Hello Everyone,
I just bought a 97 bayliner with a 4.3LX and A1/G1. I'm trying to figure out what is acceptable oil loss, what isn't, and where I should go from here.
Some background:
Previous owner had a dealer install a rebuilt 4.3 from a reputable engine builder last September. Two hours were put on the engine before I bought the boat. I'm told the break in instructions were followed. I checked the oil at that point and it was fine. I put five hours on and needed to add a little over a quart at that time. (Rotella 20w40). I put four more hours on, and needed to add a little over a quart once again. I've now added 2.5 quarts, with eleven total hours on rebuild. I have yet to do the ten hour oil change, but I am planning on it. I understand high consumption is "normal" during break in, but I have no reference for normal or high, so I have no idea if this is acceptable? Someone told me a quart every 5-10 hours is acceptable during break in, is that correct, and at what point should that taper off? I would imagine the rings have already seated by this point.
In addition, there was a lot of milky oil in bilge when I bought the boat. Previous owner said it was from old engine. I just now cleaned it up and wiped engine down to check for more leaks. I let it idle for a few minutes on muffs, and wasn't able to find any leaks. Since it's still technically in the break in, i didn't want to idle on muffs for extended periods. Oil pressure varies (on the dash gauge) between 40 at cold start, to 80 under load, but never falls below 40, and is usually in the 60's. Engine does not sound bad or tap.
While wiping it down i noticed another problem. The flywheel housing has at least two lose bolts.This is starboard, aft, right behind the starter. I'm not a mechanic by any means, but I don't believe this is a sealed component, and therefore wouldn't be the cause of my oil loss, correct? Pictures attached.
The engine serial tag is not attached to the engine (it was mixed in with boat documentation). It does match the intake cover, both read OK147411, but I'm not sure if that is from the original engine or the new one. How I can tell? I suspect it's from the original engine because the parts diagram for that lists a remote oil filter, but the current, rebuilt engine, has a filter directly on the block. The rebuilt engine has a block casting number of 090, vortec heads, and 8 bolt intake.
At this point, my next step is going to be a compression test and check for blow by. Can anyone suggest anything else I should check. Do you consider my oil consumption at this point to be "normal"? Are the loose flywheel bolts cause for concern (other than a need to tighten them)?
Thanks!
I just bought a 97 bayliner with a 4.3LX and A1/G1. I'm trying to figure out what is acceptable oil loss, what isn't, and where I should go from here.
Some background:
Previous owner had a dealer install a rebuilt 4.3 from a reputable engine builder last September. Two hours were put on the engine before I bought the boat. I'm told the break in instructions were followed. I checked the oil at that point and it was fine. I put five hours on and needed to add a little over a quart at that time. (Rotella 20w40). I put four more hours on, and needed to add a little over a quart once again. I've now added 2.5 quarts, with eleven total hours on rebuild. I have yet to do the ten hour oil change, but I am planning on it. I understand high consumption is "normal" during break in, but I have no reference for normal or high, so I have no idea if this is acceptable? Someone told me a quart every 5-10 hours is acceptable during break in, is that correct, and at what point should that taper off? I would imagine the rings have already seated by this point.
In addition, there was a lot of milky oil in bilge when I bought the boat. Previous owner said it was from old engine. I just now cleaned it up and wiped engine down to check for more leaks. I let it idle for a few minutes on muffs, and wasn't able to find any leaks. Since it's still technically in the break in, i didn't want to idle on muffs for extended periods. Oil pressure varies (on the dash gauge) between 40 at cold start, to 80 under load, but never falls below 40, and is usually in the 60's. Engine does not sound bad or tap.
While wiping it down i noticed another problem. The flywheel housing has at least two lose bolts.This is starboard, aft, right behind the starter. I'm not a mechanic by any means, but I don't believe this is a sealed component, and therefore wouldn't be the cause of my oil loss, correct? Pictures attached.
The engine serial tag is not attached to the engine (it was mixed in with boat documentation). It does match the intake cover, both read OK147411, but I'm not sure if that is from the original engine or the new one. How I can tell? I suspect it's from the original engine because the parts diagram for that lists a remote oil filter, but the current, rebuilt engine, has a filter directly on the block. The rebuilt engine has a block casting number of 090, vortec heads, and 8 bolt intake.
At this point, my next step is going to be a compression test and check for blow by. Can anyone suggest anything else I should check. Do you consider my oil consumption at this point to be "normal"? Are the loose flywheel bolts cause for concern (other than a need to tighten them)?
Thanks!
