Really low engine hours this season- oil/filter change necessary?

[Rich Stidger]

This was a very unusual year. Only 8 days of boat use, so my total auxiliary hours is 19.7 and my generator hours is 26.7.
Do I really need to change my oil and filters for such a low usage? My normal hours for each is typically 150 hours each.
I'm certainty going to flush and antifreeze both engines, but I am wondering if I really need to change the oil and filters.

What say you?

 

[JoeWhite]

I would change it if you are changing the oil. There may be moisture or contaminated in the oil.

 

[dLj]

I don't think it's necessary to change oil and filters at this point. You are only 1/4 of the way to 100 hours... Just my 1 cents ..

dj

 

[Tally Ho]

I routinely only change my oil every other year. I just filled my diesel tank and put in 9 gallons for the year, so about 22 hours on the engine…and this was a big year for me (60 days of sailing).

I am in fresh water, but not sure that makes any difference on Yanmars with heat exchangers.


My vote - no need to change unless you really want to.

Greg

 

[JamesG161]

What say you?

No change.

Jim...

 

[BigEasy]

Don’t change. If you decide to change, replace oil only & not filter.

 

[sailcapt340]

This was a very unusual year. Only 8 days of boat use

Oh Boy have you got that right!
And to quote a very famous orator…..”Very unusual weather we’re having.”
I think we only made 10 day ourselves. Just some years are not going to be great sailing years.
And I am more than a little jealous of Gregg with his 60 days.
I know we put about 12 hours on our engine. I did change out my fuel filters this year and they really didn’t need it , but I’m not planning on changing the engine oil. Did it last year in late September, I had all intentions to change the oil this year but I don’t feel it’s necessary.
So I vote No

 

[Stu Jackson]

I keep asking myself: "What's different in a boat engine than a car engine?" (re: oil, of course, and I've had diesel engines in cars, too...)

If you don't use it, the oil doesn't become contaminated. Water in oil? From where, unless your rw pump seals are shot, which is a completely different issue. Oil in an engine does not "attract" water.

Disclaimer: this is from a luddite who has only had his boat for 27 years and who once GASP! didn't change his fuel filter for 900 hours and the engine kept running!

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Just my 1 cents ..

I'll see your 1¢ and raise you one more.

Probably just change the oil as it's the cheaper item compared to the filter and the filters should be almost clean for the few operating hours they've seen this year.

 

[JoeWhite]

If you don't use it, the oil doesn't become contaminated. Water in oil? From where, unless your rw pump seals are shot, which is a completely different issue. Oil in an engine does not "attract" water.

from condensation inside the engine block

 

[Davidasailor26]

from condensation inside the engine block

Plus a (very?) small amount from combustion that may condense when the engine is cool.

 

[Rick Webb]

At least change the oil
You could get by not putting a new filter on but if yours usually comes off easily you could likely take the filter off drain and put it back on. If you do not want to spring for a new filter.

It's not the oil that is worn out but all the stuff that accumulates in it.

 

[shemandr]

I'm not an engine guy but I would change the oil. Over the layup it would drive me crazy thinking about dirty oil sitting in the oil pan. It's not rational - I know. Nevertheless...

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

I'm not an engine guy but I would change the oil. Over the layup it would drive me crazy thinking about dirty oil sitting in the oil pan. It's not rational - I know. Nevertheless...

Agree.

seems like one of those -if you don’t know for sure, just ”do it”. Probably won’t make any difference but if something actually happens with the engine next season, I’d be second-guessing myself for not doing a simple task.

 

[Michael Davis]

I change the oil / filter every 100 hours but we use the boat all year long. May not get to many hours during the winter but we do have the occasional nice day even then. This year we’ve only managed about 75 days so far.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Thanks for all of your opinions.
I decided to change the oil, and I dumped the oil out of the filters and replaced them.
All of this probably wasn't necessary, but now I can spend the winter worry free.

 

[dLj]

Just an observation. The oil takes a very long time to degrade. There are diesel engines used in remote areas where it's impossible to service then where they run 24 hours a day for very long time periods because they can't be reached for service. In studies using engine oil analysis to study how best to keep them in excellent operating condition the single most important element is the filter. They developed filters that would work under these conditions.

My conclusion, after reviewing the studies, is if you really want to be careful, change your filter in the spring. The oil will be fine.

I'd love to give the references but with the new AI Google search feature, I cant find those references or I'd supply them. Sorry, seems to be not in the new search world... Not the first subject I've found with this issue... Long story.

Just a different point of view. I've little desire to fight the current "Google world view"...

dj

 

[Stu Jackson]

from condensation inside the engine block

Plus a (very?) small amount from combustion that may condense when the engine is cool.

These make NO sense regarding changing oil. If this condensation occurs, then it doesn't matter if it's clean oil or not, does it? Geez, some of the misinformation here is appalling.

 

[LakeOntario270]

Lets see, I put about 10 hrs on my engine so far this season. In October just before I haul I will change the oil, which I do every year, and I will change the filter and raw water impeller which I do every other year.

Then I will put fresh 30W oil in my generic transmission which nobody has ever heard from. The old oil comes out looking brand new.
Maybe I will change the RS24 filter or maybe I'll just drain the bottom and call it a day.

 

[capta]

I wouldn't do it in the fall, but in the spring. Sitting is nearly as bad as city driving, for motor vehicle oil.