3116 Oil Capacity Survey

peterkvs

peterkvs

Active Member
Nov 11, 2012
511
Guntersville, Alabama
Boat Info
400 Sundancer 1999
Engines
3116 Cats, 1000 hours
i have 350 HP Cat 3116 engines in my 400 DA and according to the manual the engines should hold 26.5 qts of oil. The most I have ever been able to squeeze in there after and oil change is 24 qts. This time when I put in the oil I measured as follows

1.5 qts in filter
16 qts to bottom mark on dipstick
22.5 qts to top mark on dipstick
24 total

I was also really surprised that the range of the supposed safe range of the dipstick was 6.5 qts.

The dipsticks are marked with scratches to show the levels. Could they be wrong?

I don't think there is much residual oil remaining after I drain the engines. I sucked them dry with the crapo reverso pump, then tried sucking out through dipstick hole and got nothing. I also sucked on the reverso line while running the reverso pump, but got mostly air. Lastly after running the engines for ten minutes after the oil change the oil was still clear, so I don't think there is much mixing with it.

Thoughts/experiences?

Thanks,

Pete
 
I never broke it down to qts. I know each engine hold 6.5 gals. That's why I buy it by the 5 gal. pail.
 
Caterpillar specifies that the dip sticks are marked after the engine is set in the engine bed because many applications of marine engines require the engine to be mounted at a slight angle. The "scratches are file marks done at the initial oil fill before the engines are started.

My results are about like yours and I have no good reason why except to opine that the remaining oil we can't find is trapped in the engine. I do know that there is some left behind because I pour about a quart of fresh oil in my engines when pumping the old oil out in order to flush out the oil change system before pumping new oil in. There is enough old oil remaining in the engine to color the new oil slightly black, so I know there is some left in the oil galleries in the engine..........how much exactly, I do not know. But, I do know that my engines do not use or leak any oil.
 
Last edited:
Interesting trick Frank, where do you pour the oil in at? Hard to believe, Frank's is saying he's not sure of something on a CAT 3126! Just kidding of course...
 
In all of the engines I've ever done an oil change with, I have NEVER (that I can remember) gotten all of the "stated/spec'd" oil out. If you look at the percentage that you didn't get out, it is approximately the same as what is left in a small block gasser (for example). In addition to the nooks and crannies in the engine, horizontal surfaces, etc... any external oil lines (I'm not familiar with your engine, though) that you might have that wouldn't drain to either the engine or the filters would also hold some oil. Also, if you have an oil cooler, that might hold some, too (depending on how it's oriented). But since you're seeing pretty clear oil after a short run, it sounds like you're good to go. In my old 6.5TD, there's still enough old oil in there that it'll be black again in 5 minutes, even though I usually do the same thing that Frank is referencing about "wasting" a quart. There's just too many areas for old oil to stay.
 
fwebster said:
Caterpillar specifies that the dip sticks are marked after the engine is set in the engine bed because many applications of marine engines require the engine to be mounted at a slight angle. The "scratches are file marks done at the initial oil fill before the engines are started.

My results are about like yours and I have no good reason why except to opine that the remaining oil we can't find is trapped in the engine. I do know that there is some left behind because I pour about a quart of fresh oil in my engines when pumping the old oil out in order to flush out the oil change system before pumping new oil in. There is enough old oil remaining in the engine to color the new oil slightly black, so I know there is some left in the oil galleries in the engine..........how much exactly, I do not know. But, I do know that my engines do not use or leak any oil.
Click to expand...

I am changing my oil this week. Are you saying , after you drain the oil, add another quart of new oil then drain again?
 
Yes..........I drain all the oil out via the oil change pump, let the engine sit for 10-15 minutes, then cycle the pump until it sucks air again, then I pour a bout a qt of oil into the crankcase fill cap (not by reversing the oil change pump), let it sit a few minutes, then pump out whatever I can out with the oil change pump. The idea is to flush the old oil out of the oil change plumbing with fresh oil. If you dont and use the oil change pump to pump oil in to the engines, you are pumping about a quart of dirty oil back into the motor.
 
I just changed the oil last week and had similar results as the OP (but I didn't measure in quarts). I used a 5 gal bucket and another gal container to refill. So, I know there must be about a 1/2 gal that I couldn't get out. I like Frank's idea/method with flushing with a fresh quart. I wish I read this prior to my oild change last week. Oh well, next time.
 
I just suck the dirty oil out with the Reverso but I never use it to pump the new oil in. I pour that in from the top. That should be ok shouldn't it?
 
Me neither Woody. I would hate to lose an impeller blade going INTO the engine. Plus, 5 gallon pails are just too much trouble for me to haul/lift/lower into the ER, so I fill with gallon containers. Easier on the old body...I bought six 2 1/2 gallon containers and I use those to pump the old oil into. Easier for me to lift out then full 5 gallon pails of old oil. Easier to dump into the recycling tank. I do use Frank's 1 QT flush technique.
 
I'd say that this applies to many brands/models, not just your engine. It's just the nature of the design.


I also fill from the top by using either 1 gallon or 2 1/5 gallons cans, whichever are on sale when I by the oil. I'm not a big fan carrying 5g bucket all over.
 
I use the technology provided with the boat to fill the oil. I like Franks idea for using a quart or so to flush out some of the old oil. This will flush out old oil and fill the reverso hoses with fresh oil prior to filling. i see no need to hand pour new oil when I have equipment built in to do this for me.
 
Interesting stuff. Reminds me; this messy job is next on my list of things to do.
 
Stephens013 -

It's really not messy at all. I can take eight samples (3 oil, 3 A/F, and 2 transmissions), in 30 minutes; Change three engine and two transmission oils and filters in less than two hours using the oil change system and pouring in fluids; another 20 minutes for fuel filters, and I have done what my dealer charges well over $1000 labor plus well over $1000 for parts/oil. And I enjoy it! (How sick is that!!!!). My last three fall services have not spilled a drop in my bilge. $250 for samples and filters from CAT and $250 for oil...
 
True, not messy at all as long as you don't spill oil from the port engine's oil filter. Make sure you drain the oil then replace the filter before you refill. I remove the filters with a plastic bag around them just in case.
 
I've found that if I wait about 15 minutes after I suck the oil out with the Reverso, the filters will come off without spilling any oil...
 
All of my filters are on the inboard side of both engines so spills are easy to control by slipping a plastic bag up over the old filters. I cram a diaper up under the fuel and oil filters just in case because cleaning up a diesel oil or fuel spill isn't fun.
 
I do the same thing but my port filter is tough to get at. My first rodeo resulted in many shop towels being used to clean up the oil! It is amazing how a cup of oil can make such a mess...
 
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