Oil Looks Absolutely Perfect

[Roger Long]

After a 3 1/2 hour run from Portsmouth to Dutch Harbor, the oil looks like the engine had never even been run. It was never this clean before when I checked the level after only an hour or two of running. Engine sounds great and exhaust very clean.

I've got to take a nap. I didn't sleep very well last night.

(All that hanging around in the Sakonnet River you may have seen on the SPOT was waiting for Lee and Lynn)

 

[kloudie1]

Ahhhh.. Good to hear, Roger.. Bon Voyage..

 

[jibes138]

Wonderful news Roger. Have a nice trip up the sound. There is a really good anchorage on the west end of Fishers Island if you need a spot to drop a hook. About an easy day's sail from Newport. You can throw out a hook in front of the mooring field in Noank also and row in to grab some clams at the Seahorse.
Fair winds.

 

[Benny17441]

Roger, there were some observations about retorqueing the head bolts in your previous post of "This just in". I feel you should do it earlier than 250h and others seem to agree. The fact that the engine seems to be running better is real good news. Perhaps and hopelly all it was that the head needed to be properly bolted down.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Roger,

FWIW, the oil in my Volvo auxiliary always looks like new, a clean golden color. After 100+ hours it is almost still in this condition - just slightly dark.

However, the very same oil in my Westerbeke genset turns black after under an hour of running.

Weird. Both engines run fine with no other clues that would suggest an answer to the oil color.

 

[anchorclanker]

Is the Volvo aux a diesel??

 

[Rich Stidger]

Is the Volvo aux a diesel??

Yes, the Volvo is a MD22L-B, four cyl 50hp, and the Westerbeke is a 5KW unit with a three cyl engine. Both engines are diesels.

 

[whatfiero]

oil looks perfect

the volvo uses water to cool the piston thru water jackets in engine block the westerbeke uses a shot of oil from the crank to the bottom of the piston to cool the piston upon combustion

 

[Benny17441]

Does your Volvo have glow plugs?

 

[Rich Stidger]

Does your Volvo have glow plugs?

Both the Volvo and the Westerbeke have glow plugs, but what does that have to do with the color of the oil?

 

[leftbrainstuff]

Roger,

FWIW, the oil in my Volvo auxiliary always looks like new, a clean golden color. After 100+ hours it is almost still in this condition - just slightly dark.

However, the very same oil in my Westerbeke genset turns black after under an hour of running.

Weird. Both engines run fine with no other clues that would suggest an answer to the oil color.

The engine oil will over time become black as it picks up the carbon deposits from blowby. This is normal. If a new or rebuilt engine blackens the oil too quickly that is usually a sign of poor cleaning during rebuild or assembly. This is IMHO the primary cause of accelerated wear.

The oil will also change colour as the many additives breakdown. Each oil change removes the majority of these components which contribute to wear over the useful life of the engine.