Thread: Milky Oil
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Old 11-01-2019, 06:21 AM   #2
DavidM
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City: Litchfield, Ct
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Letting milky oil sit in your generator over the winter will let the water evaporate a bit on warm days and condense under the valve cover, often causing rust on the valve train. Also milky oil isn't doing as good lubricating the internal parts when it is running, but that is moot for the winter.

Even though you may not be able to run it long now, I would change the oil at least once. Then start it and let it run for a minute or so to circulate clean oil through the engine. It won't hurt it to do so with no raw water supply for just a few minutes.

I don't think your mechanic did you any favors by waiting until he got the oil sample tested and the boat was hauled for the winter. Milky oil is milky oil and it was bound to show water in the oil test.

In the spring watch it closely and if it returns it could be something like a blown head gasket. Did the test show antifreeze in the oil?

David
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