How often do you change oil.

[MJH]

Originally Posted by BonesD

Curious what others do.

In my case I might have 30 hours on last years oil & filter change
The oil looks great. Engine is 40 year old Perkins 4-236.

Do I change it just because it’s been a year?

How many hours do you go on an oil change?
I’m sure there are lots of “what if’s and it all depends on ” concerning this question.
Just looking for generic answers.
Thanks

I have always changed oil every fall as part of winterizing the boat. On my current boat the annual hours have ranged 34-280 (the latter an Alaska voyage) with a mean of 111 hours and median of 95 hours. That way she is ready to go in the spring no matter what destination is planned.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

[dick sargent]

Engine, transmission topped, zincs checked, filters changed every 100 hours for trouble-free Ford diesel for 25 years. It's an all day job. btw Don't wave at
friendly rowers until they have passed, or the job will be prolonged. Lol

[Lepke]

Never. That's why I have a centrifuge. It removes and soot, debris and water. I test the oil and centrifuge. I change the filters yearly, but it's not necessary. I just add make up oil. Oil remains transparent between spins.

[Redline452]

End of season just prior to haul-out. Mind you, with COVID restrictions and all, we ran the main engine 40 hours in 2020. Still changed oil and filter.

[Sailmonkey]

Kubota 1105

250 hrs or yearly

[sailingabe41ds]

Hi..
100 hrs or yearly whatever comes first....unless I am bored then more frequently.


Abe

[Shanachie]

An oil change is the cheapest maintenance you can do to ensure your diesel lasts a long time.


I'm old enough to remember when car owners changed their oil maybe once a year. By 75K miles, the car engines would be smoking pieces of junk. Now, with cheap oil changes everywhere, an engine can last 300K miles.


I change the oil on my Yanmar 3gm30F every 75 to 100 hours, about two or three times a year. Twenty-three years old and runs like a charm.

[TideTime]

Oil and filter change at the end of each season prior to hauling irrespective of number of hours on engine; however my Yanmar has never gone 100 hours in any single season which around these parts (New England, USA) lasts for about seven months.

[Hoodsail]

In the Fall at the end of every season, change oil/filter, regardless of engine hours, that range from 20 - 100ish. For my 1978 Westerbeke w-30. Thinking of sending off a sample of my old oil for analysis and begin doing that for a few years to compare reports, curious of the findings. She runs like a champ, starts up readily, not about to change what's been working...

[skipper53]

My 44 year old Atomic 4 gets an oil change and new filter every Fall. (Wjether it needs it or not)

[Woodland Hills]

Originally Posted by Lepke

Never. That's why I have a centrifuge. It removes and soot, debris and water. I test the oil and centrifuge. I change the filters yearly, but it's not necessary. I just add make up oil. Oil remains transparent between spins.

I looked into installing an oil centrifuge but the oil pressure in a 12/71 is too low to spin it. I could use a Gulf Coast bypass filter and I may very well install them this year. Carrying those 5gal pails up and down the stairs three or four times a year is killing my weak back.

[Chris Cringle]

Yanmar 3GM30f every 100 hours or at least once a year. Remember, we usually do not get all of the old oil out so what we get is a partial oil change. Don't scrimp.

[capt jgw]

Most engine manufacturers call for 100-200 hours, but that kind of assumes year round operation. Up here on the Lakes we're on the hard six months a year, so it just makes sense to change every fall regardless of hours. Many boats up here don't get 100 hours a year but change every fall anyway. Leaving the old oil in over winter just isn't a good idea, moisture and combustion byproducts will take their toll. It's easier that way anyhow, you don't have to keep track of the hours, you just change it at layup. Lube and fuel filters at the same time.

[Lepke]

Originally Posted by Woodland Hills

I looked into installing an oil centrifuge but the oil pressure in a 12/71 is too low to spin it. I could use a Gulf Coast bypass filter and I may very well install them this year. Carrying those 5gal pails up and down the stairs three or four times a year is killing my weak back.

You're probably talking about a SpinnerII that uses oil pressure to spin the centrifuge. Mine is power driven and cleans much better than the SpinnerII in 10 minutes than the Spinner does in days. I haven't got a bad oil test yet. And I pull the oil samples before centrifuging the oil.
And a bypass filter can add years to your engine. I've used most of the bypass products out there, going back to the toilet paper filter. I think the Gulf Coast filter would be better than the SpinnerII.

[skipper53]

My 44 year old Atomic 4 gets an oil change and new filter every Fall. (Whether it needs it or not)