Where to pour oil in Universal Atomic 511 Diesel engine

xavpil

.
Sep 6, 2022
376
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 419 Milwaukee
This is driving me nuts. Been looking at the engine for a long long time and I don't see where I can add oil!!
Could it be NOT in the front?
 
Mar 6, 2008
1,356
Catalina 1999 C36 MKII #1787 Coyote Point Marina, CA.
1665781523845.png

Is this what your engine looks like?
 

dmax

.
Jul 29, 2018
1,216
Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
Assuming you have a Universal Atomic 5411 diesel engine, the oil fill is on the top of the valve cover. There's a screw-in cap as circled here:

5411-diesel.jpg
 

dmax

.
Jul 29, 2018
1,216
Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
this seems about right, and yes it's 5411.
Now, how am I supposed to access the knob?
Are you not able to reach the top of the engine? My boat is similar and there's no problem accessing the top of the engine, not sure about the 28. The cap (knob) you're trying to take off will look something like this when it's off (best picture I could find quickly):

oilCap.jpeg
 

xavpil

.
Sep 6, 2022
376
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 419 Milwaukee
Are you not able to reach the top of the engine? My boat is similar and there's no problem accessing the top of the engine, not sure about the 28. The cap (knob) you're trying to take off will look something like this when it's off (best picture I could find quickly):
No I can't really access the top and less fit a bottle of oil. I'll look closer then.
Thx!
 

dmax

.
Jul 29, 2018
1,216
Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
Since we seem to have the same engine could you tell me what A and B are on my picture?
A looks like it might be a hose to vent the engine space - follow it and see if it leads to an exhaust fan.
B looks like it was added by a previous owner. Your engine is raw water cooled (no separate cooling system with anti-freeze) and that is the raw water pump the hoses are coming out of. I'm guessing where the shut-off valve is the output side of the pump and the PO diverted the heated water to something else, maybe a water heater (do you have hot water on board?).
 

dmax

.
Jul 29, 2018
1,216
Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
No I can't really access the top and less fit a bottle of oil. I'll look closer then.
Thx!
Hopefully, another 28 owner will respond on what they do - it is common to have to use a funnel with a hose attached to pour oil into the top (I need to).
 
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xavpil

.
Sep 6, 2022
376
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 419 Milwaukee
A looks like it might be a hose to vent the engine space - follow it and see if it leads to an exhaust fan.
it actually leads outside. But it's not connected to anything in the engine compartment, right? Just laying in there and acting a natural / non-forced vent, then?

B. Your engine is raw water cooled (no separate cooling system with anti-freeze) and that is the raw water pump the hoses are coming out of. I'm guessing where the shut-off valve is the output side of the pump and the PO diverted the heated water to something else, maybe a water heater (do you have hot water on board?).
Just bought the boat and the previous owner didn't use the water. Neither will I...
But does the valve need to be on or off?
 

dmax

.
Jul 29, 2018
1,216
Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
it actually leads outside. But it's not connected to anything in the engine compartment, right? Just laying in there and acting a natural / non-forced vent, then?
Yeah, that's what it looks like, could be to allow air into the engine space for combustion but that is generally not a problem.

Just bought the boat and the previous owner didn't use the water. Neither will I...
But does the valve need to be on or off?
You'll need to follow where those hoses lead to. If the shut-off valve stops water from going to the water heater then you would want it closed. It would be good to spend some time understanding the cooling and plumbing system so you can make informed decisions. It is likely your boat has been modified so others can only help so much - but keep asking, plenty of knowledge and helpful people on this site.
When you have some time, go through the articles here which will tell you a lot about your engine and some things you'll want to make sure are corrected (credit to Stu Jackson for assembling and maintaining this list):
 
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xavpil

.
Sep 6, 2022
376
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 419 Milwaukee
You'll need to follow where those hoses lead to. If the shut-off valve stops water from going to the water heater then you would want it closed. It would be good to spend some time understanding the cooling and plumbing system so you can make informed decisions. It is likely your boat has been modified so others can only help so much - but keep asking, plenty of knowledge and helpful people on this site.
When you have some time, go through the articles here which will tell you a lot about your engine and some things you'll want to make sure are corrected (credit to Stu Jackson for assembling and maintaining this list):
Oh man thanks so much for the info and support!!! Sailed for years on small boats, and just got my first "big boat" a week ago!
 

dmax

.
Jul 29, 2018
1,216
Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
The critical upgrades link is for the m25 series of engines but a lot of it will apply to your 5411.
 

xavpil

.
Sep 6, 2022
376
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 419 Milwaukee
The critical upgrades link is for the m25 series of engines but a lot of it will apply to your 5411.
yes I noticed because I clicked right away on it.
I have been looking for diagrams of plumbing and engine hoses (in/out of the boat) but I don't really find anything that is specific to my boat. It's general and I know that the same rules apply pretty much on all sailboats but id really like to know exactly what, for example, the black hose going into the bilge is... etc...
 

dmax

.
Jul 29, 2018
1,216
Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
Do what you can, take some pictures and post 'em here with your questions.
 
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May 24, 2004
7,174
CC 30 South Florida
As a last resort, if you need to get oil into the engine now, just get a funnel and drop it slowly down the dipstick tube.
 
Jan 26, 2019
70
Catalina 30, mkI 2462 Waukegan, IL
HERE is a ton of official information regarding your engine, the Universal Diesel Model 5411 (known as the M15 in later years).

The above is a link to the Westerbeke website, who (along with their distributors) is the current source of all parts for older Universal Diesel engines.

You'll find the technical manual (way more detailed than owner's manual), parts list, etc. Speaking of the owner's/operator's manual, if you poke through the site to the M15 engine, there you will find the standard operator's manual.

In doing a bit of digging, you will also find these engines are Kubota engines (i.e. old farm tractor engines) that have been modified for marine use. So, very many parts of our engines can be purchased at your local Kubota dealer for well under 50% the cost of the boat version (think glow plugs, bolts, flange studs, etc.). It does take cross-referencing, but is quite doable and I think worth it.

Have fun, this will keep you busy for a while.