3.0 oil level keeps going up on dipstick

[atistang]

1989 merc 3.0 130hp, alpha 1 gen 1

I bought the boat last year and noticed that when i went to change the oil it seemed to be about 2 quarts over full.

first time out this year, checked the oil before i left the driveway and it was right at the full line

ran it on the water for about an hour, next time i went out i checked the oil again, it was a little over the full line, i figured maybe it was just sitting at a different angle.

put about 3 more hours on it and checked it. now it looked to be maybe a quart or so high on oil

this weekend i put about 6-7 hours on the engine, i checked the oil yesterday and now it is way up on the dipstick.

it doesn't smell much like gas, it isn't the least bit milky. and the engine runs great aside from a rough idle.

anyone run into this? I would think if i was getting that much water in the oil then it would be getting milky by now

 

[airshot]

Re: 3.0 oil level keeps going up on dipstick

It may very well depend on the angle your boat is setting at. On the trailer or in the water boat probably sets at a different angle and this will definetly make the dipstick read differently. I have checked mine while setting in the water at rest noted the full mark then checked it again on the trailer and noted the difference. Good Luck !!
Airshot

 

[sschefer]

Re: 3.0 oil level keeps going up on dipstick

I agree with checking it twice in exactly the same conditions. Typically an engine making oil is due to fuel in the oil but normally the oil will take on a brownish tinge. With as much oil as you think your making it would definitely be discolored. Water, as you know, turns it a milky color and since you have none of that, position of engine or fuel are the only posibilities.

If you still find yourself making oil after correctly checking it then compression and vaccum tests are in order. Because you mentioned a rough idle my suspcion would be bad valve guides but it could also just be worn rings. Both will produce excessive pressure in the crankcase so you can't isolate it from just checking the blow by.

 

[atistang]

Re: 3.0 oil level keeps going up on dipstick

i'll try checking it in the water and see what i got

 

[my86seville]

Re: 3.0 oil level keeps going up on dipstick

If your oil is not turning tan or brownish white, check to see if it's getting thinner. If it's a lot thinner (not the same consistency or close to it) as when you put it in. You have a ruptured diaphram in your fuel pump putting gas into your oil pan. If it's tan (brownish white) you have water getting into your oil pan.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: 3.0 oil level keeps going up on dipstick

Maybe your wife or neighbor is trying to make you think you are loosing your mind - and are pouring in some oil when you aren't looking.

Seriously - like mentioned above, you need to check the level when the boat is sitting in the water at the dock. The only way for the oil level to rise is either fuel or water - and both are pretty evident.

 

[atistang]

Re: 3.0 oil level keeps going up on dipstick

If your oil is not turning tan or brownish white, check to see if it's getting thinner. If it's a lot thinner (not the same consistency or close to it) as when you put it in. You have a ruptured diaphram in your fuel pump putting gas into your oil pan. If it's tan (brownish white) you have water getting into your oil pan.

hmm..... maybe, i did burn through about 20 gal in about 5 hours, it seems like a 3.0 should do a little better than that, how can i tell for sure that the diaphragm is ruptured?

 

[Don S]

Re: 3.0 oil level keeps going up on dipstick

it doesn't smell much like gas, it isn't the least bit milky.

If you had a quart of gas in your oil, you would be able to smell it and it would be very thin. That single quart of gas wouldn't even show up in your gas consumption calculations.