Westfield 11
Legendary Member
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2007
- Messages
- 1,001
- Status
- OWNER - I own a Hatteras Yacht
- Hatteras Model
- 63' COCKPIT MY (1985 - 1987)
“Restore” engine oil treatment
I’m sure to be flamed for this, but I wanted to share my experience with Restore oil treatment in my generators and main engines. When I purchased my boat I was having to add oil to my Northern Lights 12kw genset after every time I used it. In fact, it even shutdown once after 6 hours or so due to low oil. I was having to put at least a gallon of oil in between 100hr oil changes! The 20kw Onan while not as bad also needed oil several times between 100hr changes as well. On a whim I added Restore to them both at my previous oil change just to see if it made any difference. Well, after 100hrs the NL needed zero oil added between changes and the same with the Onan: no oil was consumed between changes in 100hrs.
On the basis of those results I added Restore to my 12/71’s at the last oil change, again, just to see if it made any difference. After 70hrs, I just had to service both with oil for the first time: the port was down 1/8” from the full mark and the stb was down just a bit more. I use a hand pump in a 5 gallon pail to service the engines so I don’t really know how many quarts they took, but I was previously having to add oil every 5 to 10 hours, or every day when traveling.
I used two large cans (meant for a V8) to the DD’s and 1/2 a V8 can in each generator. I use NAPA low ash 49wt in the mains and Napa 15/40 in the generators. It costs a bit more each oil change for the additive, but the convenience of not having to add oil between changes is worth it for me. Especially when we run the air conditioning overnight on those still humid summer nights.
I’m sure to be flamed for this, but I wanted to share my experience with Restore oil treatment in my generators and main engines. When I purchased my boat I was having to add oil to my Northern Lights 12kw genset after every time I used it. In fact, it even shutdown once after 6 hours or so due to low oil. I was having to put at least a gallon of oil in between 100hr oil changes! The 20kw Onan while not as bad also needed oil several times between 100hr changes as well. On a whim I added Restore to them both at my previous oil change just to see if it made any difference. Well, after 100hrs the NL needed zero oil added between changes and the same with the Onan: no oil was consumed between changes in 100hrs.
On the basis of those results I added Restore to my 12/71’s at the last oil change, again, just to see if it made any difference. After 70hrs, I just had to service both with oil for the first time: the port was down 1/8” from the full mark and the stb was down just a bit more. I use a hand pump in a 5 gallon pail to service the engines so I don’t really know how many quarts they took, but I was previously having to add oil every 5 to 10 hours, or every day when traveling.
I used two large cans (meant for a V8) to the DD’s and 1/2 a V8 can in each generator. I use NAPA low ash 49wt in the mains and Napa 15/40 in the generators. It costs a bit more each oil change for the additive, but the convenience of not having to add oil between changes is worth it for me. Especially when we run the air conditioning overnight on those still humid summer nights.
