low oil pressure
 

First off let me say hello to everyone. I am a new owner of a 1992 mx19. Love the boat. Took it out for the third time today. Noticed the oil pressure gauge bouncing all over the place, then dropped to zero. I shut it down. Oil level ws fine, engine ran and sounded good. Went ahead and tubed for two hours with no issues. Wanted to get you thoughts as to causes. I am thinking a bad gauge. Engine is 4.3lx. Looking forward to many years to come with this boat. I will post pics after I get her cleaned up a little more. Oh, first time boat owner. Thanks!

Re: low oil pressure
 

Welcome aboard! Its not likely a bad gauge but more likely a poor ground connection. Check & clean the wiring connections at the gauge, the ground connections at the fuse box (up under the dash against the side wall) and the connections at the oil sender unit.

Re: low oil pressure
 

Welcome to MOC dusty! :)

Re: low oil pressure
 

Thanks for the quick reply. I will do that this week and post ow it goes when I take her out Saturday. I have other questions, but will spread them out so I don't bombard ya'll, :)

Re: low oil pressure
 

We ain't scared.........fire away!:yes_grin:
The guys are always ready to help out.

Re: low oil pressure
 

If cleaning the grounds @ the gage does not work for you then check the connection @ the oil pressure sender on the motor. If you see oil on/around the sender then it may need to be replaced. The internal diaphram will sometimes leak, oil gets on the resistive sensor and will cause the exact symptom you described.

Re: low oil pressure
 

Where is the sender located?

Re: low oil pressure
 

I believe it's located on the starboard side of the motor right below the last spark plug.

Re: low oil pressure
 

Mine is port side just above the oil filter.
One for gauge , one for low oil shutoff.

Re: low oil pressure
 

You're likely accurate with that. I 'think' it was moved in later incarnations of the 4.3 and i'm trying to work from memory which at my age, gets a little faulty at times. :yes_grin:

Re: low oil pressure
 

ok, all connections cleaned. there was a little corrosion at the sender. we will see what happens when I take it out Saturday.

Should I start a new thread for the tachometer? It just sits on 50 and doesn't move. I can move the dial with a magnet though. It is a Faria.

Re: low oil pressure
 

Same possible issues (poor connections) with the tach. There is also a small dial on the back of the tach that reads 2-4-6-8. Give the dial a spin a few times then re-set it to 6 cyl and see if that helps. If it isn't the connections & the 'spin the dial' trick doesn't resolve it then its likely time for a new tach.

Re: low oil pressure
 

Tried all that. Oh well, I will see if Faria really does have a lifetime warranty.

Re: low oil pressure
 

You fellas have been g great! One last question. Where are the connections for the tach o the engine? I have only checked the ones to the gauge itself.

Re: low oil pressure
 

Is anyone from Texas?

Re: low oil pressure
 

Connections for the tach on the engine are in the wiring harness to the ignition coil on the engine. I have never heard of a problem there...it is always corrosion on the printed circuit within the Faria tachometer that causes the problem. I know you said you tried it but I suggest you try to rotate the 4/6/8 dial on the back of the tach again...this time try pushing in on dial while you spin it. The only other suggestion is to remove all the wires and slightly loosen the nuts on the BATT, GND & SIG studs on the rear of the tach, spin them as much as you can (they are captured within the gauge) and then reassemble everything. The internal electronics of the tach are bullet proof...the weak link in Faria's design is corrosion of the electrical connections from the brass studs to the printed circuit board and the selector switch.

Re: low oil pressure
 

Thanks. I will give an update tomorrow night.

Re: low oil pressure
 

I concur with ensuring all connections are clean and tight as well as spinning the 4,6,8 dial. What seems suspicious is that the dial will not drop back to zero, this would suggest that either the return spring for the needle or the bearing in which the needle shaft rotates are at fault, I don't think either of these situations would be user fixable.

Re: low oil pressure
 

Actually there is no return spring, but there is a return magnet. My money is still on high resistance due to corrosion. If there is no electrical connection on the 4,6,8 switch it will behave as if the needle is stuck.


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Re: low oil pressure
 

Ok, just got back from taking her out. Oil pressure gauge works! Reads about 20 when cruising. Tach not so lu
cky. When I turn the key over it drops to zero fro 50 going the wrong way. Afer it cranked up, went back to 50 and stayed there. I did not have my magnet with me, next time I will drag the needle back aroun to zero before I fire her up. On a side note, the speedo worked, I had browsed some threads, that was an easy fix. The hardest is going to be the trim. I might have that one done. Thanks a bunch!

Re: low oil pressure
 

Dusty, I'm in Texas. I live close to Longview, about 120 miles east of Dallas


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Re: low oil pressure
 

txtruckerpaul, we will have to get together, i live a in Bullard just south of Tyler.

Re: low oil pressure
 

Sounds good! I'd like to meet ya at the lake if I can ever get mine out of the shop. Lol


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Re: low oil pressure
 

Any time! What's wrong with yours? Which lake would you want to meet at?

Re: low oil pressure
 

Not real sure. Have a weird noise coming from the upper drive unit, it's been at the shop waiting to get worked on. They say they may get to it today, who knows. Not real familiar with any of the lakes between us. I usually go to lake o' the pines. That's a pretty good drive for you, since it's 25 miles north of Longview. I'm open to go to any others that's closer to you


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