Oil still dirty after change?

[sailnoproblem]

When you suck the oil out thru the dip stick, do you attach what I call a spaghetti tube to shove down the tube? I use it and it seems to do better then just attaching to the dip stick tube.

 

[VT Fitz]

When you suck the oil out thru the dip stick, do you attach what I call a spaghetti tube to shove down the tube?

Yes, I inserted a tube down the dip stick path until it stopped, then backed off a smidge so it wasn't being jammed into a blockage. As I said, my rookie mistake was not removing the fill cap, so I had quite a time getting flow, but I believe I emptied it.

Maybe that lack of venting resulted in more being left behind than normal. I'm thinking now to run it for 10-20 hours, check that I'm not losing/burning oil, then change it again. Now I know how to do it right!

 

[oguzalgan]

This is normal for marine diesel engines w/o drain plug. I did not see in your message, and assuming you did not change the oil filter. If you will change oil filter, the blackening will be lighter (but unfortunately will still be there). But there is no need to be concerned, because these small particles are already the ones small enough to escape from the pores in the oil filter and safe to run in the engine.
Two years ago, because of the blackening concern, I did a double oil change and oil filter change in the same day 2 hrs apart, and it brought pretty clean oil, but I think it was just over-thinking/over-engineering.
I agree with other sailors, you are fine. Enjoy the sailing...

 

[VT Fitz]

This is normal for marine diesel engines w/o drain plug. I did not see in your message, and assuming you did not change the oil filter.

I did change the filter. Doesn't make sense to me to change the oil but leave a bunch of dirty oil in the filter.

Thanks for the additional vote of reassurance that I shouldn't sweat it. You're right... Go sail her!

 

[ice breaker]

My anecdotal experience over the years, is that direct injected diesels tend to have cleaner oil, and those with swirl chambers tend to be very black. Swirl chambers improve efficiency but make starting harder. Very black oil in a diesel is nothing to worry about. Compression rations also effect oil color, but none of this engineering is anything that we can change.....so just keep on sailing.

 

[SirMichael]

Did you to change the oil filter? Silly as it may sound, I didn't see the filter on my'88 Yanmar 2GM20F last year when I first change the oil (just purchased it). When I was reading some of the forums this year, I found mention of the filter, and took an old picture that I had of the engine and saw the filter behind the alternator.

Just a thought, guess we're not all perfect.

 

[Tomek]

You mentioned that you forgot to remove the fill cap. That may have caused some oil to have been air locked in the nooks inside in the engine resulting in darker than expected oil after change. You also did not mention whether you replaced the oil filter. I have Hunter 33 with 30 hp Yanmar, and after each change the oil was always pretty light, although not as light as fresh oil. On the other hand, I change oil every fall, and prefer sailing so I use the engine as little as possible. My old oil is very dark but not black,

 

[VT Fitz]

Tomek, I did mention in a later post that I changed the filter.

I want to get some miles under her keel before thinking more about it. I'm fairly sure what oil I did change out has provided sufficiently refreshed protection. I still think I'll change it again midsummer, if only for the practice!

And I too like to stow the iron jenny as quickly as possible and let the wind power her. Wind is cheaper than diesel!