Found out why I spun 2 rod bearings.

I was messing with my stock pan this weekend  & was trying to find out how many quarts my pan should hold. I picked up the timing chain cover and set it on the front of the pan so I could see where the full mark on my dip stick was located, when I got to looking I noticed that I couldnt see it at all. Turns out it was way down in the pan. Long story / short ...the dip stick was too long (I bought the boat this way). It turns out I was only running about 2.5 - 3qts in the motor and it was showing full on the dip stick. It showed no oil pressure on the gauge but I just thought the sending unit was bad since the dip stick would show full. 

Note to anyone buying a used boat, drain all the oil first & then fill it back up with how ever many qts you were told it uses & then check to see where it is on the dip stick.
 
I also have a question (as I do at least once a week)

If I have a 5qt pan I should be able to run 6qts in it right, that would  leave about 1qt for the filter & 5ish quarts for the pan. Any agrees or disagrees on this?

Thanks - Bill

when i set my dipstick level i used the low side of the main caps as a reference for the "full" mark.  this put some of the crank in oil when it wasnt running, but once running and fluid was pumped thru the heads should be lower than the crank to prevent wicking it in the oil and creating a big frothy oily mess. 

curious what the experts say for oil levels... hopefully i did mine right.

I measured it at 6qts, i filled it with 6 and it had just started to crest over the shallowist part of the pan, I figured that the crank will not touch it there because if it did it would also be hitting the pan, as far as it sloshing, I think that sixth quart will be pulled into the oil filter & gallies as well so it should pull it far enough down that I should be safe. Im glad I found this issue 


Oh yeah...One more question. Anyone ever run rotella 15 - 40 in their motor?

I haven't run the Rotella but I do run the Chevron Delo 400 15w40 (Both good quality diesel oils that I believe still contain zinc).

zinc thats why I was asking, I think this would be much better on an old school motor.

ok , lets start with the first question. can you run to much oil?   that answer is dont do it. its better to run less than more. those lines on a dipstick. have full then slashes then 1qt down some have 2qt down. anywhere in the run range is fine . the full mark is basically dont go over or else! putting to much in is asking for all of your seals to fail. in your oil pan while its running there is a pressure with more oil than what is recommended that pressure will push the oil out an place it can!!! seals first then gaskets. also when your crank comes in contact with a bath of oil not only will it froth it , it also loses power. most oil pan manufactures will set you up with the right dip stick or help with the right length.

I dont need a new dip stick, all I have to do is put in the right amount of oil and wait for it to drain into the pan, then pull the dipstick & center punch it for full. On the dip stick it said safe and when it was in the pan it was like an inch and a half off of the bottom of the pan at best. I will either run 5 or 6 qts I think it will be ok. Thanks for all the input.

What kind of oil & filter do you run in your boat?

I thot that most after market pans are 10  qts Why do u want to run a smaller pan???

i work at chevron refinery and steal anything not bolted down

NICE lol.. I was gonna run a bigger pan but after setting the block back in there and doing some measuring I would have to change my motor mount set up. Dont really want to do that. I may sell the boat next summer and look for a fork or a tx19 something a  little more loud and proud lol.

zinc thats why I was asking, I think this would be much better on an old school motor.

I did some research a while ago, as well as some training at work on oils. Rotella and Delo Diesel engine oils are great for roller engines (usually mid 1990's and newer), but they can be harmful (zinc) to older flat tappet cam engines. I know it's always been believed that "C" rated diesel oil is better than "S" rated gasoilne oil, but you should be able to find more accurate literature on Shell's and Chevron's websites. It's best to run what the mfg. recommends, unless you've built it up, then run what your engine builder or engine parts mfg. recommend. Just my 2 cents