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Houseboating and Engine Oil Analysis
Bill Burke,USSA - Master Marine Surveyor
Very few automobile engines on today’s highways encounter the sustained wear and high RPM’s that a marine four stroke engine does.Let’s face it, as Houseboater’s we think nothing of starting our boats and running down the lake or river for hours on end at 3000 RPM or higher.I’ll bet that the last time you drove to the lake at 65 MPH your car probably never exceeded 2500 RPM on the entire trip.In looking at the way we operate our boats it becomes apparent that our four stroke engines see the potential for extreme operating conditions and wear.
The one element that protects us from this extreme wear is the quality and volume of the lubrication fluids inside our engines.Like the human heart, the engine oil pump circulates the life giving fluid (oil) throughout the engine making sure all parts are lubricated and friction free. After all …what causes engine wear ?FRICTION ! Without the success ofthis important function and fluids our engines would be subjected to high temperatures and high friction causing the moving engine parts to wear excessively. This can ultimately lead to catastrophic engine failure or very high maintenance and repair costs. By analyzing your blood a doctor can tell you if you have, high cholesterol, Diabetes, kidney or liver dysfunction, Hepatitis , AIDS or many other ailments.A comprehensive engine oil analysis can tell you much the same information about your engines. by a qualified laboratory can tell us many things about our engines and the condition of the working parts of the engine. It is typically conducted to determine the overall fitness and condition of the lubricant and engine components. Analysis of the levels and types of contaminates found in the oil can be used to determine which of the engine components are wearing and if the wear is becoming critical. In many cases this has made the difference between an overhaul and complete engine replacement. are dirt, coolant and fuel. is really serious business because it will reduce the viscosity of the lubricant and cause excessive engine wear .
In some cases fuel dilution can be detectable by smelling the oil on the engine oil dip stick. There is a noticeable difference between the smell of oil and the smell of gasoline.Typical ways that fuel gets into oil are by engine flooding and cracked cylinder walls in the engine. is the most common and probably the most serious type of contamination. The water reduces the lubrication properties of the oil and causes metal corrosion while the glycol breaks down at high temperatures and causes a sludge build up in the engine. Typical ways to get water into the oil are through cracked heads and blown gaskets that are undetectable to the naked eye. is probably the most common engine contaminant. High levels can lead to excessive engine wear…that’s why the engine manufacturer places filters on the oil, air and fuel.Typical ways for dirt to get into a marine engine is through contaminated fuel, missingoil caps, loose dip sticks , defective valve cover gaskets, defective PCV valves and defective air cleaners. oil additives or anti-freeze additives oil additives – cylinders, liners, pistons, rings, valves, valve guides, bearings, gears, shafts, rust. pistons, bearings, turbo chargers, pump vanes, thrust washers -compression rings, anti-friction bearings, shafts, coolant additives bearings, bushings, thrust washers, valve guides, injector shields, wet clutches bearings,gear oil additives, fuel additives – bearings anti friction bearings, silver solder, wrist pin bushings sand, dirt, anti foam oil additive, gasket sealant material, antifreeze additive relative to the sampleof oil provided to the laboratory. The engine oil sample is drawn from the engine by a trained technician and sent to a qualified laboratory for analysis using ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) guidelines or military specifications.
A lab report is usually provided within three to seven days and will give detailed analysis of the elements found and possible indicators of excessive wear. engine problems on large earth moving equipment before they became serious and expensive. Its value has just recently been recognized as a tool to analyze the condition and internal parts of the inboard engine onlarge recreational boats. Typical cost of engine oil analysis ranges from $20 per sample to $65 per sample depending on the laboratory costs and the analysis that is performed. It’s better to be safe than sorry ! USSA - Master Marine Surveyor
http://www.northwood-marine.com/survey.html
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