Jcat2010
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2022
- Messages
- 217
- Fluid Motion Model
- R-27 (Outboard)
- Vessel Name
- Barchetta
Updated. Solved. Heat impacted the oil sensor.
My four year old 3.5 Westerbeke, with 75 hrs, is acting up again. 100 degree days require Genset and A/C. Last year I'd get a low oil pressure shutdown after about 15 minutes. Found it had 30 weight oil, changed to 40 wt and it ran fine the rest of the season. This year, on hot days (87F surface water days), it will run fine for about 15 minutes, trip on low oil. Clear the fault, re-start and it might go for hours, or not..
I've tried letting it warm up for longer before loading up. Same gig. Runs for 15, then faults, clear and it restarts fine. Underway, or at the dock, same behavior.
I ran through the westerbeke troubleshooting process, good oil pressure, sensors checked out ok, no air in fuel, etc.
Then I found a good thread about heat killing the sensors, and found that the oil sensor, when it's hot out and the unit is loaded up, was erratic.
Replaced oil sensor (superceded part, maybe due to above?) and it's back to it dependable self.
My four year old 3.5 Westerbeke, with 75 hrs, is acting up again. 100 degree days require Genset and A/C. Last year I'd get a low oil pressure shutdown after about 15 minutes. Found it had 30 weight oil, changed to 40 wt and it ran fine the rest of the season. This year, on hot days (87F surface water days), it will run fine for about 15 minutes, trip on low oil. Clear the fault, re-start and it might go for hours, or not..
I've tried letting it warm up for longer before loading up. Same gig. Runs for 15, then faults, clear and it restarts fine. Underway, or at the dock, same behavior.
I ran through the westerbeke troubleshooting process, good oil pressure, sensors checked out ok, no air in fuel, etc.
Then I found a good thread about heat killing the sensors, and found that the oil sensor, when it's hot out and the unit is loaded up, was erratic.
Replaced oil sensor (superceded part, maybe due to above?) and it's back to it dependable self.
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