sail.Would you notice any of this by looking at your gauges?

 

[rardiH36]

Very Useful Info

Thanks all for the comments about frequency of checking the oil. Just as interesting were the other inspection tips. What I have been checking each time -- most of which were pointed in your comments:- That the raw water sea cock is always opened/closed before/after running the engine. (Also for the day sailing that I do, none of the other seacocks need to be open -- so they are always closed. Every couple of weeks I do check to verify that they and their mounts to the hull aren't leaking and I open/shut them so they don't freeze up do to disuse.- Immediately after starting, I look over the stern to verify that raw water is being ejected with the exhaust.- Immediately after starting I check that the oil pressure warning light has gone off. - I observe if the exhaust is smoking – (always nothing).- I look at the water around the location of the exhaust discharge for any signs of unfamiliar discharge.- After starting, I pop the cooling system pressure cap for a moment to verify the coolant is circulating. My engine was originally designed for raw water cooling and was then converted to an antifreeze system with the addition of an externally mounted heat exchanger. The pressure cap on the exchanger is very easy to reach in the starboard lacerate.- I listen for any unfamiliar sounds.- I pay attention to changes in vibration patterns.Every few times out, but maybe now each time for some (=’s about once per week), I have been:- Checking the voltage to verify that the alternator and regulator are functioning.- Looking at all the hoses and clamps in the engine compartment,- Inspecting the absorbent pad underneath the engine for fluids,- Checking the belt for appearance and tension,- Looking and running fingers around various part of the engine in search of leaking oil or coolant,- Looking at the clear jar of the Raycor filter for signs of water or contaminants in the fuel.- Checking the oil level and appearance.- Checking the transmission fluid.The previous owner had mounted in the boat a new temp/oil/voltage gauge set, but had not purchased or installed the respective sending sensors on the engine. Completing the job is on my to-do list. For now I'm doing with the original Yanmar idiot lights and audio alarm system. Thanks everyone.

 

[Warren Milberg]

I subscribe to S.Sauer's

maintenance routine. I've found that it takes very little time to check the oil, check the belts (I turn the engine over by hand one rev or so to look at all the belt surfaces), look at the hoses and connections, or notice any other anomalies that could, and sometimes do, occur in the engine compartment. While I have hardly ever noticed anything amiss, over the years I have noted a raw water pump belt (that was nearly new) that had a cut in it that would have resulted in near-term failure, a raw water pump hose beginning to fail right under the hose clamp, a loose petcock on one of the engine coolant drains, and so forth. I feel the minimal time needed to run these checks is really worth it. We probably all know someone who never makes such checks, but rather just jumps into his boat, hits start, and takes off. Sometimes all goes well for such persons, but many times the problems they eventually have can be traced to minimal preventive maintenance. I once took a "Diesel Dork" engine maintenance course and the instructor told us that engines hardly ever fail without some warning signs. He noted that key factor was looking and listening for them, and fixing them, before you were out in the middle of wherever you sail....

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Rick and Stu (oh, great thread, by the way)

Rick, Happy Holidays to you too my friend!Stu, your post about failed raw water seals leading to engine oil contamination reminded me that you need a Yanmar. OU-OU, Rick. Have you been to my web site lately. At the end of our drag racing season I managed to turn an 11.90. A much larger new FI system is going in, this winter. I'm shooting for 'roll-bar territory'. (that's where I quit)And your car is still on my hard disk. That's saying a lot because it's so small. A new computer is on the list too. But the car comes first.