oil pressure challenge
Hi again Peter. James points out some important things to consider regarding how the oil pressure gets displayed and/or sets off warning alarms. In my experience, most commonly a fault in the measuring and display systems cause inaccurate oil pressure readings, usually too low but sometimes too high, rather than actual mechanical degradation and failure of the pump and the bearings.
Basically, the actual oil pressure is primarily influenced by two things. First is the oil pump. It must be unworn and able to supply the proper volume/pressure of oil throughout the entire useable RPM range. Oil pumps typically last a long time as they are constantly bathed in large volumes of oil. The two things that most impact on their lifespan is using the proper weight and type of
oil ( and changing it as recommended by the manufacturer ) and the design of the pump itself as some oil pumps are designed to be produced inexpensively and not with performance and endurance as top priorities. Over my years of selling Amel boats, oil pressure pump failures are so rare on engines with less than 10,000 hours total time as to be almost none existent. I can tell you from hundreds of Amel surveys I have participated in, when oil samples are pulled and examined by spectral analysis, about a quarter of the boats show lots of evidence of extended change intervals and/or poor quality or wrong type of oil.
The second reason for low oil pressure is wear on actual bearings for the rotational and reciprocating components inside the engine and is, in my experience, the main thing that produces actual low oil pressure ( as opposed to a faulty pressure measuring equipment ). As the bearings wear, the clearances between the bearings and the components they support increase which allows more oil to escape its job of keeping the parts separated by a film of oil. This is usually first noticed at low speed operation as even a healthy oil pump cannot support enough oil volume as much of it squirts out of the worn and loose bearings rather than separating the components like it is supposed to do. If you qualify the actual oil pressure with a certified mechanical gauge and the pressure is too low at low RPM’s worn bearings are the most likely cause. Most manufacturers give pressure recommendations over a band or RPM ranges. If oil pressure is low over the entire range, this is seldom good news.
Please note it is considered bad form to kill the messenger when he brings undesirable news . I hope your challenge is quickly diagnosed and simple to repair.
All the best,
Joel
JOEL F. POTTER – CRUISING YACHT SPECIALIST, LLC
The Experienced AMEL Guy
UNSURPASSED AMEL MARKETING EXPERIENCE AND PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE
OFFICE: 954-462-5869 Cell: 954-812-2485
From: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io <main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io> On Behalf Of Mohammad Shirloo
Sent: Sunday, August 7, 2022 4:37 PM
To: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io
Subject: Re: [AmelYachtOwners] Volvo D3 110 - Spurious low pressure Oil warning Light and alarm
Hi Peter,
Here’s the contact information. Very helpful and will even walk you through some steps to figure out the potential cause.
Mohammad and Aty
B&B Kokomo
AMEL 54 #099
From: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io <main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io> on behalf of James Alton via groups.io <lokiyawl2@...>
Sent: Sunday, August 7, 2022 8:17:34 PM
To: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io <main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io>
Subject: Re: [AmelYachtOwners] Volvo D3 110 - Spurious low pressure Oil warning Light and alarm
Peter,
There is not much to go on here but the fact that increasing engine rpm silences the alarm suggests that the oil pressure sensor is reading the normal increase in pressure that is associated with an increase in engine rpm. So it sounds like the oil sensor is still working but it is possible that the measured pressures are off for some reason. I think I would err on the safe side and consider the possibility that low oil pressure might be the actual cause of the alarm until you can verify otherwise. I was getting an alarm on my engine at startup that lasted for several seconds which would stop when I revved the engine and I was of course concerned since this sounded like it could be a serious problem. So I installed a simple mechanical oil pressure gauge that is mounted to the valve cover and plumbed in via a tee fitting where the oil pressure sensor goes. I found that on startup that the oil pressure on the mechanical gauge jumped up to 45lbs. immediately but I still got the alarm. It turned out in my case that the the old oil pressure sensor was sticking and took a few seconds to move to the off position after seeing good pressure. A good cleaning of the oil ports inside the sensor took care of the problem. It is hard to know for sure what is going on until you can actually measure the oil pressure. I hope that you get good news.
Best,
James Alton
Maramu #220
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Forbes <ppsforbes@...>
To: main@amelyachtowners.groups.io
Sent: Sun, Aug 7, 2022 8:09 pm
Subject: Re: [AmelYachtOwners] Volvo D3 110 - Spurious low pressure Oil warning Light and alarm
THANK YOU so much for all those sensible and helpful answers.
The oil is clean not milky
No associated sounds at all.
If when alarm goes if I put engine in neutral and give a few revs say to 1200 the warning goes away and all is well. It only seems to alarm at very low revs - for example just coming into mooring in marina [somewhat offputting].
Engine has new long block in August 2016 in Pacific {Raitea}.
Total hours 5,200 but only about 1800 since new long block.
Thank you will try to find calibrated pressure tester.
Yes please Mohammad - I’d like the contact details fro the dealer in France please = ppsforbes@...
Thank you everyone.
Peter
Peter Forbes
Carango Amel 54 #035
En route to Cork, Ireland
07836 209730
> On 7 Aug 2022, at 15:03, amelforme <jfpottercys@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Peter. You are in a bit of a pickle. Usually when a low pressure light comes and goes, it can be the sending unit/ pressure sensor and/or attendant wiring. The best way to proceed is always test the system with a calibrated mechanical pressure gauge. Since that is not possible, please provide some more information. Is the problem consistent across the entire revolutions range from idle to higher RPM?
> Any strange sounds? Is the oil regular in appearance with no milky color or creamy texture? What are the engine hours? Has the head assembly ever been removed.
> Anything else changed ?
> I would recommend using the minimum possible RPM's until you test the actual pressure.
>
> JOEL F. POTTER
> CRUISING YACHT SPECIALIST LLC
> THE EXPERIENCED AMEL GUY
> Office 954-462-5869
>
>> On Aug 7, 2022, at 8:50 AM, Peter Forbes <ppsforbes@...> wrote:
>> Dear Fellow Amelians,
>> My Volvo D3 on Amel 54 Carango [2006] - shows a seemingly spurious low pressure oil warning light - The oil level is fine - the engine continues to run - the oil temp remains steady at 78.8 - 80.
>> Anyone experienced anything like that.
>> We are continuing through it as we were on passage .
>> Peter
>> Peter Forbes
>> Carango Amel 54 #035
>> En voyage to Cork and Kinsale.
>> 07836 209730
>
>
>
>
All the best,
Joel
JOEL F. POTTER – CRUISING YACHT SPECIALIST, LLC
The Experienced AMEL Guy
UNSURPASSED AMEL MARKETING EXPERIENCE AND PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE
OFFICE: 954-462-5869 Cell: 954-812-2485