Return to the home page...

Go Back   Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community - Home of the Afourians > Discussion Topics > General Maintenance

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1   IP: 107.77.229.228
Old 08-03-2021, 02:30 PM
ColeHarmening's Avatar
ColeHarmening ColeHarmening is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 22
Thanks: 5
Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Oil level slowly going down

Hello all,

My oil level is going down on the dipstick after running my engine for long hours. My question is do I have a slow oil leak that somehow I am not seeing in the engine compartment? or is this just normal oil consumption of an old engine?

I have been running my A4 at normal - high cruising speeds for fishing for an average of 10 - 15 hours a week. I am having to top off the dipstick every 15 hours or so. It slowly creeps down the dipstick. 15 hours ago I was at the full mark. Now I am at about the 5/6ths full mark. 15 hours later I will probably by in the 2/3rds full mark. Is it normal to burn oil at this rate? I have extensively checked in my engine compartment/under the block and in the bilge for oil but can't really notice anything leaking.
Reply With Quote
  #2   IP: 155.186.122.195
Old 08-03-2021, 02:52 PM
Dave Neptune Dave Neptune is offline
Afourian MVP, Professor Emeritus
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Grove, Oklahoma
Posts: 5,035
Thanks: 711
Thanked 1,289 Times in 839 Posts
Oil consumption can vary as to the tune of the engine as well as wear in an "old" engine.

If you are not seeing the oil in the bilge it is getting burned in the engine. In a flathead such as these the valve train has little influence on oil consumption like an "overhead" engine as gravity assists the flathead and works against the overhead. Most of the oil loss in the A-4 will be past the rings due to wear, not a bad thing as long as you don't run out of oil.

Another factor is the ignition timing being to advanced will also increase the oil consumption and cause rough running.

How do the plugs look? Is the C-advance working freely? Any fumes emanating into the cabin? Have you set the timing or adjusted the points if still equipped with them?

My ole A-4 used oil at close to that rate and I ran it for 30+ years like that and never an issue. I did mitigate the problem with a PCV valve a more modern and far superior to the slash tube. The PCV was not invented when the A-4 was designed and is a good addition. Are you having any other issues as far as how the engine is running?

Dave Neptune
Reply With Quote
  #3   IP: 107.77.229.99
Old 08-05-2021, 11:06 PM
ColeHarmening's Avatar
ColeHarmening ColeHarmening is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 22
Thanks: 5
Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Thanks for the info Dave,

No I am not having any other running issues. Yes my fume detector seems to be going off more frequently now but other then that I can’t visibly smell more fumes. I suppose I will just need to always carry a good amount of extra oil while out cruising.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Fuel Tank Location - Above Carb Level? captainmurph Fuel System 5 03-12-2014 07:22 AM
Float Level Settings? rayncyn51 Fuel System 4 04-13-2011 01:35 PM
Oil level on early A4 in Triton Kemp Troubleshooting 4 01-27-2006 05:16 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:25 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.


Universal® is a registered trademark of Westerbeke Corporation

Copyright © 2004-2024 Moyer Marine Inc.

All Rights Reserved