Correct Dip Stick Part Number

aero3113

YYZRC said:

Looks like mine was a June 2007 build.

YYZRC said:

I’m 1A030104 and 108

I wonder if the sequencing is different for horizon and thus the big difference in our serial numbers despite same build year?

@YYZRC , Mine’s an August of 08 build. That could be why the numbers are far off.

mattie

aero3113 said:

@mattie , I knew my 242 like the back of my hand. I want to feel the same way with my 330, it only made sense to me to go through everything.

Oh for sure...I'm the same.

Just trying to imagine how your boats' previous owner got into a situation that required a different dipstick. Must've got switched up at the 'dock dipstick party'.

lol

YYZRC

mattie said:

Just trying to imagine how your boats' previous owner got into a situation that required a different dipstick. Must've got switched up at the 'dock dipstick party'.

That's an awesome visual.  It would have to be a tall jar, maybe a vase??!

aero3113

I don’t think it got mixed up, I now believe it’s the correct dipstick for that engine, since the starboard stick shows way over full in the port side. Something must be different on the engine, weather it’s the length of the dipstick tube, where the tube inserts to the pan or it’s a different size pan. I don’t know. I could be wrong. Maybe I should remove the oil and see how much comes out.

Liberty44140

I would try to have a conversation with the PO. Perhaps there is a simple explanation that can either save you time and frustration or validate spending more time on this. 

Aqua_Aura

Is everything visually identical or is one dipstick tube in a different location? I doubt the PO knows anything since he had a mechanic doing it. Best bet is to pull the fluid and check quantity on the next change and also verify what you out in and check the reading. 

YYZRC

What good does checking the existing oil volume do if the dipstick is wrong and it was filled to the markings on the wrong dipstick?  That approach would only work if the correct amount of oil has always been added and maintained, which is highly unlikely over the course of 10 years.

Knowing that the engine blocks are the same, the only variables should be the capacity of the oil pan and the length/routing of the dipstick tube - perhaps someone knows where to find a part numbers on both to compare between engines (and against the online parts schematics)?

aero3113

@Liberty44140 , I don’t even think the PO would know how to check the oil let alone know what a dipstick is! LoL

@Aqua_Aura I think that is the only way I can 100% verify what’s going on. From what I can see everything looks identical.

aero3113

YYZRC said:

What good does checking the existing oil volume do if the dipstick is wrong and it was filled to the markings on the wrong dipstick?  That approach would only work if the correct amount of oil has always been added and maintained, which is highly unlikely over the course of 10 years.

Knowing that the engine blocks are the same, the only variables should be the capacity of the oil pan and the length/routing of the dipstick tube - perhaps someone knows where to find a part numbers on both to compare between engines (and against the online parts schematics)?

This was a barcode and number that is on the port engine, I looked it up but couldn’t find anything. Does it look familiar to anyone?

Aqua_Aura

I don't see that -9 dipstick come up for anything. Maybe that one is incorrect?

aero3113

@Aqua_Aura I believe 861942T-9 is the full part number for the -9 .

Spyderweb

aero3113 said:

YYZRC said:

Looks like mine was a June 2007 build.

YYZRC said:

I’m 1A030104 and 108

I wonder if the sequencing is different for horizon and thus the big difference in our serial numbers despite same build year?

@YYZRC , Mine’s an August of 08 build. That could be why the numbers are far off.

I find the serial # discussion interesting.  My boat is a November '07 build and engine serial # is 1A079623 (serial # missing off 2nd engine).  I don't see a particular pattern between the 3 330's.  Now I'm curious about my dipstick.

Aqua_Aura

Oh that makes more sense. 

Have you searched the 8M2021557 number. There is literally 1 Google result and it doesn't seem very reliable. Maybe that was put in on accident when the previous mechanic did an oil change. 

aero3113

@Aqua_Aura I noticed that with the 8M2021557 , very strange. Not much out there on it.

Aqua_Aura

https://www.mercruiserparts.com/861942t9-dipstick

This shows the engine that dipstick is used on maybe that helps. 

aero3113

Yes, I saw that and this show that part number for my serial number (#19). 

http://www.marineengine.com/parts/mercury_marine_parts/sn/1A316620/4442077UU/13884_140

aero3113

I looked things over and it looks like both tubes are the same length and enter the pan in the same spot. They sit a little different by the alternator but I think the starboard side has more of a bend to starboard. From what I can see both pans look the same. I did find more numbers on the pan, did a search and nothing came up. There’s a chance that no one ever knew that the dipstick was wrong and just added the correct quantity at oil changes. I bet the PO never checked the oil and would have his shop change the oil when needed. I think there is too much oil in there now because I was going by the dipstick. When I have time I’m going to suck the oil out and see how much I have in there. 

aero3113

So I sucked the oil out the port engine today,1 gallon came out. In fall I’m sure that’s what I put in because I bought 2 1 gallon jugs and a couple of quarts but didn’t use them. I wanted to run the engines in the spring to get the oil through the filter then top off. I put 4 quarts back in and it was at the Low mark, I put another quart in at it was right at the Full mark. I’m pretty sure our engines have 5 quart pans so I now believe that the shorter dipstick is correct for my port engine. I don’t know why it’s like this but I’m happy I know exactly how much oil I have in the engine now.

Liberty44140

2006 350 MAG pan is 4.5 qt, was 5.5 until around 02 or 03. I’d bet yours is 4.5qt.

aero3113

Liberty44140 said:

2006 350 MAG pan is 4.5 qt, was 5.5 until around 02 or 03. I’d bet yours is 4.5qt.

I’ll check the dipstick tomorrow and see where it’s at with all the oil drained into the pan.

aero3113

Check out this link for engine oil capacities. Some how mine must’ve got miss matched?

https://www.mercruiserparts.com/mercruiser-gas-engine-oil-capacity

reneechris14

I'm with liberty 4.5 quarts  because I put in 5qts its over the full line all year and like the past 3 years. 5qts it is.  05 350mag horizon 

aero3113

I would agree but 5 quarts is at my full mark. Somehow I have an older pan installed? Remember, if I use my starboard dipstick on the port side it’s way over the full mark, something’s  different.