Mercruiser 4.3 added 4qts Still below ADD mark

[Kubaat3lover]

hello,
ive got 2005 4.3 Mercruiser TKS (with Mercarb),
The problem is since I own a boat i have got drain plug oil system, changed oil put 4qts and its still below ADD mark... any ideas why? I’ve got proper dipstick according to the catalog...
thank You...

 

[alldodge]

Manual 32 list 5 1/2 quarts to due a full change with filter
Add a remote oil filter and may take a tad more. Manual also says always use the dip stick

 

[Kubaat3lover]

Hey, manual 32 is for MPi if I’m correct?
mine TKS takes 4qts as far as I know?.,..
my serial is 0W326935

 

[alldodge]

Agree, manual 25 list 4 1/2 quart bt also says always use dipstick

That said looked up MPI and Carb (not everyone but some on each side) and both use oil pan 804912T02

 

[Kubaat3lover]

does it mean 5 1/2 qts??
also there are weird dipstick lengths in the manuals, mine is 20.25” which I couldn’t find in the manual... but this one is correct when speaking to other owner with that engines from 2006 and he’s got 4qts

 

[Rick Stephens]

I'm a bit different. The manual says 4.5 Qts, that's what I put in. I don't care what the dip stick says, on my engine the stick says I am 3/8ths of an inch too high. That's where I run it. I want 4.5 quarts of oil in there.

 

[alldodge]

Here is what I found using your serial number (item 19)

Closed cooling uses a dipstick of 30.25 inches

Open cooling uses a dipstick of 2.50 inches

https://www.mercruiserparts.com/bam/subassembly/31492/11812/140

 

[Kubaat3lover]

Yes I’ve got -16 number....
im wondering if maybe something is stuck in the dipstick blocking the proper measurement? Maybe I’ll try to remove it after the season... or use magnet to check it or use wire to see how it long it goes into the dipstick tube

No more ideas...,

 

[Kubaat3lover]

No one?

 

[alldodge]

Measure the dipstick tube
Standard 24 inch
Closed 30.5 inch

This brings up another issue which does not make since
Standard dipstick 21.5 and tube 24 = 2.5 inch above the tube
Closed dipstick 30.25 and tube 30.5 = .25 inch above the tube

Probably another misprint

From manuals 32 and 25

 

[Kubaat3lover]

Hello all again, the season is coming soon and I will be struggling again with this issue,
My dipstick is totally different than the one in the manual BUT the part number is according to the one from Mercruiser catalog...

 

[Rick Stephens]

Remark your stick. Put the required amount of oil in according to engine serial number - make sure you have the right oil pan as a change there can change volume requirements. Pour in your 4 or 4.5 Qts of oil and make a new mark on your stick.

 

[QBhoy]

I’ve had 3 4.3 GM’s. All of them took just about or just under 5l of oil, including the filter. Not sure these days to be fair. But made me question the idea of my larger v8 gm mpi only requiring just over 4l of oil. Weird I think.

 

[Kubaat3lover]

Ive poured 4L now incl filter

 

[Kenfred]

Measure the dipstick tube
Standard 24 inch
Closed 30.5 inch

This brings up another issue which does not make since
Standard dipstick 21.5 and tube 24 = 2.5 inch above the tube
Closed dipstick 30.25 and tube 30.5 = .25 inch above the tube

Probably another misprint

From manuals 32 and 25

View attachment 313617View attachment 313618

I’ve run into a similar issue myself with the oil level/dipstick length. From what I can figure out I need the dipstick on the right in manual 25 but when I run the part number 75851 I come up empty handed.

 

[Kenfred]

I’ve run into a similar issue myself with the oil level/dipstick length. From what I can figure out I need the dipstick on the right in manual 25 but when I run the part number 75851 I come up empty handed.

Sorry the dipstick on the left

 

[Kenfred]

Hello all again, the season is coming soon and I will be struggling again with this issue,
My dipstick is totally different than the one in the manual BUT the part number is according to the one from Mercruiser catalog...

I’m having the same problem, have you had any luck figuring it out?

 

[Kubaat3lover]

No nothing...

 

[Kenfred]

So the best I can figure out is that we have the dipstick for the raw water cooling system(201/4”) and the tube for the closed cooling system 30.5”. But the dipstick for the closed cooling system doesn’t read proper, go figure. I ordered the dipstick tube for the raw water cooling system (24”). Its ten days away and 95$ but I’ll install it and report back to let you know.

 

[Kubaat3lover]

Thanks, im not from US so the parts are not cheap to experiment, i will appreciate your Imput, thanks!