Many, apparently healthy, people have routine health checks to pick up problems early and treat any issues before they cause significant, irreversible conditions.
One of the first tests done in a routine health screening is a blood test as this is an indicator of anomalies in other critical areas. A laboratory oil analysis is like a blood test for your boat. It will indicate if the engine has a problem with bearings, pistons, cooling system, cylinder liners, crankshafts, fuel system and much more.
Some sailors claim that rubbing the oil between your thumb and forefinger will tell if the oil has any life left in it. But this is foreshore folklore, it’s like rolling a drop of blood between your fingers and saying yes it clots, so it’s OK. It is true that if the oil on the dipstick looks cloudy, water is present in the oil,immediately but for sure irreversible accelerated wear has occurred and there will be consequences. These may be as mild as the engine wearing out a few years early or equally as serious as bearing failure when called to work hard in bad weather, just when you need it.
