Oil levels in marine engine

[frankiee]

This has to do with a ship engine but I will post here because I think this site is more engine specific.
The company I work with which has mostly EMD 16 cylinder and Fairbank Morse 8 cylinder engines, has a habit of keeping the oil level low in effort to burn less lubrication oil.
I hate the idea. They seem to keep the oil on the add mark of even a bit under then just add 20 to 40 liters.
I am a 4th class and new there so I cant say anything but I think that it is wrong.
On the dip stick there is a add mark and a full mark and I would keep it on the full mark.
I am quite sure the engineer already compensated for waves of the seas.
I don't doubt that the engines burn more oil when kept up in level, but I think that is the amount they burn and lowering the level in the oil pan is just compensating for poor oil control rings.
I would like to hear what anybody has to say.

 

[ivymike]

well, oil control rings aren't the most important ones for oil control, generally speaking... These days the top compression ring is the most important for oil control on most engines... but if these engines are the two-stroke variety with two rings at the bottom of the piston and four at the top, then the OC ring below the ports may be more important than OC rings typically are.

Aside from that, they're improving oil consumption at the expense of a little bit of additional wear. Since the little bit of additional wear will eventually result in increased oil consumption (and finally a rebuild), I'm not sure it's that big of a problem.

 

[Zapster]

I see no problems operating an engine with the oil level at the add mark; however, this requires constant inspection and addition of oil to maintain the low level. The engine was designed to operate with the oil at this level through the full level. The engineer that designed the lubrication system determined a suitable range for the oil level; and as long as the oil remains within that level range it is ok.

With that being said, my experience is that typically the lower oil level only helps reduce oil being carried out of the crankcase ventilation system. Sometimes an air/oil separator may help; however, make sure that separator does not dump water condensates back into the oil sump (keep the separator hot enough not to condense the water).

 

[Fabrico]

Not a shiphand, but could it have something to do with a higher oil level accumulating somewhere while the engine is at rest, perhaps causing a problem after starting?

 

[CapeNor]

I recognise the situation:

Low oil level was used for lower oil consumption (I don't think that realy works). In case of an oil leak, the alarm will go off faster, so less oil will be lost.
When the oil gets contaminated (gasoil leaks in the sump), less oil needs to be replaced...

But my experience, biggest oil consumer was and still is that old purifier! Like I said the chief engineer, if you wanna save lub oil, buy a new purifier!

He was really angry about that statement