Oil Level on M25XP

[Russ]

Hello to all,
I have a 1989 Cat 30 with a M25XP motor. I think the motor is low on oil because a small leak in the bilge from a loose drain plug. Every time I pull the dipstick out, wipe it, and insert it back, it reads normal. When I am away from the boat for a couple of days and ckeck the dipstick before wiping, it is low. Has anyone had the same problem? I think the before wipe check is accurate.
Thanks, Russ

 

[Stu Jackson]

It's not a car

There's a seal on the dipstick. To check it cold, pull it out, let it sit out for a minute, yeah, that long, then put it in again and check it. The oil needs to settle. You do NOT have a problem other than your leak. We have a fix-it for your problem if it's the same one, see www.c34.or\projects, replacing the oil change hose.

 

[FrankR]

its the nature of the beast

Usually if you check it the next day after running the engine there will be no oil in it when you pull it out. Then whenyou puit it back in and check it again it will read the actual level it is at. As Stu said there is a seal on the stick which prevents the oil from moving up the tube until the atmospheric pressure is broken.

 

[Russ]

Oil Level

Thanks guys for the help, I had no idea a there was a seal in there.

 

[Gary Kunkel]

As they've said ....

This is quite common and will surprise you when you first encounter it. We always check our oil before "lift-off." When we first pull the dipstick out, there is no oil at all on it ... I mean clean as a whistle. Then, when we put it back in and lift it out, the level is right where it should be. Perfectly normal, and perfectly weird until you understand the seal and the effect of the motor cooling off.

Gary