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From: Lawrence Zeitlin (no email)
Date: Wed Mar 01 2006 - 10:54:38 EST
Several years ago I discussed the "solera" oil change system that I have
been using on my boat for the last five years. It is a slight
modification of the continuous oil refreshment approach used on large
commercial diesels which must be operated on a 24/7 basis. The name
comes from the sherry making process in which new wine is added to the
top barrel in a tier of barrels while properly aged wine is removed from
the bottom barrel. I don't suggest that this is the best method to use
on long passages, but it is worth considering.
The sump capacity of my engine is 6 quarts and the manufacturer's
suggested oil change interval is 150 hours. I have fitted a needle valve
to the oil filter block which lets me bleed off oil while the engine is
running.. On long trips I bleed off one quart of oil every 25 hours of
engine operation. The valve has a short length of piping attached to it,
bent to make it convenient to feed into an empty oil bottle, so the
process can be conducted without mess. The pipe is sealable with a
safety screew on cap. I then add a quart of new oil. All this without
shutting down the engine. The quart of old oil is mixed into the diesel
fuel tank. Waste not, want not.
The entire contents of the sump will be replaced within the 150 hour
running period. True, the engine never gets an entire flush of new oil
except at the beginning of the season. The average age of the oil
gradually climbs until it approaches the 100 hour mark and there is
probably a drop of the original oil in the sump. Still, the additives
are replaced and the filter stays much cleaner than it does with the
traditional oil change method.
I must confess that I adopted the method for its convenience rather than
for the benefits of continuous operation. My engine is artfully arranged
so than a traditional oil change is impossible without creating a mess
that takes a considerable time to clean up. Still it has proven its
worth on long passages and I can sleep nights with the engine purring
away without worrying if I have exceeded the oil change interval.
Larry Z
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