Two differant oil readings ???

[WAVENBYE2]

OK bare with me on this one When is the best time to check the oil?? when I'm on the lake and let her sit a while the dip stick reads perfect level, don't need to add at all..But on my driveway It shows a little too high.. Is the boat/engine level in the water sitting perfectly still no wake no nothing?? How do you check the oil when boat isn't level on trailer,,Do you level boat trailer or put level on engine?? Sorry for the stupid questions but I really would like to know the best way..

 

[Windykid]

Re: Two differant oil readings ???

Lower the front jack!

 

[Don S]

Re: Two differant oil readings ???

Check it when it's in the water, that is when the oil level needs to be right.
Now wherever the oil level is when in your driveway is where it should be when the boat is in the water.
You could even file a little notch in the dipstick for the driveway level.

 

[QC]

Re: Two differant oil readings ???

The best way is to do it the same way each time. I just changed my oil yesterday and I know it willl probably need some when I check it in the water. I am more worried about overfilling, so I wait until I am in the water to check. Usually check in the marina (not the ramp) before firing her up in the AM or after sitting for 5 minutes. Then I know if I am actually using some instead of possibly getting a bad reading. Time after you shut off matters too, so wait the same amount of time too.

Oh, and there is really no guarantee that your angle and stick are giving you a good reading anyway, so when you change, if you are aboslutely postiive you got it all out, you should fill based on the manuals "with filter" number and then check after you run her. This way you'll know where the correct mark for full is on the stick, in that location, not just where it worked out with this boat manufacturer and engine combo . . . You really don't care what the stick says, you care how much oil is actually in there . . . and 1 Qt over is usually worse than 1 Qt, under

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Two differant oil readings ???

All the way down or until the engine is level?? I thought I had it level on the drive way, but got a different reading on the lake..??

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Two differant oil readings ???

The engine may not be sitting 'level' in the water.....
But, since that is where it will actually do work, (as opposed to sitting on the trailer), the oil level should be checked while in the water.....
Put it this way, if the oil level is low while on the trailer, you will never make the engine work hard enough to harm it from over or under filling......​

 

[Windykid]

Re: Two differant oil readings ???

if you looking for level in the driveway, look at the water line and level by that.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Two differant oil readings ???

Thanks QC, I did exactly that, did the oil/filter routine ran her for awhile,then let her sit checked again and filled her the rest of the way, Checked her on the water and it was perfectly level, I WILL keep with the same routine every time Thanks again>>PAT..OK DON I WILL makes sense.I just got done reading every one elses replies, Now I know..Thanks