westriverboater
Cadet
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2017
- Messages
- 20
Looking for any insight into an issue that has been going on since last August with a rebuilt engine that is burning over a litre of oil to a ¼ tank of gas. Sorry long story coming up.
2002 Wellcraft Excaliber 190
4.3L Volvo Penta GL engine
SX drive.
Last year the original engine hydrolocked I had to replace it. I never was comfortable with the diagnosis that it was a cracked cylinder - likely due to poor winterization. Anyway I found a locally rebuilt engine from a reputable tech with over 30 years of experience and had him install it.
On the initial install we used the heads of my old engine because they had just been resurfaced. While the engine seemed to work well it sucked oil like crazy. On the first drive it went almost dry! In the driveway, it would spue out black sooty oil through the exhaust with a small rev of the engine. Boat went back to shop and they took it apart to check rings, clearances, piston wall - all was good. They replace the heads with the originals for the engine and this got rid of the sooty oil but it still burnt over a litre of oil every outing. Tech said to monitor and perhaps the rings need more time to seat. Fall came and the boat went to storage.
Fast forward this spring, I have another local tech check it out….. Compression was good, oil pressure was good, engine runs very smooth and very quiet. Only thing he noted was he couldn’t get the engine up to temp so he asked me to monitor it on the water.
So this spring I have been out about a half dozen times. The engine works very well, there is not signs of oil burn or leaking in the bilge or out the exhaust, but as mentioned the oil burn continued.
Both techs are now talking to each other and are at a loss for what is happening. Took it into the shop this past weekend and had them check it over again. They did replace the thermostat, which was sticking, but could not see any reason for the oil consumption. Plugs all look good with no evidence of oil burn. The only thing they noted was the oil was really black when they changed it - which puzzled them because the oil should be fresher.
Anyway, just back in from a run with it and the problem still exists. Will be going head to head soon with the tech that sold me the engine but any insights would be appreciated.
Oh, we are currently using 25-40 oil in it, also tried SAE 30 and another kind which I can’t recall - none of these are synthetic.
If I missed anything ask away.
2002 Wellcraft Excaliber 190
4.3L Volvo Penta GL engine
SX drive.
Last year the original engine hydrolocked I had to replace it. I never was comfortable with the diagnosis that it was a cracked cylinder - likely due to poor winterization. Anyway I found a locally rebuilt engine from a reputable tech with over 30 years of experience and had him install it.
On the initial install we used the heads of my old engine because they had just been resurfaced. While the engine seemed to work well it sucked oil like crazy. On the first drive it went almost dry! In the driveway, it would spue out black sooty oil through the exhaust with a small rev of the engine. Boat went back to shop and they took it apart to check rings, clearances, piston wall - all was good. They replace the heads with the originals for the engine and this got rid of the sooty oil but it still burnt over a litre of oil every outing. Tech said to monitor and perhaps the rings need more time to seat. Fall came and the boat went to storage.
Fast forward this spring, I have another local tech check it out….. Compression was good, oil pressure was good, engine runs very smooth and very quiet. Only thing he noted was he couldn’t get the engine up to temp so he asked me to monitor it on the water.
So this spring I have been out about a half dozen times. The engine works very well, there is not signs of oil burn or leaking in the bilge or out the exhaust, but as mentioned the oil burn continued.
Both techs are now talking to each other and are at a loss for what is happening. Took it into the shop this past weekend and had them check it over again. They did replace the thermostat, which was sticking, but could not see any reason for the oil consumption. Plugs all look good with no evidence of oil burn. The only thing they noted was the oil was really black when they changed it - which puzzled them because the oil should be fresher.
Anyway, just back in from a run with it and the problem still exists. Will be going head to head soon with the tech that sold me the engine but any insights would be appreciated.
Oh, we are currently using 25-40 oil in it, also tried SAE 30 and another kind which I can’t recall - none of these are synthetic.
If I missed anything ask away.
