5 quarts of oil in 10 hours?

[jschnip]

Has anyone ever seen an engine that used 5 quarts of oil between hours 70 and 80 on the engine? No oil in the bilge, no smoke from the engine - where did the oil go? How often does everyone check their oil level? The manual says to check before starting, and I've recently been told to check twice daily when using the boat.

FYI - If you have a MEFI 4 computer (2006 22ve has MEFI 4), there is no oil level alarm, however the newer MEFI 5 will sound your alarm if you have a low oil condition.

The engine in question is a 2007 340HP, 5.7L Marine Power

[chpthril]

How did you determine the consumption to be 5 qts in a period of 10 engine hours? The block only holds 5 qts.

[Timmy!]

I guess if he had to add 5 quarts in 10 hours, that would mean that it had used 5 quarts.

I haven't heard of one using that much oil, mine hasn't used any past about 20 hours.

[jschnip]

Checked the oil at 70 hours, it was full. 2 weeks and 10 engine hours later, the engine threw a rod, actually 3 rods shattered. Marine Power will not cover under warranty because they say the engine was ran without proper lubrication, aka, there was no oil in the engine. MP explained to me that I need to check the oil twice daily when running the boat; both MP and Tige referenced the manual which states that the operator should check their oil before each use. We did not see any indication on the oil pressure gauge or experience any alarm (however we have a MEFI 4 computer which doesn't alarm). Had someone explained to me that the engine could loose all of its oil in 10 hours, I would have been checking hourly. I'm sure I will in the future - since I am now stuck with the bill for an unexplainable problem.

[chpthril]

Sorry about your misfortune, that kind of oil consumption is almost impossible, it had to go somewhere.

When was the last oil change? 70 hrs would have been the time for the 2nd service.

[jschnip]

The engine's first oil change was after the first season at 30 hours during winterization - so yes, it needed a 2nd oil change which is why I know exactly when I checked the oil level. We only had 30 hours on it that first summer because of all the flooding here in Iowa, so when I checked it at 70 hours I didn't change it, but I put it on my rainy day to-do list. I guess those 2 weeks without rain in July really had some bad karma attached to them.

I'm dammed if it rains ('08-flooded out my home, my wedding, and my business) and I'm dammed if it doesn't rain ('09-engine explodes). If I didn't love the water so much, I think I would be done with it.

Sorry - not trying to have a pity party, just hoping everyone else is checking their oil frequently so this doesn't happen to anyone else.

Oh and if anyone is curious as to why a 2006 Tige had a 2007 engine, the first engine threw a rod at 80 hours, end of our first season in 2007 (bought the boat new in 11/2006). That engine did not have a lack of oil and was determined to be defective, thus replaced under warranty.

[Timmy!]

WTH? This is the second engine in this boat? That's just nuts!

[da.bell]

The bilge doesn't have any oil in it? Check the engine to see if there might be a seal leak.

Something does sound odd here.

[jschnip]

The bilge didn't have much oil in it, just a small amount. I would check the engine, but I took it to the dealer right away (back in July). They pulled it and sent to Marine Power for review, so now MP has it.

[Timmy!]

Nice pic of the connecting rod there! Yikes!

[Fuh Sho]

noooooooooo that sucks

[JGR]

OUCH!

So sorry for ya...............

[Tanner]

Mine did the exact same thing. Mine didn't make it through the oil pan though. Just beat the pan all to hell. Actually I have the original motor in the bed of my truck this second and is heading to the freight company in the morning to be shipped back.

What happened, is you threw a rod, you then dumped all your oil out your exhaust system as the engine continued to turn. You DID NOT run your motor out of oil and this cause your problem.

Mine was the #6 cylinder that puked it's guts. I think someone else had the same cylinder as me, in the same model year of boat as us, puke it's guts as well.

[somebodyelse5]

wow. really hope you get that sorted out! 2 motors is just redic!

Ill be checkin my oil more!

[jschnip]

What happened, is you threw a rod, you then dumped all your oil out your exhaust system as the engine continued to turn. You DID NOT run your motor out of oil and this cause your problem.

This sounded logical - another boater was passing us at the time and saw the smoke and our hood go up, so I never checked the water for an oil slick. I emailed my dealer this morning - according to them, this is not possible. Anyone else ever hear of this problem? or know the feasibility of a thrown rod dumping all the oil out of the exhaust?

I've attached the pictures the dealer sent to me from MP today - which they say proves that the above scenario isn't possible.