Re-using low use engine oil

superheat6k

superheat6k

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 Jan 2012
Messages
6,802
Location
South Coast
Visit site
I have been offered a substantial qty of lightly used Shell Rotella 15W40 oil. Thus stuff has been used in standby generator engines, where it is religiously changed every 6 months, but sees only a few test run hours in this time.

I have taken a small sample, and the oil is still clear, but a little brackish and darker than virgin Shell Rotella. Certainly nothing like the black stuff my engines produce after say 30 - 40 hours running.

Anyone have an opinion on this ?

Good money saver or false economy ?

I have seen the genny engines concerned and they are simply in factory new condition, as are the conditions in which the oil is kept.
 
For me the cost of engine oil is not significant. My 2 engines inc oil and filters cost me circa £60 pa. I would not use pre-used oil. The consequences of failure far outweigh any benefit of a few £'ss saving. For me it is worth in in reduced stress.
 
superheat6k said:
I have been offered a substantial qty of lightly used Shell Rotella 15W40 oil. Thus stuff has been used in standby generator engines, where it is religiously changed every 6 months, but sees only a few test run hours in this time.

I have taken a small sample, and the oil is still clear, but a little brackish and darker than virgin Shell Rotella. Certainly nothing like the black stuff my engines produce after say 30 - 40 hours running.

Anyone have an opinion on this ?

Good money saver or false economy ?

I have seen the genny engines concerned and they are simply in factory new condition, as are the conditions in which the oil is kept.
Click to expand...


If the oil is still clear and bright and only slightly darker in colour I would say its almost certain to be in perfectly satisfactory condition.
Not sure what you mean by "a little brackish" though.

I think if you'd brought a sample into our lab we have Ok'd it on appearance, perhaps done an acidity test but no more.
 
Last edited:
If you are on a budget and there is absolutely no way the oil could have been contaminated, I would say 'why not'. Perhaps change it a bit more often.

You don't say if you will be paying or if it will be FOC. If there is any payment, even a small one, it probably isn't worth it.
 
If something happens to your engines, you'll be blaming this oil whether it was the cause or not. I don't think I'd risk it, even if I was confident that was still okay to use.

Just think if there's particles in the oil from wear in the generators that lead to increased wear in your engines. My experience of generators is they run up to speed very quickly, without proper warm up - it's one of the reasons the oil has to be changed so frequently.

All IMHO of course....

Cheers,
Paul
 
When I put anything in my engines I want to be sure it is what its meant to be.
You have absolutely no way of knowing if it's engine oil or virgin oil! I know virgin oil is more expensive than standard engine oil but you get the point I'm sure. Whoever has offered you this oil has done so in good faith but how can he be sure it's not been tampered with?
I wouldn't touch it.
 
The importance of decent engine oil vs the (in boat terms) small saving you will get just is not worth the risk IMO.
 
VicS said:
If the oil is still clear and bright and only slightly darker in colour I would say its almost certain to be in perfectly satisfactory condition.
Not sure what you mean by "a little brackish" though.

I think if you'd brought a sample into our lab we have Ok'd it on appearance, perhaps done an acidity test but no more.
Click to expand...

Simple really....get it tested as if its thats cheap it might prove to be a winner?

On the other hand at least its not doing any damage if proven to be c**p!
 
rosssavage said:
No it isn't, it's £85.66!
Click to expand...

I had to look twice Ross and indeed it's about that price , I once had a customer with a broom 44 it had been re engined, another forum member has it now, anyway he was in the oil business and had some of volvos oil checked, his reply was that it was cheap nasty grade oil and he immediately had it changed.
 
I find it quite amazing that anyone who has even the slightest understanding of an internal combustion engine, would consider re- using sump oil.

The USED oil has been drained from the sump to replace it with new oil, if you re - use this oil, will you detail such in your maintenance log ?
 
There was an old guy called Harry in my boat club that changed his oil every year without fail using 'Cols' used oil.

He trusted col to remove his oil carefully to avoid contamination and carry it round to Harry.

Worked well for years.


My personal opinion is that if you need to save money you would be better buying an unbranded oil to the correct spec including cleaning/anti sludge properties and then pushing it to a 24 months change mainly because unlike Harry, you dont know for sure what has happened to your used oil.
 
I wouldn't touch it - not worth the risk to save what is in the context of boating costs small beer.

A slightly cheaper alternative to Volvo's own oil that is still VDS-3 is to buy from Morris Lubricants. here 25l is £89.
 
Thanks for the various opinions on this.

I have decided to bin the stuff and go with the view that if it is new I can sit comfortably with out any worry from that area.
 
Just real world pespective.

I have a watching brief on a number of Cat an Cummins powered power generation sites.

Know as a fact that certain Cat service tec does his six monthly visit on stand by sites. Engines are started every month and load tested. Unless there has been a mains failure motor has only run about six hours before lube and filters changed. Also remember these engines are fitted with a Kim hotstart and always warm so there are no cold start acid attack issues.

The Cat DEO 15W40 ECF1 meets everybody's spec eg Cummins CES 20071/76/78, Volvo VDS-3 etc etc.

Tec draws off the used lube oil and refills his empty Cat oil tubs. Lube is perfectly fit for many hundreds of hours of furher use, expect it goes in the tea fund, plenty of farmers buy the stuff.

I get though a fair bit of lube testing engines, always fill with fresh lube before torturing them for a few hours. Generally drain the lube retain a sample and dump the rest.

Suspect that this used lube oil is perfectly OK. Would I use it no. Last time I purchased Shell Rimula 15W40 Super in a 40 gallon drum it was a about £2.50 a liter, think service tecs are selling lube oil for £1.50 liter, are we all so stapped for cash??
 
I get through a lot of the Shell Rimula stuff. I get it from my local Volvo Truck and Bus depot at £2.76 p l - thats £55.20 for a 20l drum. It's sold by Volvo and is to VDS 3 spec, so if my customer is happy I use that.

Ok, it's not pennies, but in the great scheme of things it's not worth taking the risk re-using old oil, unless you put it in the fuel tank of your diesel car...
 
Many moons ago when I was a lad and couldn't afford to buy new oil for my car I used some second hand oil, my car ran for about 50 miles until it through a leg out, never again did I use second hand oil for anything, you are right to bin it IMO it ain't worth the risk.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top