Change engine oil annually even if it's pristine?

[MicHughV]

I watched a video once of a guy starting a sailboat marine diesel....it was a Volvo, I think, that had been sitting in his garage for a quite a number of years. Didn't do much of anything to it, except rig a fuel line and water hose and a battery.
Damned if that thing didn't start right up. Smoked for a minute or two and then ran fine.
Diesels are incredibly tough engines.
Oil changes are a personal matter. I like the 100 hour rule, but if I'm cruising offshore, will often just keep going until I stop and then change it.

[Altair22]

A couple years back I ran across an article on a service that uses just a few cc's of oil from an engine and analyzes it for water and other chemical properties like pH and wear products and lets you know if it needs replaced. Blackstone labs. https://www.blackstone-labs.com/ this is the link.

[Bilgediver]

Originally Posted by Compass790

Apologies I'm having trouble with the bold parts, not all was meant to be in bold, oh well.


Pump plungers? are you talking lift pumps here or injection pumps?

That is a seperate mechanical issue not related to oil life [Bwithhout fuel dilution.[/B]

OP's question was does his 20 yr old oil have to be changed according to the calender.
.

I am talking about injector pumps as used on many small marine diesels. They are designed to have leakage past the plungers for lubrication. This diesel leakage finishes up in the oil pan and as the amount builds up it can become a hazard. This is more important than many people understand and why the oil should be changed regularly in these engines. If the dilution reaches a certain level then there can be a runaway engine.

I expect your Toyota has an externally mounted injection pump and so does not have this problem however some common rail diesel engines can have a similar problem if a leak develops in the common rail and this leakage enters the crankcase pan.

The easiest way to detect this problem is to sniff the oil on the engine dipstick. You will smell the diesel if it is present.

[boatpoker]

I see many small diesels (mostly) among the racing set that require rebiulds after 2,000-3,000hrs.

I'm convinced it's due firing up the engine hammering it out of the harbour, shutting it down to race then doing the same thing after the race. Their engines never get properly warmed up or cooled down.

I believe this denies the oil time to get up to temperature long enough to burn off moisture and contaminents. I also believe the overly rapid temperature changes cause excessive stress on close tolerance parts that all cool/heat at different expansion rates.

Your mileage may vary.

[team karst]

High time “<30 second” dragster motors are reportedly limited by the shell bearing life. And these are not made of babbitt.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

I see many small diesels (mostly) among the racing set that require rebiulds after 2,000-3,000hrs.

I'm convinced it's due firing up the engine hammering it out of the harbour, shutting it down to race then doing the same thing after the race. Their engines never get properly warmed up or cooled down.

I believe this denies the oil time to get up to temperature long enough to burn off moisture and contaminents. I also believe the overly rapid temperature changes cause excessive stress on close tolerance parts that all cool/heat at different expansion rates.

Your mileage may vary.

You've seen "many" of these? In Ontario or the Bahamas?

Sorry if I am skeptical but it's the "hammering" that I doubt. Around where I've raced most racers I see exit and enter the harbors and drive to the race courses at moderate to low speeds.

But at least you make it clear, ("I am convinced"), that this is your opinion.

[Compass790]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Only two possibilities -

1. It wasn't right when it went into the bottle

or

2. Something else got into the bottle after it was opened.

I suspect there is a third possibility....

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by The Way

I'm following this thread with great interest, since I rarely go out sailing but want to preserve my engine.

I can't help remembering several times seeing people buy and install diesel engines that had been sitting in a shed for years. These people didn't seem to think engines deteriorated over time just by sitting there, like potato salad :-)

How come engines that have been sitting for years have any cash value, if changing oil so often is required?

Thanks for any advice,
Jack

I think the expense of purchasing a new one makes you see, comprehend, not clearly.
SV Cloud Duster

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Compass790

I suspect there is a third possibility....

I doubt you are alone?

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Cadence

I doubt you are alone?

I suspect you are correct!

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Wotname

I suspect you are correct!

I guess it is what it is or isn't? I guess we are just sceptics, but if it smells like, something, it probably is.

[smj]

Originally Posted by Cadence

I guess it is what it is or isn't? I guess we are just sceptics, but if it smells like, something, it probably is.

I guess one is never to old to learn new things