Checking Engine Oil - Bad Habits

[Wotname]

What bad habits have you developed in checking your engine oil?

How often do you check it?

My bad habit is not checking it very often, maybe once a month. When the engine was brand new, I checked it before every start. After say ten hours, I started checking it only on the first start of the day. Then once a week.

After 7 years and 280 hours, I hardly ever check it. I know it doesn't use any oil so a quick look in the bilge to make sure no oil has leaked out and then hit the starter.

BUT...

Last week I realised I should be checking it first start of the day - not for too little oil but FOR TOO MUCH OIL. I have a gravity feed fuel system and if the fuel pump diaphram fails, it will leak fuel into the engine sump. I would have zero indication of a failed fuel pump apart from the sump being filled.

So as of now, that bad habit is cancelled and I will be checking the oil for correct level - not too much and not too little

Your bad habit???

[Kenomac]

Thanks for reminding me... Checking it now.

Ken

[sartorst]

Same bad habits here its also about checking the engine room over in general for potential problems
As a mater of fact after not seeing any change in the oil level for some time I changed my oil and made sure it was on the full line exactly and watching more closely for the possibility of making oi!

[Compass790]

Yes agree it's a bad habit which I had too. I guess thats why it says in the manual to check daily. Impressive engine room you have I noticed in another post Wotname . Got wrong thread here but you mite like to read this article about engine oil. The surprising truth about motor oils
Lotta stuff on the web about oils with no evidence, just assertions, so interesting to have a real world test even if taxis arent quite the same.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Compass790

Yes agree it's a bad habit which I had too. I guess thats why it says in the manual to check daily. Impressive engine room you have I noticed in another post Wotname . Got wrong thread here but you mite like to read this article about engine oil. The surprising truth about motor oils
Lotta stuff on the web about oils with no evidence, just assertions, so interesting to have a real world test even if taxis arent quite the same.

Thanks C790, and nice link - interesting but perhaps not surprising...

[CaptMarc]

Checking oil is a quick 4 step process:

1 check level of oil, after wiping dip stick
2 look at oil for discoloring (milky = water in oil)
3 smell checking for burnt smell or diesel
4 feel the oil between your fingers, there should be NO Gritty feeling in oil


Marc

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Wotname

What bad habits have you developed in checking your engine oil?

How often do you check it?

I check mine when I think of it (and actually do it). On my boat that motors about 100 hr/yr that is a lot more than I check the oil in my car (0 times a year)!

[zeehag]

having been thru the heartache of runaway diesel i check mine every time i start engine.. before and after, checking level and color and consistency. aint gonna go thru this sh** again;
even had the dipstick placed in a better spot for checking oil.... convenience helps a lot...

[Time2Go]

I always do a WOBBLE at first start of the day
That is a check of

W Water
O Oil
B Batteries
B Belts
L Look around the engine for things amiss
E Exhaust

As taught to me by RYA instructors
A few minutes by a crew member can save a lot of grief
Cheers