Oil suggestions welcomed

Submitted: Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 14:09

ThreadID: 42520 Views:2146 Replies:8 FollowUps:12

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OtherBrother

I did the 5000km oil & filter change on the HJ60's mighty 2H powerplant yesterday. Using the second half of the 20l drum of Castrol RX Super I'd used last time. All fine until the last few litres out of the drum - it was cloudy with white deposits. Needs must when the devil drives - so it went in there anyway.

The last dregs from the drum, settled in a jar overnight, look like this.

My guess is that it's water contamination - any other opinions? (Actually, turned upside down, it looks like a pretty fair home brew).

Well, it's in there and I've driven about 10 km on it. Checked this a.m., cold, on the dipstick the oil looks, well, light black - the same as it always does 5 seconds after an oil change. Maybe a hint of condensation inside the top of the oil filler cap, but maybe I've never really checked that before.

Now the real question - what next?

Regards

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Reply By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 14:26

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 14:26

Dont know what it is but I wont be buying castrol oil thats for sure. AS you said looks like a good head on a home brew. I would say its just condensation but then I'm far from an expert. I would expect that some one else will have come across this before. Steve M

AnswerID: 222902

Follow Up By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 18:47

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 18:47

Won't be buying Castrol ? I've been using their lubes exclusively for everything on the conveyance for 7-8 years now and have never seen the slightest hint of poor quality control.......and I have no connection with Castrol - just picked them as a supplier, and have stayed there ..... and they have good tech advice too - email them with a query - they'll probably phone you back from the lab !

FollowupID: 483797

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 18:50

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 18:50

Hi there Darian scroll, down the page a bit. Steve M

FollowupID: 483799

Reply By: samsgoneagain - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 14:39

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 14:39

water will make the lead coating on your big end bearings rub off onto the crank. iwould suggest putting clean oil in it.

AnswerID: 222907

Follow Up By: Member - Robert A (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 15:40

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 15:40

I would agree. Change your oil or you maybe changing more before the next 5000km service. Diesel's like good oil.

FollowupID: 483756

Reply By: whyallacookie - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 14:59

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 14:59

Suspect it is condensation. Looks like the lid on the drum wasn't sealed between oil changes. As stated above I'd be dropping it ASAP and replacing with fresh oil.

"Won't be buying Castrol" twit! Castrol are a very good brand and this is very unlikely to be anything to do with the oil and more of a storage issue.

If it is condensation/moisture then it could just as easily happened with Penrite or homebrand.

AnswerID: 222915

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 16:48

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 16:48

"Won't be buying Castrol" twit!, I have used both castrol and vavoline on a regular basis every 4k in fact for the last 300k. And as I mentioned further on I presumed that it was "condensation" which can happen to any oil/product if open to the elements. Steve M

FollowupID: 483765

Follow Up By: whyallacookie - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 17:00

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 17:00

Sorry if you took offence but as soon as someone posts an issue out they come to blame the "Brand". I note you didn't attempt to rationalise your comment that you will not be buying Castrol.

Yes you did mention the condensation. Yes you have used Castrol and Valvoline, again a good brand. Makes your comment about not buying Castrol even stranger.

And before anyone starts I have NOTHING to do with selling/marketing/promoting any of these products.

It is getting beyond a joke that as soon as someone mentions a model/brand/whatever someone straight away bags the product or "I wouldn't/will not" buy the product. Has nothing to do with the original thread. What was wrong with just your very good input and suggestion in relation to condensation? (By the way not just you, sorry if it feels personal it isn't)

FollowupID: 483771

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 17:28

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 17:28

No offence taken there whyallacookie, should have said at the end that I still use the castrol now and then, was just thinking out loud and typed what I was thinking which was exactly what you have said about people blaming the product before investigating the cause. Was being a bit sarcastic (not towards OtherBrother), was meant to be a bit of sarcasim towards any one thinking of blaming the product. Hit the send button before reading it properly. No problems have a good one. Steve M

FollowupID: 483774

Follow Up By: whyallacookie - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 17:31

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 17:31

Sweet, no problems.... So do you have an Engel or a Waeco LOL DON'T Answer! or it'll be because you use Castrol/Drive a Yota etc etc!

FollowupID: 483775

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 17:44

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 17:44

Wouldnt touch an engel, which means I have a waeco, and nissan pffff wouldnt touch one especially those 3 litre motors in ALL the patrols that keep going bang. LOL Give me any of them, patrol/cruiser/engel/waeco, they all have faults doesnt matter what you buy. Have a goodn Steve M

FollowupID: 483781

Reply By: Kiwi Kia - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 15:35

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 15:35

If you reckon that you have kept nearly all the moisture in the drum then I would leave it as is. You get condensation inside any engine and it gets vapourised during normal engine running as disapears out the breather.

AnswerID: 222923

Follow Up By: Member - Robert A (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 15:48

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 15:48

It that worth the risk, for a few dollars worth oil. I still say change it

FollowupID: 483757

Reply By: Member - Ed. C. (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 18:16

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 18:16

"If in doubt, Throw it out!" was my Ol' Man's motto when it came to foodstuffs which may be a bit "suspicious", and I guess the same could apply here...

Having said that, I'm inclined to agree with Kiwi Kia.. _IF_ it's only condensation (and you've kept most of it out of the engine), then take 'er for a good hard run (get that motor up to full operating temperature), and that will get rid of any condensation..

I'd be keeping an eye on it though, and I'd do the next oil change sooner rather than later (fresh oil next time;-))...

Regards, Ed. C

Confucius say.....
"He who lie underneath automobile with tool in hand,
....Not necessarily mechanic!!"

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AnswerID: 222957

Reply By: luch - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 19:40

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 19:40

My father is a Mechanic and has used Castrol over 20 years Never faulted !

What did the oil look like as you were pouring it in, was it clear ?
If so, i wouldn't worry any moisture or a few small drops will evaporate with the heat

if you store the drum outside, if it is sitting flat on its base with weather change any water on top gets sucked into the drum by Expansion and contraction !

(not 100% sure scientificaly how the hell this exactly happens but i have seen it first hand)

You need to put a small block of wood or something under one side of the drum so the water runs off

AnswerID: 222983

Follow Up By: OtherBrother - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 20:57

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 20:57

The oil was nice and clear for the first six litres decanted, then the rest cloudy with small white snotty bits, worse at the end.

No beefs with Castrol - the drum was stored upright outside for a week or so after the last use before making it into the shed. You'd think I'd remember whether it rained or not - this IS Melbourne.

FollowupID: 483835

Follow Up By: luch - Wednesday, Feb 21, 2007 at 22:41

Wednesday, Feb 21, 2007 at 22:41

Yes you are correct Melbourne the only place we can experience all 4 seasons in one day on a regular basis !

FollowupID: 484138

Reply By: OtherBrother - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 21:08

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 21:08

Thanks for the input, everybody.

It seems that everybody implicitly agrees that it's condensation / water contamination. (Thank God that it wasn't caused by me not having an Engel.)

The pragmatic / adventurous / bone idle lazy side of me was thinking along the same lines as Kiwi Kia, Luch and Ed C (but not his Dad) - "If it's just water, she'll be sweet; just a bit of a run and it will all be gone". I was hoping for more "no worries" responses.

But with only minority support, the more conservative / overly imaginative / scaredy cat side is taking over, so I reckon I'll be getting some more oil for another change in the next day or so. And what do you think are the odds on Captain Custard fronting up to the cashier with a new oil filter as well?

"And thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought"

AnswerID: 223010

Follow Up By: Member - extfilm (NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 22:59

Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 22:59

being a diesel, I probably would have driven it straight up to a parts place, got some more oil and practiced my oil changes again. I finished my mechanics ticket a few years back. good for you, making the descision to rechange it......

FollowupID: 483895