Iveco Marine Diesel Engines, Installation Handbook

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7.3 OIL QUANTITY AND LEVEL DIPSTICK
The oil quantities suggested in the repair and use and maintenance manuals refer to the engine that is
set up in horizontal position or slightly tilted.
The use of engines that are set up with inclination angles that are not considered in the installation
instructions, require accurate testing of the exact quantity of oil needed.
The quantity of oil in the engine oil sump is checked with the level dipstick. Due to the importance of
the presence and level of oil in the oil sump, a frequent and careful control is required.
The engines that are set up with an inclination angle different to the ones specified in the manuals
require specific oil level dipsticks.
It is possible to choose the side to place the dipstick in some versions.
CAUTION
■
When choosing how to install an engine, make sure that the dipstick can be easily reached to
check the level of oil daily.
■
An excessive level of oil may cause the formation of foam, a temperature increase and extra oil
consumption.
■
An extremely low level of oil may lead to a partial or a total oil pressure drop and, consequently,
to the engine wear and tear or jamming.
7.4 LOW PRESSURE SIGNALLING
Engine lubrication is so important to require the setting up of an oil low-pressure sensor located on
the engine block and connected to the main lubrication conduit, that activates a visual and/or an
acoustic signal.
The signal must be activated with a suitable delay to avoid alarms during transient periods; an electronic
timer may be used, for example.
NOTE
Proper signalling which prompts intervention avoids serious damage to the engine.
7.5 PERIODIC CHANGE
The main cause of lubricant oil degradation is the engine running condition; other contributing factors
are the following:
■
The overheated functioning during long periods reduces the oil resistance to oxidation and increas-
es the quantity of insoluble pollutants that constitute a residual oil, which causes the filter wear and
tear and obstruction.
■
The fuel pollution caused by the fuel dissolved by the lubricant reduces its viscosity and changes its
characteristic.This is generally attributed to poor maintenance of the injection device.
■
Water pollution causes an extreme reduction of the oil lubricant property due to the fact that both
substances are impossible to be mixed.
■
In countries in which diesel oil contains ≥ 0.5% of sulphur, oil change intervals should be reduced
to the half, with respect to the instructions described for each engine.
To substitute the oil easily, IVECO engines are fitted with a special pump, shown in fig. 2, which is con-
nected to the bottom of the oil sump through a pipe that leads to the oil drain plug.
MARCH 2004 LUBRICATION
7.78
MARINE ENGINES INSTALLATION