Engine Gauges (high oil pressure)

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cnsmith

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Aug 6, 2010
15
Irwin 30 Monroe - Chicago
Hi everyone,
I recently noticed my oil pressure gauge is very high when im giving the engine gas. I attached a few pictures. Also there is a picture of my AMP gauge and I dont think it works. What is the AMP gauge for and where does it hook up too?

Thanks!

Cory
 

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MrUnix

MrUnix

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Mar 24, 2010
626
Hunter 23 Gainesville, FL
Re: Engine Gauges [high oil pressure]`

Got no idea about the high oil pressure.. but the "AMP" gauge is for monitoring current draw of your boats electrics and hooks up between them and the battery.

Cheers,
Brad
 
RAD

RAD

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Jun 3, 2004
2,330
Catalina 30 Bay Shore, N.Y.
Re: Engine Gauges [high oil pressure]`

the oil pressure gauge is connected to a sending unit screwed into the engine block and how accurate it and the gauge is should be questionable if its old...you could get a mechanical gauge and screw it in where the sending unit is to get a true reading and baseline to see how accurate your gauge is
 
Hermit Scott

Hermit Scott

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Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
Re: Engine Gauges [high oil pressure]`

cnsmith-I would disconnect the oil pressure gauge at the engine and install one directly to the engine as a diagnosis tool. The gauge will cost you $10-$20. The most difficult part will be determining the thread size in the engine(and that is not that hard). If you buy a gauge at an auto parts store you can get them that have different sized adapters in the kit.
Oil pressure and temperature are two things you don't take chances with.
What engine do you have?
 
C

cnsmith

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Aug 6, 2010
15
Irwin 30 Monroe - Chicago
Re: Engine Gauges [high oil pressure]`

I have an Atomic4. What does the oil pressure mean? What does it mean to run the oil pressure "high?"

Thanks again everyone. Very helpful.
 
RAD

RAD

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Jun 3, 2004
2,330
Catalina 30 Bay Shore, N.Y.
Re: Engine Gauges [high oil pressure]`

Might not be HIGH cause the way the gauge works is from wiring from the engine sending unit to the gauge BUT if there's an issue with the gauge OR the wiring then you'll see it pinned to the high side.....I would bet on a wiring issue.....read the above posts about testing the oil pressure
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Re: Engine Gauges [high oil pressure]`

The oil pressure gauge on the Atomic 4 that I took out of Bietzpadlin used a small tube from the port to the gauge. What I don't know is if the gauge is bewteen the oil pump and the oil filter or after the oil filter. When did you last change the oil filter? The next step as stated is to change the gauge.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
22,985
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Re: Engine Gauges [high oil pressure]`

The ammeter measures the current in the boat's electrical system. You should read up about boat electrical systems, 'cuz you'll come to the conclusion that that's not a good idea, it's an old one with more modern ways to do it. Essentially, all you charging current is going from the alternator on your engine all the way to the cockpit panel and then back to your batteries for charging through a small wire. Not a good solution.

Here's a good place to start learning, in addition to books, also covered in the topic:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5977.0.html
 
higgs

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,704
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
this sounds crazy, but there is a screw that will adjust the oil pressure on the A4. I have long forgotten the procedure, but you can get all the info you need from Moyer Marine, the A4 guru of the universe:

http://www.moyermarine.com/
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
The oil pressure sensor is a variable resistor. The gage is just an ohm meter calibrated to read oil pressure. SO... if you have a high resistance due to (gasp it can't be, not again) corrosion the gage is going to read off. If memory serves the higher the resistance the higher the gage reads. Check all the connectors between the gage and sensor and the sensor to engine (engine acts as ground) and the engine ground to battery for corrosion. 99.44% of all electrical problems on boats is corroded connections.
cnsmith
All larger engines have oil pumps to circulate oil which both cools (primary function) and lubricates (secondary function) the engine. The amount of "slop" you have in the engine determines the oil pressure. An old engine with worn bearings will have lower oil pressure than a new "tight" engine without much bearing wear. I have never seen a case of oil pressure being too high (the gage is always reading wrong) as that would imply the engine got tighter which does not happen in this corner of the universe. There is the off chance that Scotty's apprentice is messing around in the engine spaces and twisted the oil pressure relief valve (lets oil flow when the oil filter gets clogged) but that would be pretty hard as you can usually only lower the bypass pressure not raise it.
 
Allan12210

Allan12210

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Jan 22, 2008
1,661
Hunter 34 Alameda CA
Maybe the filter is clogged. might be worth changing it just to check. A cheap mechanical gauge like Hermit suggests is handy to keep around too. I bought a couple at the local hardware store. I will venture to guess that the thread size for the Atomic 4 is 1/8" pipe thread. Get one that is 0-100 psi and screw it in place of the oil sender on the engine and start it up. That will help direct you to the proper solution.
 
higgs

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,704
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
The oil pressure regulator screw is located below the fuel pump.
 
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