Milky jelly oil in diesel westerbeke ugh

[Almightys]

Well was at boat today trying to change oil before haul out next week.
when I took the fill cap off genny I noticed this whiteish jelly under cap. Pulled the dipstick and it’s really milky. Ugh
noticed last time we took boat out on way in little smoke coming from genny exhaust.
not sure if it’s head gasket or maybe oil cooler?
at least it’s at end of season. Now thinking if I want to tear into it while in boat in storage or if it’s beyond my DIY capabilities.

 

[Skybolt]

Well was at boat today trying to change oil before haul out next week.
when I took the fill cap off genny I noticed this whiteish jelly under cap. Pulled the dipstick and it’s really milky. Ugh
noticed last time we took boat out on way in little smoke coming from genny exhaust.
not sure if it’s head gasket or maybe oil cooler?
at least it’s at end of season. Now thinking if I want to tear into it while in boat in storage or if it’s beyond my DIY capabilities.

Given your engines, I am guessing your gen is an 12K Westerbeke? But it sounds like a head gasket to me. Could be a cracked head given the age. To know about the head it would have to be sent out and magnafuxed. Think that is worst case, but most likely a head gasket. If removing it yourself, be very careful to try and preserve as much of the gasket as possible in order to try and determine the leak or not.

If it's the oil cooler you can remove and pressurize to see if it leaks.

 

[Almightys]

Sounds like I need to renew my boatdiesel membership ugh

 

[Skybolt]

Sounds like I need to renew my boatdiesel membership ugh

Thats certainly not a bad idea.

 

[Skybolt]

@Almightys If you remove the oil cooler and pressurize through the oil side and submerse in a pail of water or oil change try, you can verify if that is an issue or not. Use an air compressor set to 80psi. It is easier to adapt the oil line in/out with fittings to pressurize.

Also did the engine shut down or over heat at any point?

 

[Almightys]

@Almightys If you remove the oil cooler and pressurize through the oil side and submerse in a pail of water or oil change try, you can verify if that is an issue or not. Use an air compressor set to 80psi. It is easier to adapt the oil line in/out with fittings to pressurize.

Also did the engine shut down or over heat at any point?

It never overheated. Beginning first trip of season I noticed at start up no water flow. Shit it down. Replaced impeller. Last trip out which was two weeks ago, I noticed slight smoke white from the gen exhaust. This was on way in. I’m pretty good about checking oil levels before departure. Thinking that would have been the day it started. It never shut itself down.
Going to try the oil cooler first. I also need to change that Benny oil later today as well.
Thanks for your the advice btw

 

[dtfeld]

If you have water in the oil you really want to start cleaning it up now before layup. That will cause all kinds of trouble if not fixed and cleaned up pretty quick.

Might be best to just pull it and get it to a shop. It's a lot easier on the body too.