Tapping Sound coming from the engine

[winedown1]

We have a 06 Searay Sundancer with a Mercrusier 5.0 engine. Yesterday, after running for about an hour we started hearing a tapping sound in the engine. We stopped, to check the oil level. I always have trouble reading the dipstick but if anything, the oil level is above the fill line.
Is too much oil a potential problem?
Any suggestion about how to diagnois the noise?
This engine is under waranty and has about 130 hours total on it.
Winedown1

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Tapping Sound coming from the engine

what was the water temp reading after that hour run.
Too hot can thin the oil down.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Tapping Sound coming from the engine

How much above the full line was the oil level? Yes -- too much oil can cause very serious issues. Slap the flat of your hand on a bucket of water and imagine what you engine is doing as the crankshaft throws spank an overfull crankcase. That's the extreme case but even marginally over full can cause the oil the froth or foam so the oil pump is now circulating air bubbles instead of oil. Lifters and bearings now become oil starved and begin to knock and can fail in short order. Did you happen to notice what the oil pressure gauge was doing at the time? Gauges are installed for a purpose and if ignored, don't provide much help in avoiding expensive engine problems. Oil "level" checks should be part of the pre-departure process -- before every trip.

 

[Flukinicehole]

Re: Tapping Sound coming from the engine

Being a new boat do you do the maintenance or have someone do it? Reason I'm asking is what oil was used on the oil change? It might be thinning to much with the heat of running it hard for an hour. The best thing you can give a boat is an oil cooler if your going to be running hard for an hour. Oil breaks down with higher temps. and if is over full this just compounds the problem as it will get airated more easily from the crank whipping it. Now that it's cooled down how does it sound? Check the oil before you start it this will make it easier to read the stick.

 

[winedown1]

Re: Tapping Sound coming from the engine

what was the water temp reading after that hour run.
Too hot can thin the oil down.

The engine temp was just at 100 degrees. Pressure was a little above 160psi. i have Smartcraft on this boat and there were not alarm indicators I was over temp or pressure.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Tapping Sound coming from the engine

The engine temp was just at 100 degrees. Pressure was a little above 160psi. i have Smartcraft on this boat and there were not alarm indicators I was over temp or pressure.

Neither one of those numbers make sense.......
Oil pressure should be around 30 something.....
Water temp should be at 140-160.....
*These are ballpark figures....
What are your gauges saying at idle when warmed up.....
IE, water degrees in Fahrenheit, oil pressure in PSI......