No oil showing on dipstick

[jarvis78]

I have a 2007 super air 210 and I checked my oil before starting the boat and it read full, but when I went to check it again after running across the lake, there was no oil on the dipstick..is this normal??

[AirTool]

If you checked it with the engine running? ....it is fairly normal. (...and not the proper way.)

If the engine was off ....for at least five minutes or so, it is NOT normal. (This is the proper way to check the oil.)

PS - when you check an auto's oil with the engine running, the dipstick is usually covered with oil (super full) because of the splashing. On a marine engine, it is usually clean because the dipstick tube extends down to the bottom of the pan so the oil can be sucked out 99%. The tube hides the dipstick and it can come out clean.

Forgive me if it appears I'm accusing you of, you know....but it is early in the season and we are all a bit green.

[jarvis78]

That's what I figured..because I changed the oil before winterize and all my gauges are reading correct.

[RideButter]

I had this on our 07 with ex330. (scared the heck outta me the first time I looked at it)
With a hot motor you should see oil reappear on that stick pretty quickly as oil runs back down to the pan. The concern here is sludge or blockage, but if you have a good maintenance history, I wouldn't be too concerned.

[AirTool]

That's what I figured..because I changed the oil before winterize and all my gauges are reading correct.

Are you confirming the engine was NOT running while you checked the oil the second time? I'll admit I did that one time after checking the tranny and it scared the heck out of me to see no oil on the stick.

[jarvis78]

Are you confirming the engine was NOT running while you checked the oil the second time? I'll admit I did that one time after checking the tranny and it scared the heck out of me to see no oil on the stick.

I checked it while the engine was cold before going to the lake and it read normal. I then checked again while the engine was running after driving across the lake and there was nothing on the stick.

[skiinxs]

I checked it while the engine was cold before going to the lake and it read normal. I then checked again while the engine was running after driving across the lake and there was nothing on the stick.

Had you run the engine after winterizing and changing the oil prior to checking? The reason I ask is if you changed the oil and did not prime the filter and did not restart the engine the oil could have shown on the stick, but after starting and filling up the filter, it wold be around a quart lower.
Dave

[AirTool]

I then checked again while the engine was running after driving across the lake and there was nothing on the stick.

Okay, that validates the theory in my first post. You cannot check the oil while the engine is running. Turn it off and wait at least a minute. I wait five minutes if I'm topping off and want to be precise.

[AB]

There is a low oil sensor that automatically puts your engine in limp mode (basically idle only) and a red light on the dash turns on, if it is sensing a low oil pressure situation. that assumes that the sensor is working! I know from experinece. When I changed oil filters for winter, the gasket of the old one ripped off and stayed on the motor, so when I put the new oil filter on, it didn't seal properly. I didn't start the boat up until the next spring, and I ended up with the boat going into limp mode after a few passes, and a bilge full of oil. What a mess. Now I check the gasket every time..

[DanielC]

The engine has a Positive Crankcase Ventilation system. The crankcase is at a slight vacuum when the engine is running. If you pull the oil dipstick, the crankcase vacuum may draw the oil out of the dipstick tube, that does go to the bottom of the pan.

The proper way to check the oil level in a boat is to float it, and before you load up the ballast tanks, with the boat level, run the engine, and then shut it off. Wait about a minute, a little longer if the engine is still cold, and then check the oil level. While the engine is running, look at the oil filter, to make sure it is not leaking from a double gasket, or other problem.

Ford engines are a little more tolerant of being overfilled, but it is NOT recommended you over fill them. My GT-40 takes 4.5 quarts of oil, with a filter change, you GM guys can chime in on your oil capacity.