My 1998 Catalina 28 MK 2 low oil pressure light has come on? I changed the oil and oil filter, but the light is still on. I look into the oil fill hole and can see oil flying inside. does anyone have any insight?
low oil pressure light
- Thread starter johnbrink
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When did it come on? how long had the engine been running when it came on? Was this the first time running it after changing the oil? Did you fill the oil filter with oil before installing it?
What exactly was the sequence of events and what were the durations of the elements of the sequence?
What exactly was the sequence of events and what were the durations of the elements of the sequence?
Without a LOT more information (as jviss has stated) unfortunately there's little we can do to help you diagnose the problem.
If the engine has been properly cared for, it's "doubtful" that the oil pump has failed, so you may want to look at the oil pressure alarm circuit.
Incidentally, you've not not mentioned if the audible alarm is sounding. If not, you've probably got a short to the light.
Run a test by shorting out the pressure switch to ground and see if both the audible alarm and the light sound. If they do, then you have a short to the light.
Keep in contact here and I'm sure we can save you at least $500.00 by not having your local yard monkey dig around in your wiring and causing a few other problems as well
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If the engine has been properly cared for, it's "doubtful" that the oil pump has failed, so you may want to look at the oil pressure alarm circuit.
Incidentally, you've not not mentioned if the audible alarm is sounding. If not, you've probably got a short to the light.
Run a test by shorting out the pressure switch to ground and see if both the audible alarm and the light sound. If they do, then you have a short to the light.
Keep in contact here and I'm sure we can save you at least $500.00 by not having your local yard monkey dig around in your wiring and causing a few other problems as well
.Ralph,
Thanks for the info, here is the sequence of events
1. We traveled about 2 hours under power running at about 5 knots when the audible alarm sounded. The light also came on at this time. 2. I was in a narrows of the Intercoastal near Tarpon Springs, Florida. I quickly brought the engine down to the lowest RPM and went below to access the problem. The oil level was low, but within the marks on the dip stick. The audible alarm stopped, but the light stayed on. We shut down the motor and put up the sails and sailed close to the dock. I started the motor long enough to dock the boat, but the light has remained on. It is still on every time I start the motor. I changed the oil and filter the next day, it did not make a difference.
Sounds like a problem with the light wiring.
Usually, the wiring going to the oil pressure switch has two wires in parallel. One wire goes through the light and one wire goes through the audible alarm. When the pressure switch is closed (no oil pressure with the engine off) the electrical current goes through the switch to ground and the circuit is completed. Both alarm and light are energized.
The oil pressure switch appears to be doing its job correctly in that the audible alarm goes off when the engine starts (pressure switch opens due to oil pressure) and the circuit is broken. All alarms should then stop. Look for a short in the wiring between the light and the oil pressure switch.
Let us know how it works out.
Ralph,
You were correct, as I checked out the sensor, I found one of the wire clips had broken off the sensor and the wire was hanging in the air.
Thanks, for your help!
Glad U found the problem. One thing to always keep in mind, that even if the oil pressure was low, unless the engine temp. gauge shows that its overheating, then you are still o.k. to run the motor, at least briefly. A lot of engines have an oil pressure drop after running at high speed for long periods as the oil viscosity thins as the temp of the oil increases. Changing your oil would not really help this, unless it was really bad quality oil used. Thicker viscosity oils in higher temp. climates can help. but get sludgy & thick when cold & make the engine oil pump work harder. I am always more concerned about engine temp. then oil pressure, unless the engine oil pressure drops to zero. The problem with dummy warning lights & buzzers is that you tell you nothing about what the problem really is. I don't know when marine manufactures got away with giving sailors no gauges on our engines. When you look at a typical power boat, that have more analog gauges then you can shake a stick at!
But that's the inherent issue with analog gauges, you have to have someplace to put them, and digital gauges (even if they are stored as a page in the i70 display) are subject to the same nonsense, the little spade clips rattle off and cause no end of grief.
We had exactly that issue this summer, the panel would have had us believe that the coolant system was heading for a Chernobyl event and the core was about to be dumped, yet a 10 cent spade connector had rattled itself loose, and really all was well.
We had exactly that issue this summer, the panel would have had us believe that the coolant system was heading for a Chernobyl event and the core was about to be dumped, yet a 10 cent spade connector had rattled itself loose, and really all was well.
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