Oil Pressure

[Dakota773]

Ok Tiara gang here's the question: 98 31 open with Crusader 454's

Stb Oil pressure is reading 40 when port is running 55-60. Seemed fine then running home yesterday after a 3hr cruise it dropped to 20. No alarms (other then the one in my head). I watched a few minutes and it popped back to 40, then 5 minutes later back down to 20 and even 15. For reference it had shown this once before a few weeks ago but after 5 minutes or so again it cleared up.

FYI oil levels and color are fine, even added a half qt to stb to boost it a little

Thoughts? Bad pump or Gauge or Sensor?

[Uhehner]

If you can get to the oil pressure sender, tap an oil pressure gauge into the line and take some readings and go from there. My next guess would be the sender, then the gauge. A bad pump is a big problem. Capt. George

[RobS]

Careful not to overfill. If you have too much oil the crank will whip the oil causing it to become aerated and oil pressure will fluctuate and drop. Where is she reading on the dipstick? Better off just above the ADD then to be over the FULL.

A quick & easy way to rule out the gauge is to switch them at the helm (a nice thing about having twins). If the erratic readings follow the gauge, then it's the gauge, if the erratic readings stay with the engine then it's the sender/engine issue.

[Dakota773]

Well researching it and getting into the engine box it turns out that it was a bad oil filter. Seems that in the last 5 yrs or so Crusaders have a little history of these "sensitivities". Easiest place to start. Oil change, new filter and all is well. Another lesson to start in the easiest and most obvious place!

Thanks all!