Engines/genset oil change: before or after winterization?

[rafiki_]

Take your point but what we are talking about is not how well the oil lubricates the engine but how long it remains in a condition in which it is capable of doing it's job of lubricating the engine. I'm happy to be corrected by wiser forumites but I'm guessing that must be a function of temp, pressure and total engine cycles

And condition of the engines too. It is also worth considering the quality of the oil, when comparing oil changes in cars. My Beemer oil gets changed every year at 20,000 miles. However it is £150 for the change (yes I know that includes the stealers mark-up but the oil cost is about £80). My 2 engines in Rafiki cost me about £50 to change every year. Yes, I get my hands dirty (a little bit), but the oil is not the same quality (synthetic in the Beemer), and it is a very small price to pay. I have looked at using synthetic in Rafiki, but CMD advise against this. I used Q8 15W-40 this year, £15 a pop in the countrywide superstore. If I had used Quicksilver, it would be at least double this cost.

 

[gsturgeon]

Oil Filters

We are told to change the filters every oil change, but is this really necessary?

If my car filter lasts 400+ hours (see previous rant) why does the boats one get blocked so quickly.

 

[Assassin]

Because the car engine usually works on a very light load, typically around 10% of its rated capacity, by comparison an industrial/marine engine typically works at around 80% of its duty cycle. Therefore the oil is working much harder in the industrial/marine unit than i an automotive engine. Therefore your car engine filter is not lasting around 400 hours as the duty cycle changes this.

 

[Andrew38]

Volvo D4 & D6

Yes I do the lot, oil change and all filters, anodes etc along with a coolant change if its not been done in the last 2 years.

Mind you all with newish volvos, read the latest MBY and andrew 38s story about VP dealers trying to extract servicing charges at the wrong hours just to cover the warranty that they should give in the first place!, well done andrew38, to be fair he did contact me about it but I coulnt give a honest answer as ive taken flack from a uk dealer once this year for giving help on matters that VP should have just plain and simply given warranty on there faulty products without any questions whatsoever.

Thanks for that Paul, I appreciate it. It hasn't been a fun time when dealing directly with VP this summer though some of their dealers have been both very helpful & nice to deal with.

I'm pleased to say that MBY have picked up the subject and there's an article in Dec's magazine. It surprised me a little that they were prepared to expose issues at a big player like Volvo but there must have been a lot of people with D4's and D6's delivered since 2009, who have been given poor advice.

For the record, I had the engine oil & filters changed yesterday (at 7 months & 69 hours) but as part of the full service due next March - Southern Shipwrights again being v helpful & realistic. Haven't touched the oil in the genny though as it's only done 10 hours.

 

[Andrew38]

Thanks for that Paul, I appreciate it. It hasn't been a fun time when dealing directly with VP this summer though some of their dealers have been both very helpful & nice to deal with.

I'm pleased to say that MBY have picked up the subject and there's an article in Dec's magazine. It surprised me a little that they were prepared to expose issues at a big player like Volvo but there must have been a lot of people with D4's and D6's delivered since 2009, who have been given poor advice.

For the record, I had the engine oil & filters changed yesterday (at 7 months & 69 hours) but as part of the full service due next March - Southern Shipwrights again being v helpful & realistic. Haven't touched the oil in the genny though as it's only done 10 hours.

Hadn't realised that the Dec issue was already out - you must have an early copy!

 

[MapisM]

For the record, I had the engine oil & filters changed yesterday (at 7 months & 69 hours) but as part of the full service due next March - Southern Shipwrights again being v helpful & realistic. Haven't touched the oil in the genny though as it's only done 10 hours.

Well, I'm aware that most mechanic recommend to change oil every season regardless oh hours (imho, mostly for the reasons I mentioned in post #7), but the difference between 10 and 69 hours is neither here nor there...
If you think (as I do) that the change every season "no matter what" doesn't actually make much sense, I would have definitely given the engines the same treatment of the genny.