Westerbeke genny (diesel) with gray colored drain oil?

[markrinker]

I would assume that gray oil indicates some water emulsification? If so, how would water get into the crankcase? I've checked the level a few times per season since owning the boat, never noticed the color on the dipstick and the level has been constant. Only put on about 15yrs per season - it has a total of about 230 now. Starts and runs like a top...new fuel filter, impellor, zinc last season. Just curious if anyone else had seen this?

 

[trit21]

Couple things that I could think of. If you only run your genny for 15 hrs in the year, it could be condensation that has built up and mixed with the oil. Gray water is typical of steam mixing with oil (from what I am told). A true water leak and the oil typically turns tan or even white. Could also be coolant but I think if there was a coolant leak you would notice oil in the coolant as well.

When you fire it up open up the radiator cap and tell us what is going on, if you have a cracked head then the coolant will be pressurized from the cylinders and would at this time push out a whole lot of coolant.

15 hrs of run time is not good for a diesel, hell any, generator. They need to be run. Use it or lose it.

 

[Boatingnut]

Not sure what model of genny you have, but the gear driven raw water pump is a possible spot for leakage. I have seen them fill crankcases full of water when they fail.

 

[markrinker]

Couple things that I could think of. If you only run your genny for 15 hrs in the year, it could be condensation that has built up and mixed with the oil. Gray water is typical of steam mixing with oil (from what I am told). A true water leak and the oil typically turns tan or even white. Could also be coolant but I think if there was a coolant leak you would notice oil in the coolant as well.

When you fire it up open up the radiator cap and tell us what is going on, if you have a cracked head then the coolant will be pressurized from the cylinders and would at this time push out a whole lot of coolant.

15 hrs of run time is not good for a diesel, hell any, generator. They need to be run. Use it or lose it.

Agreed. Up here, we don't need AC to be comfortable sleeping, and usually we prefer the quiet of hanging on the anchor with as little noise as possible. Might have to start running it on the way home, just to exercise it. It has always started and run fine so far.

 

[markrinker]

Not sure what model of genny you have, but the gear driven raw water pump is a possible spot for leakage. I have seen them fill crankcases full of water when they fail.

I'll check this out. The crankcase was not overfilled, the color of the oil just changed from black to gray. Thanks for the idea.

 

[fwebster]

I think the oil color may be the clue here........just plain water in the lube oil usually leaves a milky tan color. Mix combustion gasses with it (leaking head gasket, cracked head or block) and you get soot and coolant in the oil which is light gray in color. The first thing I would do is a fluid analysis on both the coolant and the engine oil then go from there.

 

[markrinker]

I think the oil color may be the clue here........just plain water in the lube oil usually leaves a milky tan color. Mix combustion gasses with it (leaking head gasket, cracked head or block) and you get soot and coolant in the oil which is light gray in color. The first thing I would do is a fluid analysis on both the coolant and the engine oil then go from there.

Since Racor hadn't been done during my ownership, I tore it down and cleaned a light accumulation of algae from previous starboard tank problem. Wasn't too bad, due to low hours of use. Changed oil filter (who tightened this thing with a crowbar???) and gave it fresh oil. Starts up and runs like a champ as always. Two three hour uses since and oil looks clear and bright - same with coolant. My plan is to run it at least 3hrs per trip this season, and do an analysis of coolant and oil at ~50hrs in, then change oil and filter again. The oil was almost four years old and had only 60hrs on it. If something is amiss, I'll certainly see it in the next 50hrs and will keep a closer eye on the dipstick for any emulsification or odd color changes.

 

[fwebster]

Westerbekes also have a re-torque head bolt requirement in both time and engine hours. If the head gasket is leaking you will get some antifreeze and combustion by products in the oil which turns the oil gray. If there is coolant in the oil, I would want to figure this out before running another 50 hours. Water isn't a good lubricant and Westerbeke parts are really expensive, but I"m sure you have it figured out.

 

[markrinker]

Westerbekes also have a re-torque head bolt requirement in both time and engine hours. If the head gasket is leaking you will get some antifreeze and combustion by products in the oil which turns the oil gray. If there is coolant in the oil, I would want to figure this out before running another 50 hours. Water isn't a good lubricant and Westerbeke parts are really expensive, but I"m sure you have it figured out.

Thanks, Frank. I'll definitely look into this and re-torque as needed. Whatever turned the oil gray didn't fix itself, and I am not looking forward to EVER having to remove the genny from its cramped quarters.

As for having things figured out - I am a work in progress, as is my boat...

 

[Kon Tiki]

Dear all,
My Westerbeke is now making oil, only got one year out of the impeller, replaced it this year. Now the unit turns itself off after an hour or so, I hope and suspect a bad water gear box unit and I am adding seawater, which is not good. However, I hope it is not not a cracked head or block. The fresh water coolant is at level. The oil is gray.

Any more advice out there, did you find your issue.

Thanks,
Pat

 

[The Bill Collector]

The raw water pump on our Westerbekes has two seals... One seal is to keep the oil on the crankcase side and the other seal on the same shaft is the raw water seal. If you are lucky only one seal fails at a time, but if you are not so lucky & both seals fail you can have water on the oil side. Mark R., Gallery Marine is on the north shore of Lake Union and they are the Westerbeke distributor for Seattle. 4 years on the oil and 15 hours per season is neglect any way you look at it. Use it or lose it... ( gas or diesel )

 

[katricol]

Mark, that is exactly what happened to me 2 years ago. Both seals went on my water pump. Thankfully I check the oil regularly and caught it right away. The parts guy at west. said it was rare for both seals to go like that.