I hate to sound like the Grinch, and I just know that I am going to, but…
I don’t know what engine you have (presume it is a Yanmar), and I know that most of us ignore the proper procedure from time to time, but I can virtually guarantee that your owner’s manual calls for you to check the oil level before you start the engine each time. I ignore proper procedure myself; my typical practice is to not check if I will be motoring for 15 or 20 minutes but to always check before and after any periods when I run the engine for an hour or more. And I check the engine oil and coolant on OPB’s I am delivering and on charters every morning before the client gets up. And “the middle of the safe zone” is really a low oil situation. Your dipstick is most likely in the back end of the oil pan and the engine is installed at a 10 to 15 degree slant. “Middle of the safe range” might be as low as a quart of oil. When I fill my Universal with the required 3 ½ quarts of oil during an oil change, the oil level is above the top mark on the dipstick by a significant margin. Think of the marks as: Top – OK, full; Bottom – shut down the engine; and In Between – add oil. The possibility of a lower than optimal oil level, combined with the long run at high RPMs and an older engine would seem to make the earlier suggestion that the oil was not circulating back to the oil pan sufficiently to keep the oil pressure above the alarm level a fairly plausible explanation of the behavior you described. I suspect the behavior you report for the alarm and light is another manifestation of the wiring problems typical of Yanmar panels. You report 40 or so hours of engine use in the last 20 days. If use has been like this since May, you are due for an oil change about now anyway (I can’t recall if a Yanmar is every 50 hours or every 100). I’d change the oil and filter, being sure to fully top off the oil, and look at the wiring harness to identify the corrosion or loose connection causing the erratic operation of the alarm. Then see if the situation reappears in the future Rick Brass Washington, NC Formerly Yanmar and Cummins certified technician and trainer for a forklift manufacturer From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Hoyt, Mike via CnC-List Sent: Monday, August 10, 2015 3:29 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Hoyt, Mike <mike.h...@impgroup.com> Subject: Re: Stus-List 3GM30F Oil Pressure warning Rich Me too! I checked the level on the dipstick immediately after stopping engine. Was middle of “safe” zone. Plan to change oil and filter on the weekend, remove panel, check wiring and check oil pressure. Boat had done a motor sail from Halifax to St Peters July 23-24 (25 hours motor) , St Peters to Dundee July 25 (mostly sail), Dundee to Baddeck Aug 2 (5.5 hrs mostly motor). Every day last week motor on for 20-30 minutes going to race and 10 coming back. Then the next day 5.5 hrs Baddeck to Dundee (motor) . I cannot call this a period of little use. There was another boat named Indigo in Baddeck last week BTW Mike Persistence From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Knowles Rich via CnC-List Sent: Monday, August 10, 2015 4:24 PM To: cnc-list Cnc-List Cc: Knowles Rich Subject: Re: Stus-List 3GM30F Oil Pressure warning Mike: Did you check the oil level after the alarm sounded? It could be low after a period of little use followed by motoring for a few hours. At higher RPM’s, the oil might fall below the pickup as more oil is pumped to the head than returns to the pan. I hope it is simple….. Rich Knowles Nanaimo, BC INDIGO LF38 Boatless! On Aug 10, 2015, at 09:17, Hoyt, Mike via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > wrote: Oil changed in May. Used 15W 40 Oil level checked July 22 300 mile delivery to Cape Breton (Dundee then Baddeck) July 23 – Aug 2 Yesterday after running engine at 2800 RPM for approx. 5.5 hrs a “clicking sound” was heard in cockpit. Thought at first was from Ram mic but was still there once disconnected. Determined was coming from alarm speaker on Yanmar panel. Tapped panel and then Oil pressure light illuminated and alarm sounded. Shut down engine and sailed to dock (without crashing) At dock started engine and at idle no alarm or light. Revved up to 3000 RPM and the light started flickering and a sputtering sound from the speaker (the clicking sound we heard earlier) which was followed by full illumination of Oil pressure light and full alarm siren. Stoped engine and waited. A few minutes later retarted engine and had no alarm at idle, followed by sputtering and then full alarm at high rpms. Reduced RPMs to idle and alarm stopped and light turned off. Any thoughts? Boat is currently 3.5 hrs away by car so any parts will have to be taken with me in advance _______________________________________________ Email address: <mailto:CnC-List@cnc-list.com> CnC-List@cnc-list.com To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the bottom of page at: <http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com> http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com Rich Knowles Nanaimo, BC INDIGO LF38 Boatless!
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