I only went to prepare the boat for the storms!

[James W]

and I found this in the bilge!!

View attachment 15092

I had noticed some oil usage in the engine lately, but put that down to its age and perhaps a bit of oil burning. The engine is getting on, it's a 1974 Volvo Penta MB10a Petrol but it starts and runs well.

Where do you think I should start?!

Thanks!

 

[clyst]

and I found this in the bilge!!

View attachment 15092

I had noticed some oil usage in the engine lately, but put that down to its age and perhaps a bit of oil burning. The engine is getting on, it's a 1974 Volvo Penta MB10a Petrol but it starts and runs well.

Where do you think I should start?!

Thanks!

External oil pipes ?? I emptied the sump through a rusted oil pipe on a Bukh DV24 a few years ago.

 

[Downsman]

Blimey! Is that oil on water or all oil? A bit unlikely but I would start with the sump drain plug and any screw on engine filters that you have which may just possibly have worked loose at some time.

 

[VicS]

If its has leaked as heavily as it appears while standing idle then it can I think only have leaked out via the joint between the crankcase and the "sump"/bottom plate unless the plate is holed. Check all 6 bolts for tightness anyway

I think the bottom of the joint between the crankcase and the timing gear cover is below the oil level. If so another possibility


If it has leaked while running then it could be from a number of places. Unless obvious by local oiliness the only way forward is the clean the outside thoroughly and then watch closely while it is running, A sheet of paper under the engine might help if only to direct your search to the right area

Look around the oil pump and filter in particular.

I dont know what sump drain plug is referred to above.! There isn't one is there?

>

 

[Searush]

Clean out bilge. estimate how much lost & in how long, that will give you an idea of how much is leaking.

Check oil level in sump. Top up if necessary.

Clean engine thoroughly. Lay kitchen roll in now clean & dry bilge.

Come back in a couple of hours or a day to look for leak. If none visible & oil level still OK, run engine & look for leak.

If oil level down & no leak visible, someone must be stealing it!

 

[James W]

I'm not sure if the leak happened while she's been idle or whilst running. I ran the engine today for a while before I looked at the bilges and we have sailed/motored in the last few weeks so it could have been from then.

There is some water below the oil, but the oil is a fair amount.

I suppose a good clear up and then some time watching for leaks is in order. Is the oil likely to damage the bilges at all? Can anyone recommend a good cleaning product?!

Thanks again chaps...there's always something to worry about!

 

[Searush]

I'm not sure if the leak happened while she's been idle or whilst running. I ran the engine today for a while before I looked at the bilges and we have sailed/motored in the last few weeks so it could have been from then.

There is some water below the oil, but the oil is a fair amount.

I suppose a good clear up and then some time watching for leaks is in order. Is the oil likely to damage the bilges at all? Can anyone recommend a good cleaning product?!

Thanks again chaps...there's always something to worry about!

Oil is unlikely to damage anything but is a beggar to clean up. Eco friendly products often don't help & heaps of detergent that WILL break it down will murder all the seahorses, clams, muscles & cockles around your mooring. Oil in reasonable quanities is probably quite good as a preservative for wood.

I think I used a cheap washing up liquid & warm sea water last time I had an oil spill, but it shouldn't be pumped out into the sea.

 

[Heckler]

and I found this in the bilge!!

View attachment 15092

I had noticed some oil usage in the engine lately, but put that down to its age and perhaps a bit of oil burning. The engine is getting on, it's a 1974 Volvo Penta MB10a Petrol but it starts and runs well.

Where do you think I should start?!

Thanks!

Ive seen this before on a VP petrol engine, the sump rusts away, pin holes that get bigger, Bilgex to clean after you use a turkey baster to get most of it out.
Stu

 

[pvb]

Can anyone recommend a good cleaning product?!

You could use some of the polypropylene oil absorbent mats which are great at soaking up oil.

 

[EdWingfield]

After bilge is cleaned up, lay down cheapo disposable nappies to absorb future leaks.

 

[VicS]

You could use some of the polypropylene oil absorbent mats which are great at soaking up oil.

Disposable nappies often also suggested but they will soak up the water.
A proper oil absorbent mat will mop up the oil and leave the water behind.

 

[snooks]

A proper oil absorbent mat will mop up the oil and leave the water behind.

Yup, by far the best stuff is the cloth designed for the job

Funny that

 

[scottie]

Always worth checking water pump usually it leaks water ther other way but oil can leak out

 

[sarabande]

there are a number of really good biological products which do not slaughter the local wildlife.


Give Oiltechnics a call.

www.oiltechnics.com

 

[James W]

I'll go back and clean up at low tide when I can walk out with everything I need and take all the oil back home with me. At least there's one small mercy in all of this, she's on a nice drying mooring and i'll have a couple of hours at the weekend.

A new engine for Christmas? I hope not!

 

[Deleted member 36384]

After bilge is cleaned up, lay down cheapo disposable nappies to absorb future leaks.

Disposable nappies often also suggested but they will soak up the water.
A proper oil absorbent mat will mop up the oil and leave the water behind.

I used to recommend nappies and they do work well. However, I have left one in the bilge too long and it disintegrated. Very messy and difficult to clean up. The oil absorbent mats are very effective and at a low cost.

 

[ostell]

Friend used to swear by dishwasher powder to clean up the bilges. Trouble was he didn't have a dishwasher and used to scrounge the powder form me.

 

[Twister_Ken]

The engine is getting on, it's a 1974 Volvo Penta

Unless you've been running a preventative maintenance routine, old age would be my first suspicion. Rust or other corrosion, maybe from the sump or sump gasket (if there is one). If it were blowing oil elsewhere, I'd suspect there'd be more evidence.

 

[caiman]

One possible way to trace leaks/weeps-On a cleaned down and dry engine,try 'spraying' talcum powder over it.After it has next been run,look for the 'snail trails' or dark areas that will lead you to the leak(s)/weeps.Works with water,oil or fuel,and depending on the talc used,it smells nice.
Cheers

 

[maby]

and I found this in the bilge!!

...
Where do you think I should start?!

Thanks!

Your nearest Jeanneau or Beneteau dealer?