Guest 000 Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 The Lombardini 60hp we have is a pretty sweet running engine, but maintaining the oil level is a bit problematic. If I fill the oil up to the full mark on the dipstick, it will drop down over 50 hours running to about 6mm below the full mark, and there it stays. I have topped it up a couple of times and always the same thing happens. I talked with a mechanic at a canal boat hire company and he said that the Nanni diesels in the hire fleet do the same thing. I've never heard of thus before - anybody else? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 Do you fill it hot or cold? If cold, and the mark is for hot, its overfull. Just leave it 6mm down - its still well over min, right? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 000 Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 Yes, at 6mm down its still well over the minimum mark so no problem, just wondering why it does that and where the oil goes - no smoke to be seen. The engine has a crazy dipstick. It is a tightly wound wire spiral rather like a long skinny spring with a solid steel tip where the measurement marks are. The high/low marks are in the form of two protruding ferrules. The dipstick goes vertically down and then curves into the sump at a 45 degree angle. The bottom ferrule draws oil up the dipstick pipe when you withdraw it, particularly in the curve so you can only read the level the first time you pull the stick. Wiping the stick, pushing it back in and out again gives a false reading as the residual oil in the pipe coats the entire bottom section of the dipstick. Italians. ..dipsticks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 It'll be being burnt. Likely pressure in the sump lifting it out the breather and being ingested, but your not likely to see the smoke. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Crazyhorse 47 Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 Does the gearbox share the same oil supply as the engine? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytom 642 Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 make sure the dip stick is all the way home, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The big T 41 Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 Always understood a certain amount of water evapourated out of new oil when first used with the heat generated, even in cars. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Pope 243 Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 Many engines do this, if the -6mm level is constant that is your effective oil level. Don't sweat it or waste oil topping it up. My bike (old BMW) should take 2l, finds its own level at 1 3/4l and there it stays. well it does burn a little but on a trip to Dunedin and back it will use about 1/2 l. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytom 642 Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 All diesel burn a bit oil Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 000 Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 I think Steve is on the money. So, for some reason the engine doesn't like the oil level to be up to the full mark on the dipstick and so burns it off until the level reaches about 6mm below full and there it stays. And I will just have to be happy about that! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Pope 243 Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 Be happy! Be Happy! Be Happy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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