Ford Lehman Engine Oil Level Rising?

[CaptainBob]

I'm not 100% sure but I _think_ the oil level on my Ford Lehman 2715E might be rising.

I know little about these things but if it _is_ rising it can only really be fuel getting in somehow?

The engine had compression tests done relatively recently (very good results) and it fires up very easily, even in winter, without the "cold start" button pressed, so perhaps it's not the piston rings?

So I'm thinking it could be coming in from the injector fuel pump?

We have run the engine a sum total of only a few hours, and always at very low revs and not for very long. It seems to always produce a little blueish smoke. It is 33 years old, but was "re-built" about 10 years ago and has not done a lot since.

I'll monitor it closely.

TY!

 

[NorthUp]

................
The engine had compression tests done relatively recently ...........
TY!

odds are a leaking fuel connection under the rocker cover- if the problem started at the same time.

All Fords come with blue smoke as standard!

 

[scottie]

First most engines use some oil so level shouold drop not rise best to check when engine is cold.
Then its worth smelling the dipstick to check for diesel contamination caused by a sticky injector or otherwise unburnt fuel this would also show as black smoke your post also suggests a possibility of worn rings or bore wear which also can allow unburnt diesel
Water should show some emulsification but not always
The only source for oil to come from is the gearbox so check level here also
It is worth checking for a cylinder not working by loosening each injector pipe in turn just crack the nut at the injector a touch and listen to rev drop each should be approx the same.
Italian tune up referred to on other posts may also help.
Have you checked you are reaching normal full revs under load is performance down?

 

[david_bagshaw]

odds are a leaking fuel connection under the rocker cover- if the problem started at the same time.

All Fords come with blue smoke as standard!

yes also check spill rail joints and end as they are fiddly to get right.

fuel can leak from the lift pump diaphragm & from the injection pump if worn, past the plungers and into its cam case, thence to the engine sump.

Might be due to the higher bio content in diesel today, causing the diaphram failure.

Don't see how gear oil could get into the engine, well not possible with our 130 sabres with borgwarner boxes, (simms mini mech pumps with a oil supply pipe from the engine with spill to the crankcase)

 

[LittleShip]

2715 engines normally have a Simms pump which is sealed from the engine..... the oil needs to be changed every 50 hrs. If this is what you have it is unlikely that diesel is getting into the oil from the high pressure fuel pump.

The two most likely places have been mentioned....

1. The lift pump on the side of the engine. Easy repair better to replace.

2. The tube rail under the rocker box which is connected to the injectors.

On Little Ship I have a similar engine 2723 and I have fitted some copper washers on the rail to help prevent fuel leakage. Not all engines had washers and are susceptible to leaking diesel into the sump.

Let us know what you find.

Tom

PS I agree with the blue smoke quote D series engines will smoke until the cylinders get up to temperature....that's cylinder temperature not water temperature. Leave one thats warmed up fully on tick over and it will again show some smoke and also slight oil slick from the exhaust....all normal for these old style engines.

 

[TQA]

Another vote for the lift pump leak being the likely culprit.

 

[maxi77]

Mind you rising oil levels are often due to water ingress

 

[LittleShip]

Mind you rising oil levels are often due to water ingress

No it's not especially on a D series engines the above recommendations stand well for this problem.

Water in the oil would show as the oil being emulsified (white and creamy)

Tom

 

[CaptainBob]

Thanks for the replies.

Oil is not emulsified.

I'm not good at being able to smell diesel and can't make it out in the oil. If anything it smells a little like ever so slightly burnt engine oil.

I'm not 100% sure we actually have a problem as the last accurate oil level check was when we were on the hard and canted back a wee bit, so if previous owner had topped to correct level there, it likely was a little over full now that we're more horizontal.

I used a pela to bring the level back to exactly "full" by removing circa 1 to 2 litres (which seemed a lot but I guess it's a big engine).

Will monitor closely and report back.

Many thanks again,

 

[david_bagshaw]

If the boat is new to you it is worth measuring the installation angle and checking the dipstick length, as the tube should be cut to length on first installation with sabre engines.

the other method is to drain the sump, fill with the coerrect quantity and then cut the tube.

The ford dover unit does not like an over full sump, and many think they burn a lot of oil, which they do compared to a modern engine, but an over full sump will double or triple the burn.

 

[LittleShip]

If the boat is new to you it is worth measuring the installation angle and checking the dipstick length, as the tube should be cut to length on first installation with sabre engines.

the other method is to drain the sump, fill with the coerrect quantity and then cut the tube.

The ford dover unit does not like an over full sump, and many think they burn a lot of oil, which they do compared to a modern engine, but an over full sump will double or triple the burn.

Rather than cut the fill tube it's easier to re notch the dipstick.

Tom

 

[CaptainBob]

Finally found and fixed (bodged) the fuel leak causing my oil level to rise. It was a leak in the return line, in the vicinity of the last banjo connector, but it was from where the banjo is crimped to the rail, not from the banjo itself. I fixed (bodged) it with epoxy weld. Thus far it's 100% fixed.

Some images and a video here:

http://www.yacht-forum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=1957

Thanks again for the help!

 

[Sandyman]

Finally found and fixed (bodged) the fuel leak causing my oil level to rise.

If your rise in oil level was that noticeable then would suggest its now time for a complete oil change & filter replacement.
Threads like this & the advise & info given are what make this site so worth while.
I have an aged 2712E so all very relevant to me. BZ