The Steamboating Forum

I've been using oil adsorbing filter bags in my hotwell with pretty good results. I attach them to the discharge in the hotwell, doubling them up. They are available from McMaster Carr, just search oil filter bags. I cut the metal ring off and attach it with a wire tie. Works good and keeps the filter out of sight.

My engine was run for many years without internal oil lubrication by the previous owner. It caused some serious problems with the piston valves, never again.

I use the polyester material, it looks like white moss, used for the linings of jackets. Here it as available from the local haberdashers in large sheets which can be cut to whatever size convenient and a large rubble bag of the stuff costs between 50p and £1. Being polyester it has an excellent affinity with the straight mineral oil used to lubricate the cylinders. The flow though the hotwell passes the most contaminated first and the least last and as they dirty they are moved up the hotwell. Disposal of the most dirty, and they look like a sheet of black oil, is via the fire.

JohnG