[C320-list] Perkins M30 Oil Change last drops - WARNING

[George Hunt]

Folks with the Perkins engine,

Please read, this is a serious issue.

I no longer have my Perkins, had to repower with a new Yanmar, because 
(and I want to whisper the following, because I can't believe how stupid 
I was) I ignored the problem of getting ALL the old oil out.  I 
religiously changed the (hot) oil and filter about every 50 hours (I had 
about 900 hours total on the old engine).  But I always had trouble 
finding the exact bottom of the sump, and left some oil behind.  Even 
though I knew there was as much as a quart left behind, I figured the 
nice new stuff would mix with the old and obviate any problems.  The 
post-mortem on the engine showed a jelly-like sludge at the bottom, and 
internals destroyed from lack of lubrication.  The poor old engine often 
tried to tell me it was in trouble, but the symptoms mirrored the 
problems many folks have had with fuel filters (slow loss of RPMs.)  I 
lost count of how many times I changed fuel filters, almost always back 
in port for obvious reasons.  The now cooled off engine always revved up 
like a champ, convincing me I had solved the problem again.

I believe the real solution is relatively simple:  Don't rely on a tube 
thru the dipstick to change oil on the Perkins!!  Back in the days when 
we all had Perkins engines, there was a lot of conversation about how to 
add oil change systems at the drain plug on the bottom of the engine.  
Some folks replaced the plug with a barbed fitting to accept a hose.  At 
least one put in an automatic system.  But the point is, drain the oil 
from the bottom, and if you still can't get it all out, talk to a 
mechanic about kerosene rinsing, before it's too late.

Good luck,
George Hunt
REPRISE   -  #215
Fort Myers, FL


Allan Field wrote:

>Turn the boat upside down and give it a good shake...
>
>Seriously, what kind of pump are you using?  I have a self-priming (very
>important) pump that seems to do a good job although I'm not sure I know how
>to tell if ALL the old oil is out.  With a self-priming pump, I keep moving
>the wand part all around the bottom of the pan and stop when I don't see
>anything else coming up and the wand begins to cool due to lack of hot oil
>coming through.  I assume you are trying to pump hot - versus cold - oil.
>
>Allan S. Field
>Sea Shadow - #808
>Columbia, MD
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: C320-List-bounces at catalina320.com
>[mailto:C320-List-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of A. R. Gates
>Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 12:44 AM
>To: C320-List
>Subject: [C320-list] Perkins M30 Oil Change last drops
>
>My dipstick hole oil extraction pump is not getting all of the old oil out.
>What else can be done by me?
>
>Rollie  #182
>
>
>
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