T&T: about mechanical surveys

[Keith]

I'll agree that oil analysis won't do you any good if the oil has been 
recently changed. I've been told that it needs at least 20 hours or more on 
it to give a meaningful result. Matter of fact, I've always been extremely 
suspicious of people selling boats with nice clean oil that's just been 
changed... "run like hell" is usually my advice, because I figure they are 
hiding something.

OTOH, even without a trend history, a single oil analysis can provide lots 
of good information on the engine's condition that a mechanic can't. Things 
like ring wear, salt in the oil, coolant leak, etc. I sure wouldn't buy one 
without an oil analysis as well as a good mechanical survey.


Keith
_____
"People who say you're just as old as you feel are all wrong, 
fortunately." - Russell Baker
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Garrett Lambert" <garrettlambert@shaw.ca>

>
> You will wonder and/or be asked if you want an oil analysis. If you choose
> to do one, there will actually be three: engine, generator, and
> transmission. If the oil has been changed recently, they will tell you 
> very
> little, and even if it hasn't, they won't add much to what a good mechanic
> will find, because you won't have a series of prior analyses for 
> comparison.