[C320-list] Perkins motor oil filler

[Mark Cole]

David;

You are correct.  If you open each cap, you will find that the metal cap opens just like the radiator cap on a car - you need to push down while turning (on a cold engine only!).  You should be able to stick your finger into that opening and see/feel coolant.  This should be a regular prestart check on your engine right along with checking oil level.  I don’t trust just looking at the level of coolant in the overflow container.

The black cap on the left is the oil fill.  When filling your oil, put in only as much as you got out and then start checking oil level on the dip stick and slowly add small amounts until you get to the safe level marking on the dip stick.  It isn’t good for the engine to run with too much oil.  Pre-fill the oil filter with a little clean oil before spinning it on and smear a little on the O-ring on the filter, but you can’t fill it completely as you have to turn it horizontal to screw it on.

Mark
Fiddler’s Green #8
Another Perkins M30

> On Mar 3, 2021, at 9:28 AM, David Nolte <dcnolte at mac.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi David,
> 
> I’m pretty sure you have it right. I’ll be down on the boat this afternoon and will double check the locations for you.
> 
> Best,
> 
> David Nolte
> Beach House 0004
> Cattail Creek, MD
> 
>> On Mar 2, 2021, at 9:18 PM, David Veeneman <davidv at veeneman.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I’m getting ready to change my own oil for the first time on Adelante, which has a Perkins Perama M30 engine. I’m fine with pumping out the old oil and replacing the filter, but I want to get confirmation on something before I proceed.
>> 
>> When I’m looking at the engine from the saloon side, there are two caps on top of the engine:
>> 
>> — a black plastic cap on the left (which looks to me like the motor oil fill cap; and
>> — a metal cap on the right, which looks like the coolant cap for the heat exchanger.
>> 
>> Have I got that right? I’m getting paranoid about pouring motor oil down the wrong spout. Thanks for your help!
>> 
>> --
>> David Veeneman
>> SV Adelante, C320 #131
>> Dana Point, CA
>> 
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