Diesel Oil Change Interval for Nonstop cruise

[highamperage]

If I was to cruise across the Pacific nonstop, say from Seattle to Austraila, what kind of oil change intervals are we talking?

I keep seeing references to chaning to oil every 50 or 100 hours, but that would be every couple of days in this line of duty.

I realize running nonstop would keep mosture out and the engine at a steady temp, so the oil change interval should be a lot longer? What hourly interval do people use for vessles crusing across the oceans?

(I do not have a diesel boat, I am just wondering)

 

[ChampionShip]

Re: Diesel Oil Change Interval for Nonstop cruise

I wish my boat held that much fuel.......

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Diesel Oil Change Interval for Nonstop cruise

over the road diesel trucks go anywhere from 25k to 50k+ OCI, so at a minimum that would be roughly 350 hours to 700 or so. I'd assume a cruiser would probably be similar if not better. Better cooling, less dust, less variable load.

(disclaimer, that is just a wild guess, I have zero experience in what you are doing!)

 

[highamperage]

Re: Diesel Oil Change Interval for Nonstop cruise

haha $100,000 fill up.

There is an old 101ft diesel tug for sale for 44k. Holds 25,500 gallons. Not sure how far you go on that in a boat that size though.

But realisically, some trawlers should do it, especially with a stop in Hawaii or some other island for fuel...

There was a guy at my marina that had a 32' displacement hull that claimed 12mpg. If I recall correctly it had a 50-ish HP Isuzu diesel. That would be fun to have, he sold it for $20k. Probably should have purchased it.

 

[highamperage]

Re: Diesel Oil Change Interval for Nonstop cruise

over the road diesel trucks go anywhere from 25k to 50k+ OCI, so at a minimum that would be roughly 350 hours to 700 or so. I'd assume a cruiser would probably be similar if not better. Better cooling, less dust, less variable load.

That sounds more reasonable, and wouldn't be too much of a burden.

At some point in the probably distant future, I'd love to purchase an old, large boat or sailboat and refit it to be nice inside, and cruise around to some south pacific islands.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: Diesel Oil Change Interval for Nonstop cruise

I was aboard a transoceanic trawler which had a remote oil tank and the oil was fed thru the motor only once...course you don't need too much oil when your working revs are 200 rpm. For reverse, you stopped this motor and started it in the other direction. It used compressed air for starting.


Trawler owners pay thousands for systems that feed lube oil into the motor and automatically replace it with fresh oil...based on a system like this:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQQ/is_11_42/ai_99569386/

Centinel is a continuous oil replenishment system which increases oil change intervals up to 4000 hours and beyond, while at the same time providing better engine lubrication. It uses advanced electronic control technology to monitor oil quality in relation to duty cycle and load factors, and removes small amounts of used oil as required before replacing it with new oil from an auxiliary tank.

 

[rbh]

Re: Diesel Oil Change Interval for Nonstop cruise

If I was to cruise across the Pacific nonstop, say from Seattle to Austraila, what kind of oil change intervals are we talking?

I keep seeing references to chaning to oil every 50 or 100 hours, but that would be every couple of days in this line of duty.

I realize running nonstop would keep mosture out and the engine at a steady temp, so the oil change interval should be a lot longer? What hourly interval do people use for vessles crusing across the oceans?

(I do not have a diesel boat, I am just wondering)

50-100 hour oil changes are for the smaller onan/kubota/perkins type motors.
larger engines cummins, 3208 cat, 7.8lt ford, dt 466 "are probably" in the range of 500-800 hours between changes depending on quantity of oil and filter types.

 

[QC]

Re: Diesel Oil Change Interval for Nonstop cruise

3208s are a 250 hour oil change interval with a standard oil pan. Yes capacity matters as you guys have noted. 250 was pretty standard for a long time . . .

 

[lkbum]

Re: Diesel Oil Change Interval for Nonstop cruise

Interesting topic... This strays a little, but falls in the category. I used to do test flights on C-5 aircraft. This is a large jumbo jet transport used by the Airforce (similar in size to 747, the wright brothers first flight would fit within the cargo bay of the C-5). With in flight re-fueling, it can travel nearly around the world - it could go longer but would run out of oil. It has about a 20 gal oil tank (as well as I remember) for each engine. This oil capacity is what limits if flights. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_C-5_Galaxy

 

[sasto]

Re: Diesel Oil Change Interval for Nonstop cruise

I change oil in the MAN and Cat. every 200hrs. I can travel from the Carib to the Great Lakes between changes.