Servicing engine hours

.... for the record. They Donk in Percy got some fresh oil and other jobs today. I tend to do it each autumn so the engine sits with fresh clean oil, I'm sure it makes little difference but it reassures me and its ready should we do a big cruise next year.... 

The process is start the engine to warm up the oil .... this time of year when not under any  load the engine takes some warming up. While the engine is thinning its oil I replaced the greasomatic and cleaned up the stern gland area... wiping out the oil catch try under the hydraulic motor and giving a grease nipple some attention. The Greasomatics dont use a ,ot of grease  = good thing and the old one still had about 30ml left. You can set them for 1 to 12 months duration I guess that depends on the process the device is greasing. If on a always running conveyour belt in a quarry etc it may need to be replaced every month ? The grease is waterproof grease in the greaser hence the WP. I label them for date of replacement but I know roughly Oct or Nov - seems I ran this time for 13 months but we've done little cruising due to water resources and the heat of the summer. 

Then it was stop the engine and pump 10 litres of oil out and put 10 litres back in. When I last had the side casing off I was able to pour in the oil, this time it took a lot longer thru the filling hole. When I had the side off I was able to see where the oil level sat in relation to the splash cups on the crankshaft  - they pick up and fling the oil around  - basic but effective. I think the old 1929 mauual says less oil but i'd rather more for the extra few quid - it does not use or loose oil  - any il underneath comes from the loss system of oilong the pushrod cups and I oil the injector pump pistons and the bottom of the push rods where they go into the engine. i'm sure the design is fr the oild in the upper push rod cups to dribble down the pushrod which it does... this oil eventually gets under the engine and once a year the nappy pad get changed that the dish under the Hydraulic pump sits on.... A bit of oil on the outside of the engine doesn't harm, in the middle of summer if the engine has a long shift ig gets a nice warm oily smell !! 

All done engine hours for the record is 1262  - last oil change was at 1209 so a tardy 53 hours on the engine in a year... ! At least the engine has been on good clean oil! 

A few other jobs to done... I topped up the hydraulic fluid and will need to clean the fuel filters and hydraulic oil filter next visit but I need to bring some clean diesel as the diesel filter is a cloth filter iirc not sure what the hydraulic one is I suspect the same.

Off for a walk to get some fresh air and exercise them home back another day to do the solar panel !!