I've been getting an intermittent alarm on my starboard engine when running, and now it's pretty constant. I believe it's an oil pressure alarm, but the gauge shows it's perfect. Could it be a bad alarm? Sensor? Any ideas on where to start will be appreciated!
I'm guessing it's a catch-all bell going off that is your alarm. Are you noticing an oil light blinking? Boat brand? When you shift at idle, At idle, at low or higher rpm? Cold, Hot? Using what weight oil? CF2 oil? Were going to need some of these extra details to help. For example, my Bertram uses fuel pressure to arm low or high speed oil pressure alarms. Old Hat's did this on another path. Old Hat's used the same alarm for clutch pressure, so when fast shifting, you never knew if it was a clutch or main oil alarm chirping. The more details you can offer, the better we can help without a lot of guessing. ,rc
It's an 88 Ocean 55SS. It started happening at idle, in gear, but now is going pretty much all the time after the engine is warm. I'm a bit new to it, so ask anything - I'll answer everything I can but I just don't know everything I should add. Thanks!
Just at idle? What oil specs? Hours on engine and oil. RPM at idle in gear? Clears with a little throttle?
Originally it cleared with a little throttle. It happened when I put it in gear and the RPM dropped a bit. It's now happening at just about any RPM. It's my first year on the boat, but the PO says he used straight 40 weight, DD oil.
It it low or you added oil? Level should be checked many hours after shut down. Level rite at the full line. API CF-2 ONLY oil @ 40 wt. Or, have you noticed the oil level coming up? So, far, you may just have a oil alarm switch messing up but it's a boat engine. Lets keep going and make sure.
I check the oil before every run and top up as needed. I didn't check before yesterday's ride back to the dock though, so that could be an issue. The engines do burn a bit of oil after long runs, so I was advised by the PO to check before every trip.
Start ohming out all of the alarm senders and inspect the connections at the same time. You should have about 4 per engine: oil pressure, coolant temp, gear pressure, gear temp.
After these long runs, when do you check the oil, Many hours later / next morning OR a few minutes after shutting down?
capt j, is it possible or likely that I have a different sensor for the alarm and gauge? Maybe the alarm sensor is bad?
If your oil pressure gauge shows correct pressure, it sounds like the alarm sender is bad. replace the sender or as a test swap with the other engine. Or test it with a meter
At least two senders for the oil pressure system. One to the gauge(s) and one (or more) to the alarms. Just remove the wire from the smaller (NC, normally closed) sender. If you find two small pressure switches, try one at a time. Foaming oil (wrong or overfill oil) will cause these alarms. Dual oil pressure switches armed by fuel pressure; the fuel pressure switch may be arming to early.