4 Stoke yearly oil change essential or not? ??

kaman · 27 May 2015, 15:21

Having run up 63 hrs (tiny tach) last year on my tohatsu 20hp 4 stroke I was discussing with a mechanic friend of mine that i was about to do my yearly engine oil and gear box oil change.
He was somewhat bemused at the necessity for this in light of the low hours.
I start the engine every month over the winter as I don't use fogging spray in the cylinders.
Was just wondering what the thots are on annual oil changes despite the low hours run up by most pleasure boaters.
I must add the engine is 5 years old and I have changed the oil religiously every year.

willk · 27 May 2015, 16:18

If I was in your shoes, I'd change the engine oil (as you'll have done 63 hard hours

) and just check the gearbox lube - if it's OK I'd skip a season.

dave3235 · 27 May 2015, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

If I was in your shoes, I'd change the engine oil (as you'll have done 63 hard hours

) and just check the gearbox lube - if it's OK I'd skip a season.

Hi all

I would do both no harm done,better service intervals can only give you one thing longevity.May be ok for the impeller though.

The Gurnard · 27 May 2015, 17:05

I couldn’t say for sure if it was necessary ..but I change it every winter regardless.

That way.. for example ... when last year’s gear box oil is changed..I examine the old oil for metal shavings or water in oil. I get peace of mind for the forthcoming season knowing there are no unwanted bits in it The annual change ensures I do this check. Its not a lot of work..and its not too expensive either..so have no reason ..not to do it ?

It is like the impeller.. IMO they don’t need changed each and every year..but I always drop the leg and look to see all is ok. I like to unscrew bolts and other bit n pieces too..just so I know they will not be seized solid when the time comes when I need them off.

Just my thoughts..but Im not an expert on engines..so take it with a dose of old oil if you wish

kaman · 27 May 2015, 18:32

Cheers guys probably will change both engine and gear box oil again as it would niggle away at me if I didn't.
My mate is a motor mechanic and made reference to modern car engine going tens of thousand of miles before needing an oil change - gear oil lasts hundreds of thousands of miles over many hundreds of hours running time.

He said it did seem rather excessive to change both after just 63 hours use.

To be honest 60% of this time was spent idling when trolling fishing lures so the engine didn't get a hard time of it - mostly lol!

Just serviced two cars a motorbike and a 2.5hp Suzuki in the last few weeks so it's cost me a good few quid.

The Suzuki doesn't have an oil filter which got me to thinking on just recycling the Tohatsu 20hp oil filter instead of replacing it ????

paintman · 27 May 2015, 19:34

Oil & filters are cheap compared to the cost of a new engine.

kaman · 27 May 2015, 19:54

Very true!

Ribochet · 27 May 2015, 20:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

If I was in your shoes, I'd change the engine oil (as you'll have done 63 hard hours

) and just check the gearbox lube - if it's OK I'd skip a season.

+ 1 and always change the oil filter as well - what price is peace of mind?

kaman · 27 May 2015, 20:20

Just ordered a replacement oil filter from Ebay.
The wife has being giving me it tight recently as I've just put new tyres on the motorbike serviced the two cars and the motorbike.
She doesn't know that I bought a mint 2.2hp Suzuki 2 stroke tho!!!
Ho Ho Ho!
What she doesn't know.........
I need to get a PayPal account of my own to stop her finding every time I order something!

kaman · 28 May 2015, 12:44

Sod it.
I've decided to continue in the tradition I started with my 2010 Tohatsu 20hp 4 stroke.
Yearly service - oil filter, fuel filter gear oil and engine oil change to follow.
Got plenty of engine oil in the garage so all in 25 quid to do the service.
Cheap for the peace of mind.
I did get my ear chewed earlier this morning from the Mrs when she checked her emails and observed the PayPal transactions.
I did turn it around with the safety at sea / maintaining your equipment talk.
It seemed to work

freespirit3 · 10 June 2015, 14:09

In some ways oil with lower operating hours is more prone to degradation from condensation and other contaminants.

Oil is cheap insurance, when you change it you can see what condition it is in and it will inspire confidence.

Outboards spend a lot of their time at WOT and hence why they have conservative oil drain periods. We would never treat a car like this.