Silicon found in the oil of a Yanmar diesel question

[911mnypt]

I know it’s the totally wrong forum, however you guys & gals out there have a valuable wealth of knowledge. The motor is a 2008 Yanmar 315 diesel with 66 hours on it…so it has not been used much at all. The surveyor found silicon in the oil when he did his oil analysis…what can it be? I was thinking the fuel lines may be deteriorating? The boat is down in FL so I have to take someone else’s word.

Thanks,
Richard

[SeanPizzle]

something used to seal the engine (oil pan, valve cover, etc.)

[EarlyPorsche]

I am not so sure it would be fuel lines related to engine oil. Did you test the oil before it was poured in the engine to determine whether it started out with that much Silicone? Any gasket work on the engine? I am curious what the big deal is if there is silicone in there?

[911mnypt]

I did find this on the web...but a little skepticle though. The oil was never tested before it was introduced to the motor.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The wear metals that reflect the condition of the engine were examined by the researchers to determine if the engines were wearing at a normal rate. The wear element element aluminum reflects piston wear, iron reflects cylinder wear, copper and lead reflect bearing wear, and chromium reflects ring wear. Silicon was also examined as this reflects the wear material that moves through the air filter and into the engine.

[EarlyPorsche]

That would actually make sense (sand = component of silicon).

[gtc]

This is meaningless without knowing the Silicon concentration. For example, fresh 20/50 Brad Penn has ~ 10ppm of silicon.
Could be dirt, sealant (RTV), cylinder plating (nikasil), or part of the oil's additive package, among other things.

[944Larry]

Difference between silicon (dirt) and silicone (sealant). I see both mentioned above. In an oil sample it is usually silicon that they check for. And yes, the air filter is a good place to check. Poor fit on it probably. I doubt if dirt could get in a marine engine any other way. If silicone, it is from the manufacturing process, probably used as an oil pan sealant.

[GH85Carrera]

I know it is a different animal, but when I tested the oil for several years in my El Camino I could see the silicon level rise and I knew it was time to replace the air filter. The level would drop and slowly go up and the air filter got dirty. I learned to change the air filter a lot more than I did before.

[cashflyer]

Silica is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula SiO2. It has been known for its hardness since antiquity. Silica is most commonly found in nature as sand or quartz.

Silicon is a chemical element.
Silicon is the eighth most common element in the universe by mass, but very rarely occurs as the pure free element in nature. It is most widely distributed in dusts, sands, planetoids, and planets as various forms of silicon dioxide (see silica) or silicates.

Silicones are inert, synthetic compounds with a variety of forms and uses. Typically heat-resistant and rubber-like, they are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medical applications (e.g., breast implants), cookware, and insulation.


So, what do you have in your oil - rubber or sand?

[pharlap71]

I know this will not fly with many on here but 30+ years working for a multi-billion dollar company with a large fleet of very specialized equipment we found oil analysis very unreliable. We were told perfectly good engines that continued to operate great for years needed "tear down" and seized engines sitting on the floor acceptable levels.

[Rusty Heap]

facts:


5 year old engine


66 hours on it.



solution.


run the pisss out of it and treat it like new which it is as a diesel which at 66 hours isn't even broke in yet.!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Yes I am one too, but sometimes I hate anall engineers who burp at the slightest nano spec of micro-intherealworlditjustdoesn'tmatteraratsass.



if you're getting a good deal on the boat, there are many many many many many more important things that worrying about .00000000000000000005% of whogivesarattsass in your oil.



Tested the oil in your 2000 F250 Powerstroke Crew cab personal vehicle lately???????????????????


and??????????


what did that testing say????

[944Larry]

Originally Posted by pharlap71

i know this will not fly with many on here but 30+ years working for a multi-billion dollar company with a large fleet of very specialized equipment we found oil analysis very unreliable. We were told perfectly good engines that continued to operate great for years needed "tear down" and seized engines sitting on the floor acceptable levels.

+100

[911mnypt]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

facts:


5 year old engine


66 hours on it.



solution.


run the pisss out of it and treat it like new which it is as a diesel which at 66 hours isn't even broke in yet.!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Yes I am one too, but sometimes I hate anall engineers who burp at the slightest nano spec of micro-intherealworlditjustdoesn'tmatteraratsass.



if you're getting a good deal on the boat, there are many many many many many more important things that worrying about .00000000000000000005% of whogivesarattsass in your oil.



Tested the oil in your 2000 F250 Powerstroke Crew cab personal vehicle lately???????????????????


and??????????


what did that testing say????

Point well taken...thanks... The powerstroke is pushing 200k and runs like a champ.

Richard

[johnsjmc]

Boat surveyors are one step from home inspectors. They like to find something wrong to justify the charges . A yanmar with 66 hrs is not even broken in. If it runs it,s likely OK.
Silica in the oil analysis is likely the air filter or maybe lack of one all together.
Maybe you can use the analysis to bargain the price down ,but I personally wouldn,t worry about it.