Installation angle vs oil level...?

[rob2]

Just idle musing on my part, but ough to be considered, perhaps. Every engine manual I have ever read (quite a few now) gives a maximum angle for insallation and then says that the dipstick is set for a level installation (never seen one of those) and the oil level should be adjusted to suit the angle. In what way does it suit? Should the quantity remain the same, or should the level be maintained at some notional point? Thinking about it, the critical point is the relationship between the oil level and the pick-up pipe, but no manual ever tells you where that is.

Come on, you marinisers! Print a graph showing how the level should be maintained relative to installation angle.

Rob.

 

[sailorman]

add the specified oil quantities then check the level on the stick

 

[Tony Cross]

I keep my oil level midway between the high and low marks on the dipstick. It typically never varies much because we don't burn oil fortunately but I think that too much oil can be almost as bad as too little. Hence the Goldilocks zone. I reckon that also allows for the angle of the engine too?

 

[david_bagshaw]

Sabre very clearly say add the same qty to the sump then adjust the dip stick tube to suit the new level, so making the dip stick read full.

 

[cindersailor]

Depends where the dip-stick is in the sump. If it is central (fore-aft) the level should not change with angle. If it is towards the front of the sump it will read low and towards the back it will read high. I dealt with this before I installed my new engine by filling to the mark with the engine level and then angled it to the 15 degree installation angle to find that the level dropped by about 3 mm on the dip-stick, so that's where if fill to.

 

[theoldsalt]

My Thornycoft engine installation manual states that after installing the engine the correct quantity of oil should be added and the dip stick marked with the level.

Obviously other manufactures may specify a different procedure.

 

[prv]

says that the dipstick is set for a level installation (never seen one of those)

Our engine is level, as are most others that use a saildrive

Pete

 

[rob2]

Our engine is level, as are most others that use a saildrive

Pete

Point taken, though I never really took to the idea of dragging the equivalent of an outboard leg around and the loss of flow over the rudder. I loved the account from the owner of a sister ship whose outer fairing rubber broke away. He said it was like trying to swim with your speedos around your ankles.

I'm glad to hear that some manufacturers do advise what I have done, that is to fill with the specified amount and then use the level indicated, but if the dipstick is aft and the pickup forard, surely there is a risk of the pick up not being permanently immersed. The converse could mean an unwanted splash lubrication as the crankshaft webs disturb the oil and presumably effectively reduce the level, maybe even promoting oil consumption? Perhaps these conditions are what sets the maximum installation angle.

Rob.

 

[KAM]

My engine is at 12 degrees ( manufacturers recommended maximum is 10 degrees) and I just fill to the dipstick mark. I don't think the level is that critical if you look at the typical distance between the high and low level marks. I don't think there is much risk of not picking up oil or it going where its not supposed to be. Its more to do with the volume of oil to dilute all the contaminants which build up during the season. As long as you change oil regularly there should not be a problem.

 

[Lakesailor]

....and cooling. The oil plays a major role in cooling the engine. It's most unlikely the pick-up could be starved of oil as the filter gauze over it is normally about 5mm from the bottom of the sump and the actual end of the pipe maybe 1.5cms above the bottom of the sump. Think of the angles that an engine may end up in a vehicle on rough terrain.

 

[GrahamM376]

....and cooling. The oil plays a major role in cooling the engine. It's most unlikely the pick-up could be starved of oil as the filter gauze over it is normally about 5mm from the bottom of the sump and the actual end of the pipe maybe 1.5cms above the bottom of the sump. Think of the angles that an engine may end up in a vehicle on rough terrain.

Some engines such as the Thornycroft 80D could be supplied with different sumps depending on the installation. Like theoldsalt, our T105 engine instructions said to fill with the correct quantity of oil and then mark the dip stick.

 

[Uricanejack]

Just idle musing on my part, but ough to be considered, perhaps. Every engine manual I have ever read (quite a few now) gives a maximum angle for insallation and then says that the dipstick is set for a level installation (never seen one of those) and the oil level should be adjusted to suit the angle. In what way does it suit? Should the quantity remain the same, or should the level be maintained at some notional point? Thinking about it, the critical point is the relationship between the oil level and the pick-up pipe, but no manual ever tells you where that is.

Come on, you marinisers! Print a graph showing how the level should be maintained relative to installation angle.

Rob.

The pick up pipe is only one factor. many small engines rely on splash lubrication as well as oil duckts.