Can anyone advise please.....

R

RJAMed

New Member
Joined
18 Nov 2011
Messages
13
Location
Yorkshire
Visit site
I've just been invoiced for an oil & filter change on my engine and they've put down for 25 litres of oil being used. The operator's manual says that the oil capacity is 20 litres - am I missing something here surely it can't take an extra 25% without being overfilled?
 
Hmm before you can get an answer it would be a great idea if you told us, what make and model of engine you have, along with it being shaft or sterndrive, which angle gearbox etc as all this will contribute to the answer.

It may be the company brought along a 25 litre drum as thats how some are sold, they filled your engine and kept the remainder, or left it on the boat for you to use later.
 
I have the inverse issue. The manual on my Merc diesels states 6.5 l per engine. I can only squeeze 4 l in. And I am certain that the engines are empty of oil before refilling, as I have had a sump plug out.

My point is that the manuals are not always 100% accurate.
 
volvopaul said:
Hmm before you can get an answer it would be a great idea if you told us, what make and model of engine you have, along with it being shaft or sterndrive, which angle gearbox etc as all this will contribute to the answer.

It may be the company brought along a 25 litre drum as thats how some are sold, they filled your engine and kept the remainder, or left it on the boat for you to use later.
Click to expand...


Thanks for your reply

The boat has twin Volvo D6's driving through DPH sterndrives but just changed engine oil & filters so can't relate to gearboxes
 
Some manuals relate to just an oil change, others an oil and filter change and the filters/oilways on an engine and filter change take more oil as it has to fill the oilways and filter.
Some engines may have different sumps if they are marine variants which may mean they hold more or less oil then the manuals figures as they often base this figure on a standard or generic engine, rather than a type specific unit.
 
I have d6 and they take 20 Lt nominally but by the time you change the filters it is approx 23 l per engine from memory. Def more than 20. Key part sell 20 l Volvo drums for £65 delivered.
 
jrudge said:
I have d6 and they take 20 Lt nominally but by the time you change the filters it is approx 23 l per engine from memory. Def more than 20. Key part sell 20 l Volvo drums for £65 delivered.
Click to expand...

Great - VP dealer just charged me £60 for two 5 litre canisters, unfortunately work was part of annual service so had no choice but next year.......
 
Update................

I reported my concerns to the Volvo Service Centre who changed the oil & filters for me. They were concerned enough to take the matter up with Volvo themselves. After a few days VP have told them that the engine should only take 20 litres and their concern is that the dipstick is incorrectly calibrated.

They plan to remove all the oil & replace with just 20 litres and adjust the dipstick accordingly. They will also credit me for the extra 10 litres (2 engines) - about £60.00. All costs under warranty.

Should I be concerned that I have been running engines with too much oil in for a season?
 
I would be tempted to borrow a dipstick from another D6 first.

If your boat/engine configuration is not main stream and the angle of your engine is excessive you could find long term issues as oil doesn't get to areas it should.

Recalibrating the dip stick is a bit like burying your head in the sand.




Edit

Can they reach the sump drain plug without removing the engines from the boat or are they sure the D6 drain tube reaches the bottom of the sump , sounds like a waste of time to me unless they have already checked installation/running angles.
 
Last edited:
DAKA said:
I would be tempted to borrow a dipstick from another D6 first.

If your boat/engine configuration is not main stream and the angle of your engine is excessive you could find long term issues as oil doesn't get to areas it should.

Recalibrating the dip stick is a bit like burying your head in the sand.




Edit

Can they reach the sump drain plug without removing the engines from the boat or are they sure the D6 drain tube reaches the bottom of the sump , sounds like a waste of time to me unless they have already checked installation/running angles.
Click to expand...


The boat is mainstream - a Beneteau Monte Carlo 42, new this season.
 
Are you sure it is not just the oil in the filters? My targa 40 takes 23 l ish as per my last post. The filters are big big big and must hold at least a litre each. Volvopaul seems the expert.
 
jrudge said:
Are you sure it is not just the oil in the filters? My targa 40 takes 23 l ish as per my last post. The filters are big big big and must hold at least a litre each. Volvopaul seems the expert.
Click to expand...

All I can say is that both the VP Service Centre & VP are taking the matter very seriously and they are adamant that 20 litres is what should go in & no more. Presumably they are aware of the capacity of the 4 filters but I'd, of course, welcome Volvopaul's comments.
 
A bit worried by this. How old is the engine?
If the dipstick is miscalibrated, and over full engine will pop oil seals and gaskets.
I would insist that Volvo themselves investigate, and if the engine has been overfilled, I would ask them they warrant any damage so caused by overfilling
 
pappaecho said:
A bit worried by this. How old is the engine?
If the dipstick is miscalibrated, and over full engine will pop oil seals and gaskets.
I would insist that Volvo themselves investigate, and if the engine has been overfilled, I would ask them they warrant any damage so caused by overfilling
Click to expand...

Commissioned March 2011 and run about 70 hours so far
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top