Dipstick reading

[Dasu]

I have a new to me 1989 Forester Sport 160. When I bought it the crankcase oil read high on the dipstick. It has a 2.3 Cobra engine. The dipstick is the correct one by matching part numbers. I proceeded to change oil ( using a hand pump through the dipstick hole) and filter. I only added 4 quarts of fresh oil and ran the motor to operating tempt. Making sure boat was level I rechecked the oil level with the dipstick. It showed high again! When removing the old oil filter there was no oil in the filter. I’m guessing it ran down to the pan as a engineering feature for convience of changing oil. Any thoughts on the high oil readings?

 

[GA_Boater]

Hi, Dasu. Welcome to the forum.

How high was the oil level on the dipstick? Just above the filled mark or way above? It's possible that all the oil isn't being pumped out with hand pump.

Did you run the motor to operating temperature before draining and removing the filter. That could account for the empty filter if the motor was cold and not allowing the hand pump to suck out all the oil.

Was the old oil dark or milky/coffee colored? Hope it was dark and not showing signs of water in the oil.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I have heard of low oil readings for a Mustang from a TV show on classic cars. The replacement dipsticks were actually shorter than the originals supplied by Ford. They thought it was an bad block and chased their tails, where's the oil going?

Is it possible the replacement stick is too long?

 

[Silverbullet555]

In addition to above, you can't just add oil to an engine based on expected capacity. It always has to be by the dipstick. Eventually, you'll know what it takes. Out of all our vehicles, only one engine takes the amount of oil it says it should take consistently and that's the duramax in my truck. 10 quarts every time the others are all off by a bit and the suburban varies due to some additional plumbing.

 

[Grub54891]

It's best to read the stick when the boat is floating. Takes the guesswork out of the equation.

 

[roffey]

what I take from the OP is "When removing the old oil filter there was no oil in the filter" that seems bad and my guess is the extra oil is due to an empty filter. IMHO, the oil pump is not working..

 

[Dasu]

what I take from the OP is "When removing the old oil filter there was no oil in the filter" that seems bad and my guess is the extra oil is due to an empty filter. IMHO, the oil pump is not working..

I was thinking the filter was clear of oil from a design that allowed oil to "spill" from the filter and drain down to the pan . Maybe I'm dreaming that they would do this on a boat motor . I have searched up and down on the net to find the capacity of the 2.3 Cobra and cannot find it except one place and it said 4 quarts without filter and 5 with . I started with just the four. I will check the oil again while the boat is floating as someone suggested.

 

[roffey]

I'm not that much of a mechanic. I know just enough to get my self in trouble. It was my feeling there is a oil pump that will circulate the oil and create oil pressure. Maybe someone here with more knowledge will jump in, or maybe that's you, lol.

Maybe Ill learn something new, wont be the first time. I bet Friscoboater would know off the top of his head.

 

[GA_Boater]

Did you run the motor to operating temperature before draining and removing the filter. That could account for the empty filter if the motor was cold and not allowing the hand pump to suck out all the oil.

Was the old oil dark or milky/coffee colored? Hope it was dark and not showing signs of water in the oil.

Answers please.

Was the boat sitting before the oil change and not run in a while?

 

[briangcc]

I'm not that much of a mechanic. I know just enough to get my self in trouble. It was my feeling there is a oil pump that will circulate the oil and create oil pressure. Maybe someone here with more knowledge will jump in, or maybe that's you, lol.

Maybe Ill learn something new, wont be the first time. I bet Friscoboater would know off the top of his head.

Not Frisco but....generally speaking there is a mechanical oil pump inside the engine that is turned with/by the distributor. At least that's how its been on Chevy 350's, Buick Nailhead, and my Pontiac 455 and 400 I've worked on.

IF you have an oil pressure gauge, with the boat running what is it reading? Does it change with the boat not running?

 

[Keyboardman]

I just put together a fresh 2.3L Ford/OMC. It takes 5 quarts with the filter. My engine is sitting level on blocks using correct OMC part # 984624 dipstick and it shows just a hair over full after sitting overnight.

 

[roffey]

Not Frisco but....generally speaking there is a mechanical oil pump inside the engine that is turned with/by the distributor. At least that's how its been on Chevy 350's, Buick Nailhead, and my Pontiac 455 and 400 I've worked on.

IF you have an oil pressure gauge, with the boat running what is it reading? Does it change with the boat not running?

Thanks for the response, I was just looking for someone with more knowledge than I.

 

[Scott Danforth]

hand siphon pumps do not get all the oil out of the pan. they cant....impossible...there is always between 1/2 quart and 1 quart left in the pan

so when you pour oil back in, you pour a quart less, fire it up, then read the dipstick and add as required

as far as OMC doing anything to the ford pinto motor, your dreaming...they took the cheapest motor they could find, did the absolute minimum to marinize it (wet exhaust manifold, etc) and plunked it in the boat the oil system goes back to late 60's ford pinto

now after you properly set the oil level and you run the boat for a while, if the oil level gets higher. you have an issue. either the fuel pump is failing and pumping fuel into the crank case, or you have a crack in the block allowing water into the oil.

 

[Dasu]

I just put together a fresh 2.3L Ford/OMC. It takes 5 quarts with the filter. My engine is sitting level on blocks using correct OMC part # 984624 dipstick and it shows just a hair over full after sitting overnight.

Thanks for all the great replies . I'm finding my inexperience with I/O 's is not all that great . First problem for me was cold oil , thought I was taking a short cut and it bit me in the butt. I was using a cheap hand pump and the intake hose kept collapsing on me. Big mistake. Secondly , the boat was on the trailer and I believe this was giving me a false reading.Who ever said to measure the oil while the boat is floating in water was so spot on. I read it in a new manual also that I bought.Another stupid mistake I was making was that when I was measuring with the dipstick , that only measures down so far , as I found out when I measure the intake dipstick hose from the extractor along side the dipstick. The hose was a few inches ( or so) longer than the stick. So once the dipstick stops picking up oil , that doesn't mean the system is empty of oil, which is why when I put four quarts of oil back in , it read high again. If that all makes any sense. So it is a live and learn project for this old boy. Thank You all for your help . I did get the oil leveled out at just a bit above full like on a new oil change. I used a 30# oil and I think I've learned the importance of hot oil over cold oil on a change using a extractor. Watch for a possible new post as I may attempt to change out the impeller on the OCM outdrive. Wish me luck !

 

[Grub54891]

As always, it's a bit of a learning curve when buying a boat. Even if you have owned boats before, each one is a bit different than the last.

 

[Dasu]

As always, it's a bit of a learning curve when buying a boat. Even if you have owned boats before, each one is a bit different than the last.

Yes, that is so true . Have had this lake place in Mn. for almost 40 years and never owned a I/O . Thought before we left the lake I would experience the experience of one. I'm calling it my "late life Crisis " . Thank You

 

[Silvertip]

Next time you (or anyone) checks the oil and finds high level -- sniff the dipstick. If it smells like gasoline, there is a fuel pressure regulator or fuel pump issue that is allowing raw fuel into the crankcase thus raising the oil level. Running the engine with fuel contaminated oil is a good way to destroy an engine. Fuel makes a poor lubricant and diluted oil can't do its job so bearings quickly fail.