The perkins diesel mystery may be solved after years.

[Shadow_storm56]

We bought a used perkins diesel a few years ago and put a water pump on it. Had to have the valve guides redone but nothing major. Always ran great but would somtimes build sump pressure under high load and burn oil over time. I had noticed the dip stick had broken off and welded back on before we got it.

So I had been using my little scope to look in the sump at the crank and the bottom of the pistons and accidentally managed to get right under the dip stick. I saw this.

In this picture you see whare the dipstick used to rub the case and now it's much shorter... this whole time I may have just been over filling. Now I have to find some way to find the amount it takes and then see whare it works out on the stick if it even touches it

 

[Motion]

When you checked the oil was the dipstick bottoming out or seated in the dipstick receiving tube? As always do as you feel is best. If the model and serial are available search Perkins for oil capacity and if an original dipstick is available. I'm certain Perkins didn't design the dipstick to touch the bottom of the crankcase, I suggest filing the dipstick so it doesn't touch the crankcase, then fill it to the proper level and remark the dipstick. If the proper level cannot be found I believe the level should be a little below the crankshaft throws. Good luck

 

[Shadow_storm56]

When you checked the oil was the dipstick bottoming out or seated in the dipstick receiving tube? As always do as you feel is best. If the model and serial are available search Perkins for oil capacity and if an original dipstick is available. I'm certain Perkins didn't design the dipstick to touch the bottom of the crankcase, I suggest filing the dipstick so it doesn't touch the crankcase, then fill it to the proper level and remark the dipstick. If the proper level cannot be found I believe the level should be a little below the crankshaft throws. Good luck

I'm assuming the dip stick was bent so it rubbed on the edge of the pan. The dipstick is original I think it's the tube that's messed up. At the level of the dipstick now the crank would be coming down into the oil quite a ways

 

[Shadow_storm56]

Going by the capacity I could find online which was 2.5 gallons... far less than I had been putting in it with the funky dip stick does appear to line up almost perfectly with the old mark on the inside of the pan

 

[JohnDB]

Going by the capacity I could find online which was 2.5 gallons... far less than I had been putting in it with the funky dip stick does appear to line up almost perfectly with the old mark on the inside of the pan

English gallons, or US gallons? One is 11.4 litres, the other is 9.5 litres... if the manual doesn't specify which units I'd look for cross checking - perhaps the manual also specifies the capacity in litres? With or without oil filter change etc?

 

[Shadow_storm56]

English gallons, or US gallons? One is 11.4 litres, the other is 9.5 litres... if the manual doesn't specify which units I'd look for cross checking - perhaps the manual also specifies the capacity in litres? With or without oil filter change etc?

Closest I could find for this old engine was posts online of people who had the same engine. They did not specify the type of gallon, although if I remember correctly the serial number put it to be made in the UK

 

[JimmyJazz]

I would buy a new dipstick and be done with it.

 

[Shadow_storm56]

I would buy a new dipstick and be done with it.

If I can find one

 

[JimmyJazz]

If I can find one

Cal Messicks. Probably have it 3 days.

 

[Shadow_storm56]

Cal Messicks. Probably have it 3 days.

A dipstick and tube from an engine built in 1980? Also I think they welded the tube to the base of the block when it broke so I'd have to see if I can even get it off