Volvo Penta MD11c Oil Level

[Boatwright]

Volvo Penta MD11c Saildrive, Hinterhoeller Niagara 35

Manual says 3 quarts oil capacity

After draining all the old oil, and yes the crankcase is completely empty:

2 qts oil total will bring it up to the full mark on the dipstick -- checked with the dipstick screwed out, after starting and running the engine for a few minutes and then allowing the oil to drain back for several minutes.

According to the dipstick, 3 qts is way too much oil.

Questions:

Is this normal for this boat?

Do the MD11c saildrives in this boat have a shallower than stock oil pan? Or is it that with the saildrive the engine is mounted level which affects the dipstick reading? Since the oil pump intake is at the forward end of the pan it seems that 3 qts may be overfilling, and maybe the dipstick is right?

Is there a way to calibrate the dipstick? I do have the tool to remove the filter screen at the dipstick, and could measure the depth of oil from the bottom of the pan.

We have been running the boat for many years on 2 qts. with No problems, oil pressure right on spec., minimal oil consumption. We are getting ready to sell the boat and would like to pass on correct info to the new owner.

[Boatwright]

Re-reading the manual:

"Oil capacity, engine inclination 0°
(For inclined engines fill oil to the upper mark on dipstick)
Engine excl. filter 2.6 l (0.7 US galls 0.6 UK galls)"

That is 2.9gts. In our engine, 2qts fills to top of dipstick.

It seems that 1 qt per cylinder is a reasonable amount, considering one needs 5 qts for a small block V-8. I was always taught that overfilling is a bigger problem than low oil as long as there is no problem with oil pressure.

Opinions? Experience with this 47 year-old, still runs very well hunk of Swedish iron?

We use Rotella T-4, 10-40w oil, and do oil and filter changes every year at approx 100 hours.