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View Poll Results: How bad is it?
Screwed! 1 4.00%
Fine! 24 96.00%
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Old 28-06-2019, 10:06   #1
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Lost 1 liter of oil. Screwed?

Hey!

I'd like your opinion on how screwed my engine is. Likely not?

I changed oil on a new to me (250hrs) Volvo Penta D1-20 this winter. I pumped it out via the drainage pipe below the dip stick pipe. I apparently put the rubber hat back on bad.

After 3 hours of running time I found said hat popped off and 1L of oil under the engine, still the rest of it left in the pan. Engine oil capacity is 2.8L.

I have had no warnings on the instrument and the engine has been running on max 2200 rpm. I have now changed to fresh oil, draining all the old one. still have not started it.

How screwed am I?
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Old 28-06-2019, 10:12   #2
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Re: Lost 1 liter of oil. Screwed?

Time will tell, but you may be fine. When you changed the oil was there any unusual smell to it? Particularly any sort of a burnt odor? Did the oil come out clean?

If no warnings and the oil that came out looked good I would get a few hours on it keeping the RPM somewhat low then do another oil change. I'd also change the filter and cut it open and examine the filter element looking for any metal.

Hope it works out,

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Old 28-06-2019, 10:19   #3
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Re: Lost 1 liter of oil. Screwed?

As long as you never lost pressure, you should be fine! I agree to check out your filter at next oil change...But what can you do? You may have gotten a little extra wear on your bearing sufaces. As long as you have decnt pressure and temp. , run it. Good luck
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Old 28-06-2019, 10:40   #4
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Re: Lost 1 liter of oil. Screwed?

Don’t make a habit of it, but I think you will be fine.
Maybe consider changing the oil as a low level will get it hotter, and if I were worried I’d cut open and inspect the oil filter for metallic particles.
But that is if your really Anal, most would just add oil back to the level and be fine.
A lot of it is how hard were you running it, if you had the throttle pinned then it’s more likely you at least ought to change the oil, if just a normal 2000 RPM cruise, then I’d bet lunch no harm at all.
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Old 28-06-2019, 10:55   #5
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Re: Lost 1 liter of oil. Screwed?

In my opinion you are fine I wouldn't give it another thought. As long as you didn't lose oil pressure no damage has been done. The other 1.8L of oil picked up the slack.

Personally I would have topped it up and carried on.
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Old 28-06-2019, 12:32   #6
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Re: Lost 1 liter of oil. Screwed?

Quote:
Originally Posted by sailah View Post
Personally I would have topped it up and carried on.

Me, too.



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Old 28-06-2019, 13:34   #7
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Re: Lost 1 liter of oil. Screwed?

I'm pretty far from a diesel mechanic, but that seems trivial. You caught it pretty early and replaced the oil again.
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Old 28-06-2019, 15:07   #8
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Re: Lost 1 liter of oil. Screwed?

Another vote for fine
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Old 28-06-2019, 19:41   #9
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Re: Lost 1 liter of oil. Screwed?

Another vote for fine as long as yr oil pressure alarm is working. Good you changed oil as it likely got a fair bit hotter than usual tho to a damaging level?? Who knows?
I doubt it at 2200 rpm but for 3 litres who cares?
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Old 28-06-2019, 22:12   #10
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Re: Lost 1 liter of oil. Screwed?

I too doubt if there was any damage at all, and probably no harm to the remaining oil.

When buying an then eventually disposing of 9 liters of oil in our Kubota I feel slightly grumpy. When I hear stories like this, the grump vanishes! Loss of a liter wouldn't even raise an eyebrow or likely induce replenishment if near the change time!

Glad you caught it soon enough!

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Old 29-06-2019, 09:10   #11
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Re: Lost 1 liter of oil. Screwed?

One more vote for no harm done. The key is whether you lost pressure. Do you have a pressure gage or an audible "idiot horn"? What did they tell you?

Going down 1/3 of specification capacity twixt changes is not uncommon on old tired engines, so most likely there is nothing to worry about.

But if you still can't sleep at night, whyn't you just do a standard oil change? Carefully ;-)?

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Old 29-06-2019, 09:27   #12
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Re: Lost 1 liter of oil. Screwed?

And here all along I thought I was the dummie! On our trip from SF to BC we were stuck in Ft. Bragg for a week so my son & I did an oil change. I was thankful to have a helping hand, 'cuz I'd been doing it solo for the past 18 years. Having him hold the outlet of the pump in the empty jug was really great. Did it in record time.


Somewhere in Oregon I realized it'd gone so quickly 'cuz I'd forgotten to change the filter after we sucked the old oil out. Ha!


When I mentioned it to a friend, he said, "Oh, I only change filters every other oil change."


I think you're fine, but then again, consider the source...
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Old 29-06-2019, 09:34   #13
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Lost 1 liter of oil. Screwed?

Used to be common advice from auto manufacturers to change filters every other change.
Filters really only catch big pieces, that can’t filter very fine and still be full flow at their size.
I know there is no harm, and it’s likely more economical, but I just can’t not change the filter.

On some engines the difference between the add oil mark and the full mark is real close to a Liter.
Bigger oil capacity extends oil change intervals and helps keep temps down, but often what is called the minimum safe bearing limit is awfully small, it was something crazy like 2 quarts on my IO-540 airplane engine, that normally held 8 qts I believe.
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Old 29-06-2019, 15:47   #14
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Re: Lost 1 liter of oil. Screwed?

Continue but check it very often for the next 2, 10, 30 & 90 minutes just in case crankcase pressure blew it out? Once saw a Cat bulldozer do that after the opposition spiced his oil...........
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Old 29-06-2019, 19:06   #15
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Re: Lost 1 liter of oil. Screwed?

Quick question, how much oil do you add between the ADD and FULL marks on your dipstick? The answer may be all you need.
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