[C320-list] Where's the oil?
Robert Seastream
robert.seastream at comcast.net
Sun Oct 11 11:31:34 PDT 2009
All:
Yesterday I moved my (2002) boat to the haulout staging area at my
yard. This brought the engine up to operating (~160 F) temperature.
I let the engine sit to allow the oil to drain into the oil pan prior
to changing it for Tuesdays' scheduled fall haulout. I checked the
oil level thrice. It was a quart low (yipes!), but oil was still
visible on the end of the dipstick. I took my 'oilboy' and attempted
to drain the remaining oil, but surprise, no oil came out! I replaced
the filter, refilled the engine with the specified type and amount of
oil, ran the engine, all's well.
The engine manual states that the 3GM30F holds 2.6 liters (2.75
quarts) of 15W40 oil. I'm guessing the little spin on filter holds
about 8 ounces. So, 2.75-1 quart (low)=1.75 quarts. Remove .25
quarts for the filter=1.5 quarts that should've been in the oil pan.
At no time this season did I get a low oil pressure light or alarm
(both work), nor did the engine run hotter (160 F) than normal, nor
did I detect any abnormal engine functions or noises (lack of
horsepower, acceleration, knocking, smoking on startup or under sudden
acceleration, etc). Where'd the oil go?
Robert Seastream
Intuition # 906
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