Gas filter instead of an oil filter

[mmeechan]

Bought "Fascination", my 1988 Catalina 27 in July from a guy who owned her for one year.
When I asked about what service he performed, he said he had changed the oil before putting her to bed last winter.
I decided that I would have the marina do it this year, since it is my first and don't yet feel up to speed on all the pieces etc. (still lots to read)
The marina called me this morning saying the oil was very dark. I told them that the PO had replaced the oil at the end of last season, so why would it be so dirty.
The marina tells me that the PO used a gas filter instead of an oil filter and that as such the filter was not filtering the oil and wasn't very dirty.
Is that even possible? Are the threads and diameters the same etc?
The Marina is now telling me that next season I may want to replace my oil filter every 10-15hrs to "help clean the oil"

Anyone have any experience with this kind of thing or thoughts/recommendations?

Mike

 

[Stu Jackson]

Mike, "trust but verify."

If it was my boat, I would get the # of the filter they claim was a gas filter. I don't even know if gas filters would fit on the threads of a diesel engine, someone here may know that.

And, diesel engine oil in your Universal engine (right?) is always dark, even right after you put it in. Why? Two reasons: most of us can't get ALL of the old oil out because the engines are tilted backwards; and, diesel engines like our blacken the oil right away.

Sounds suspicious to me.

All the more reason to learn to DIY. We all did start there, and the two times I've had other people work on my boat I've had to fix it myself anyway.

Oil changes are easy. Learn to do it.

Suspect what you're hearing unless you know this yard as well as your trusted brother.

The Marina is now telling me that next season I may want to replace my oil filter every 10-15hrs to "help clean the oil"

If you replace the oil at the beginning of the season and use the right filter, why bother?

 

[philwsailz]

What motor do you have?

A stock Atomic 4 has no oil filter.....

 

[Stu Jackson]

Phil, I thought the same thing, but an '88 C27 would most likely have had a diesel.

 

[CalebD]

Stu is right of course.
Diesel engines produce more soot then a gas engine so the oil is almost always black as night.
He is also right that you can't get all of the old oil out with a single oil change. There is always residual oil inside the crank case.
He is also right that changing the engine oil is an easy task if you have a decent oil change pump. I'll recommend a pump like this: http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|311|296536|314179&id=1345777 which they probably sell right here on sailboatowners chandlery. I use a 12V Jabsco unit which makes changing the oil a breeze with little or no mess.

If you really want to do your engine a favor then get enough oil to do 2 oil changes. Run the engine a bit after the first oil change and then change it again. You will have gotten more of the suspended soot out of the oil pan.

I don't really buy the idea that a gas filter was used in place of an oil filter. Changing an oil filter is really child's play to do as well. Can be more of a mess but you usually only need a filter wrench which you will find at any decent auto parts store.

One of the best oils to use in your diesel is Rotella T as it is rated for compression engines. Most oils are made for cars which have spark ignition.
Check the API (American Petroleum Instutue) stamp on any can of oil and look for oils with an API rating of Cxx. Most will have Sxxx ratings.

 

[Cherie320]

I would have thought it not possible, but in looking at a Racor diesel fuel filter, it looks close to an oil filter. If the PO di not know about the need to filter fuel, it's not a big jump to believe that he thought it was an oil filter.

 

[mmeechan]

Sorry, thought I had posted the engine. It's a Universal diesel.
Thanks for the replies