Checking Oil Level In 2006 SANTE

[AuMDLST]

Went out on the boat this weekend and low oil pressure indicated with alarms - noticed oil pressure was almost non existant then returned - mostly bounced around - PCM 330 motor - I read previous post about electrical fitting which has similar reaction - Dealer maintains boat and it has been 40 hours since last visit - checked oil level on water and no oil present on dip stick - checked again on trailer after leaving water and had very little oil - well below the low level mark - what is proper way to check oil level and where would the oil have gone - no sign of oil in bilge - only slight oil residue on filter and manifold -overall engine time is 140 hours - could the motor burn the oil off? no sign of smoke exhaust either

[DanielC]

I believe the Excaliber 330 engine should hold 5 quarts of oil with an oil change. Ask your service person how much they put in. It is your responsibility to check the oil levels. The procedure I would use is to check the level with the boat level in the parking lot before you start the engine. The level should be at or very near the full mark on the dipstick, because the engine has not been run for a while. Above the full mark a little is ok. launch and then start the boat, and let it run for a while, then shut the engine down. Within a minute of shutting the engine down, the oil level should be between the "add" and "full" marks on the dipstick.
The dipstick design may have changed by 2006, in 2003 the dipstick was hard to get in all the way. It has to go around two bends to go in all the way. The dipstick has a curve, and it will start around the first bend easy, or harder. Put the dipstick in the way that is harder at first, the dipstick will go around the second bend easier that way.

[BP22]

When I changed the oil & filter on my 06 I put in 4 quarts. I filled it, ran it on the trailer for about 5 mins, checked it (it was at the full line). The next time out I ran the boat for about 20 mins and checked it in the water. It was at the full line so I was happy.

[Quinner]

The Xcal on our 05' has always taken 5 quarts with each oil/filter change, it has always maintained a full level between changes which are typically 40-45hr intervals. My dipstick is also a PIA going back in, exactly as Daniel described above.

[AuMDLST]

The boat is used just about every weekend - even in the winter - is it possible to burn off that much oil over just a couple of weeks? - oil levels have been fine in the past - usually checking on the trailer - I am wondering about the 15 degree or so down angle of the vdrive - does the motor need to be level or just the boat itself?

[Haulingboat]

I was wondering why the dipstick had a bend on the tip. I was going to squeeze it in my vice to flatten it back out. Now I'm glad I didn't.

[myrtlebeachrider]

I went through the same situations and now I'm on my 3rd engine. My boat (2005 SANTE)was loosing oil and it was no where to be found. During the off season I had it sent back to pcm. They determined I didn't drive the boat hard enough to break it in. They polished, honed and new seals and sent it back. It started loosing oil again some of it was in the bilge this time. Pcm replaced it with a "test" engine that was already broken in with no hours. So far I haven't had any problem except the alternator was rusted up when they put the motor in.