She's out!

No Regrets

No Regrets

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Deffo the end of the season for me, unless I blow up the inflatable again!

She's out, on the hard and Winterised, so just a few jobs to do between now and the end of March:

1/ Oil changes (Soon...but no filters, they are OK for two years on Volvo's!!)

2/ Fuel filters.

3/ Oil leak (Front seal, S/B engine)

4/ New anodes all round.

5/ New engine mounting, to stop vibes from one engine.

Then I'll anti foul her and enjoy 2014!! ;)
 
Definitely the season is spent. Today I removed all my picnic tables from riverside to the barn a sure indicator of no more relaxing with my Kindle reading and watching boats go by, until next year that is.
 
prof pat pending said:
You might want to check that.

Changing the oil and not the filter is a complete waste of your time and money IMHO
Click to expand...

Er, Volvo who made the engines clearly quote an oil filter change every second oil change. Now as the 'Long life VDS3' spec oil has only done around 100 hours in the first place, which is a fraction of what it would do in a Bus or Truck, this is a sound prospect even in engineering terms.

Assuming 30mph average speed in a Truck, this equates to 3000 miles. The truck would be doing up to 60,000 miles between oil changes!

In short, that filter, even in a years time is going to be chucked away well before it's time!!
 
Er.... not really.

Lower temperatures, constant lower revs, condensation in the engine all will mean your oil and filter have a much harder time than they do in a truck or a bus

Not sure where you got your info, just figured that you have a nice boat so would probably want to look after it properly rather than scrimping on the price of a couple of filters
 
The time intervals mentioned by us are only general and can vary
between different engine types. The operator's manual will give you
the proper intervals for your particular engine. However, entirely
different intervals apply, if you use the engine for commercial purposes
or in very polluted waters

First caveat in that 'guide'.... :)

I do mine every year, regardless of hours - but I'm super fussy, and my filters are remote mount. Have you seen how hard it is to get to No Regrets stbd filter???
 
prof pat pending said:
Er.... not really.

Lower temperatures, constant lower revs, condensation in the engine all will mean your oil and filter have a much harder time than they do in a truck or a bus

Not sure where you got your info, just figured that you have a nice boat so would probably want to look after it properly rather than scrimping on the price of a couple of filters
Click to expand...

Couldnt agree more. For the cost of oil and filters get it changed at regular intervals!!

Ours gets dont three times a year. Once at the start of the year, once mid season usually before a big summer trip and once at this time of year when cruising time is limited so that the engine has fresh oil sat in it over winter. Not worth not doing it IMO.

VP recommend every 100 hours for our engine so that is loosely what we work to.

Same with the drive, that is serviced every spring and (touch wood) up until now it has not let us down. Regular maintenance is the key if you want your boat to remain reliable. No point scrimping and saving as it will come back to bite you when you least expect it.
 
Oi....change that oil filter or else...you tight git. If your desperate to save the cost of a cupfull of oil will supply you 1/2 pint. :)
 
Why exactly would it need to be changed?

It's a filter, it filters for 200 hours, and will have some nice new oil.

Same goes for the impeller: It's 200 hours worth. I'll check both of them of course, but they usually come out serviceable at the end of their lifespan!

Bear in mind I'm sticking to Volvo service specs...
 
How much is the oil costing compared to the filter?

When you add your nice new (probably expensive oil) the first thing that happens when you start the engine is that you contaminate it with the fine particle carp that’s in the oil held in the filter casing. Filters are great, but they don’t stop everything. The fact that it’s a marine engine almost certainly means that there is a greater amount of water (condensation) in the oil than you would find in an automotive engine. This water forms acid in the oil that attacks components in your engine, especially whilst it sits for long periods such as winter lay-up. The filter will not remove this, and the oil in the filter will still contain it.

I’m quite surprised at Volvo even suggesting that it’s a good idea, but then numerous automotive manufacturers over the years have dropped similar clangers and changed the spec on later versions without advertising the fact.
 
Have always thought changing the oil every year is a bit extravagant for a boat mainly used on the river, its hardly under any load, personely I only do it every two years and just use a better quality oil, change filters of course but mainly just to get that extra half litre of old oil out. Lots of myths out there about oil changes but usually nobody ever wears a marine engine out whatever their oil change regime maybe, its all the stuff on the outside that rots and eventually cause them to die.
 
Prof, Your argument falls flat on it's face.

1/when you start the engine is that you contaminate it with the fine particle carp that’s in the oil held in the filter casing. Filters are great, but they don’t stop everything.

Well the filter in question has clearly stopped all the stuff thats still in it. That means it will NOT contaminate the new oil.

2/ The fact that it’s a marine engine almost certainly means that there is a greater amount of water (condensation) in the oil than you would find in an automotive engine.

Why? My engines are in a lovely dry engine bay, which has 'DUST' in it! Truck engines are being sprayed with salty water from the roads every time it rains. Boats tend not to be used when it rains...and during Winter lay up, the engine oil is new, and the engine isn't being used at all.

I would be interested in comparing your own qualifications with those of Volvo's design engineers!?

The fact remains: the engine in my boat (VP TAMD40b) is a Volvo FL4 Truck engine, and will inevitably be killed by external corrosion after 30-50 years of use, or overheating caused by impeller issues or coolant blockage. It will never wear out on the River Thames.
 
My lad was told many years ago when he did his apprenticeship that oil filters actually became more efficient once they had been working for a while due to the fine particles
Which have already been captured. I change my filters every other oil change any have done for years for that very reason. It's nothing to do with saving a fiver.
 
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