unexpected oil color

[sidechoke67]

I drained the oil from my boat last weekend, and it came out a different color than I expected. Hard to tell from the picture, but it is basically coffee with cream color...maybe a hint of green too. FWIW, I asked my wife to describe the color, and she said that it looks like brown pea soup. This is the first time that I've change my boat's oil - I had it changed at a marina last Fall.

From reading other posts, it sounds like I got some water in my oil(?) I'm wondering how likely it is that the water just came from condensation. I used my boat this year exactly the way that seems to produce the most condensation in oil; short trips only with periods of inactivity inbetween. I bet I only put about 10 hours on my boat this year - and almost never ran it more than 10-15 mins at a time. Anyone have any opinions if that type of use could have led to condensation causing the oil color in the pictures? The consistency seems exactly like oil to me...after two days of sitting in the milk jug, I do not see any separation - it all still looks like consistent oil to me.

The boat ran great when I did use it. I didn't notice any steam coming from it, and the oil pressure gauge was normal every time. The motor is a 2001 3.0L Volvo Penta. I used it a lot more in 2008, and it ran great all last year too.

Also, not sure if this means anything, but I drained 5 quarts of oil from it. My manual states that my engine's capacity is 4 quarts with a filter change. I looked on my receipt from the marina last year, and they charged me for 5 quarts of oil. I'm assuming/hoping that the extra quart I drained is just because the marina put 5 quarts in there last Fall, and not because I picked up that much water.

I really wish I had been better about checking the oil level/color with the dipstick during the summer when I had used it...but I wasn't.

Thanks for any thoughts!

 

[jtybt]

Re: unexpected oil color

Antifreeze?...cracked block/head, loose intake?

 

[Knightgang]

Re: unexpected oil color

There is another thread running around right now where the owner seems to think he has a cracked block because of oil that looks exactly like that. Personnally, I feel that it might just be normal condensation issues based on how you described running the boat. If the marina did in deed put in 5 quarts, then I would not worry. I would go ahead with the oil change and run the engine for about 1/2 hour on muffs, or take to the water if you can and run for a while and see if you have any change form fresh oil back to the color of you brown pea soup... I really do not htink you have anything to worry about...

 

[mkast]

Re: unexpected oil color

Was the engine at operating temperature when the oil was drained?

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: unexpected oil color

Was the engine at operating temperature when the oil was drained?

Yea...I ran the motor on muffs for about 10 - 15 minutes before draining it.

 

[mkast]

Re: unexpected oil color

Yea...I ran the motor on muffs for about 10 - 15 minutes before draining it.

Okay, what was the temperature of the engine when the oil was drained? Operating the engine for fifteen minutes at idle RPM may not raise engine temperature high enough to vaporize any water in the oil.

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: unexpected oil color

Personnally, I feel that it might just be normal condensation issues based on how you described running the boat. If the marina did in deed put in 5 quarts, then I would not worry. I would go ahead with the oil change and run the engine for about 1/2 hour on muffs, or take to the water if you can and run for a while and see if you have any change form fresh oil back to the color of you brown pea soup... I really do not htink you have anything to worry about...

Thanks Knightgang! I like that answer.

I did run it on muffs for about 15 mins after changing the oil and filter to let the filter fill up. Then I checked the oil level a 1/2 hour later, and it was perfect oil color.

I'll give it a longer test, re-check the oil, and report back.

Thanks!

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: unexpected oil color

Okay, what was the temperature of the engine when the oil was drained? Operating the engine for fifteen minutes at idle RPM may not raise engine temperature high enough to vaporize any water in the oil.

Oh...sorry. It was right around 140.

 

["G"]

Re: unexpected oil color

From what I see I'm suggesting there is a water in the oil issue. Normal condensation? naw.. not that creamy, this is a slow water leak issue like a bad gasket or water jacket problem. Let that engine get up to temp and the expansion of the block will show more leaks. Any freeze issues in the manifolds? Is this a FWC'd set up? Look in the tank when your engine is warmed and the thermo open. Any bubbles coming up? Are you loosing coolant or growing oil?

Granted this isn't a critical serious thing YET, but leave it and it will be. This is a water in the oil problem greater than normal condensation I think.

 

[peanutbay1]

Re: unexpected oil color

I have a mercruiser 5.7 that was stored for 3 seasons that I just brought back on line. The first weekend I had milky oil,I changed it and got 4.5 quarts out. The second week with fresh clear oil I ran the boat 20 minutes on the lake I had brown pea soup like yours,changed the oil again and got 4.5 quarts out. I have yet another fresh oil change in the boat now for this weekend. Here is what I am checking for; My boat barley hits 120 degrees on the muffs and at the lake it barley hits 100 degrees. Everyone I talk to said that this is too cold for this engine. I am changing the tstat this week as I am sure the original is failing. What I am saying is with the original storage oil I had moisture and with my first oil change I had less. I am hoping that by continued oil changes and the block temperature being correct I will resolve the problem. Let me back up and say all the testing recommended by people on the site was done and my engine passed with flying colors however you can never rule out the big C... cracked block. I hope for you and I we dodge that bullet. Good Luck!!!!!

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: unexpected oil color

Thanks - good luck to you too!

I can't imagine that my block is cracked. I used my boat a lot last year, it had no problems, and it was properly winterized at the end of the summer. The marina said my oil came out normal last Fall. So, if my block were cracked last year, I am assuming I would have known.

This year, I hardly used my boat at all, and nothing really taxing. I guess you never know, but I can't see how I could have cracked my block this year - and can't see how it could have been cracked last year.

Hopefully I didn't just jinx myself by typing that...

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: unexpected oil color

FWIW, I dragged a magnet through my old oil, and it came out perfectly clean.

peanutbay1, did you try that?

 

[Knightgang]

Re: unexpected oil color

sidechoke, I think you just need a few more oil changes and some good running time under load. Might want to think about a thermostat change as peanut sugested. But, I do not thing you have a REAL problem, just some engine cleaning to do. Also think about the fact that the weather has been alot different this summer vs last. This year did not get as hot and for not nearly as long. Additionally, we had alot more rain this year vs last. Rain equals moisture buildup and it finds places to hide...

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: unexpected oil color

I ran it on muffs for a 1/2 hour last weekend, and the oil still looked perfectly pure after. So, I finished winterizing it and put it away.

I am hoping that my oil discoloration was caused by the perfect storm of condensation conditions - long periods of inactivity, only used in 10-15 minute bursts, and exceptionally rainy Spring and summer as Knightgang pointed out.

I'll keep a close eye on it in the Spring to see if the oil starts to turn color again. Since the oil has stayed pure since I changed it, I am assuming that my worst case scenario is a slow leak of some point and I should be OK keeping a close eye on it for now.

Thanks again for the responses.

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: unexpected oil color

As a final sanity check, my brother cut open my old filter for me and said it looked like normal wear to him. He is an aviation mechanic by trade, and, more importantly, way saltier than I am...

OK, so how much longer till ice out?

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: unexpected oil color

ran my my boat for a week and oil looked great, went on 20 mile trip looked great then i let boat set for1 month or more an took a couple 1 mile runs 1 month ago and my oil looked just like that today when i drained it for the season
i am guessing condensation as motor ran terrific and never had a hint of problems so next year i will do acouple of changes and hope for the best the pea soup looks nothing like i t did when i hydrolocked at the begining of the yearand water got in oil it was foamy tan.