8.1 alarm going off over 4000 RPM

pickett98

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I bought a used Crownline 270 with freeze damage to the 2003 Volvopenta 8.1 GXI-A Ser# 4012071105. I replaced the engine with a Jasper custom rebuild was able to get the boat running and work out the minor issues except for one:

At higher RPMs, over 3800-4000, the engine will sound a alarm and power down into protection mode. Once the engine is turned off and restarted everything is back to as before. I eventually got tired of not having the full range of the RPMs and took the boat to a dealer near Eagle Mountain Lake in Texas. They told me the code in the ECM was a low oil pressure alert, but the gauge never showed below 40PSI when the alarm sounds (even for them). At idle it is about 25 and above idle 40+. The dealer response was to send the engine back to Jasper. However, there has been no indications of low oil or oil pressure ever presented, at any RPM, other than the alarm. The oil sending unit was replaced at the dealer, but no change in the problem. Jasper is pushing back very hard on the claim stating the dealer has misdiagnosed the problem.

I am using Mobile 1 5w-30 full synthetic oil, and Wix filter. Replaced every rubber hose and both water pumps. Volvopenta fuel filter. Two brand new interstate dual purpose deep cycle batteries SRM-27.

Can anyone recommend a reputable dealer in the DFW (Texas) area?
 

Don S

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Re: 8.1 alarm going off over 4000 RPM

Jasper is pushing back very hard on the claim stating the dealer has misdiagnosed the problem.

As they should if you have good oil pressure. What you need to do is hook up a mechanical oil pressure gauge and verify if you are loosing oil pressure or if you have an electrical problem, are you planning on working on this thing yourself, or just looking for a shop to work on it?
 

pickett98

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Re: 8.1 alarm going off over 4000 RPM

I have done most of the work myself so far. However I am at my limits with a lack of Volvo ECM code readers and flashing equipment. I will put a manual gauge on the engine to be sure there is oil pressure.

Is there a bypass method to determine if the ECM is reading the code correctly? Can you open or close the circuit to force a code or bypass it all together? If I have oil pressure as I suspect I do, what it the next step?

And to answer your question, I would prefer to fix it myself but if I have to involve a dealer I want one to deal with a respectable one.
 

tpenfield

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Re: 8.1 alarm going off over 4000 RPM

Aren't re-manufactured engine warranties great? If you fold them a certain way, you can use them as cocktail napkins . . . :)

My thoughts . . . and I say this 'cuz I was looking at the oil senders on my engines the other day . . . could it be that there are 2 oil pressure senders in different locations on the block??? One sender/location for the gauge (which apparently is working OK), and the other sender/location for the ECM???

If so, perhaps there is a blockage of some sort that is limiting the pressure at the ECM sender.
 

Don S

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Re: 8.1 alarm going off over 4000 RPM

Aren't re-manufactured engine warranties great? If you fold them a certain way, you can use them as cocktail napkins . . . :)

Why cry warranty when the oil pressure gauge shows good oil pressure.

That is why I said to put a mechanical gauge on the engine and see what the oil pressure is actually doing. You don't need any special electronic equipment, just a mechanical oil pressure gauge. If it reads the same as the electric gauge with the sender, then you could have a bad alarm switch that feeds a signal to the computer. But just disconnecting the switch doesn't tell you anything either if the gauge or sender is wrong. Thus the reason for the mechanical gauge.
It's just how you should troubleshoot the system.
At this point you don't need a lot of electronic test equipment cause it won't help you other than knowing what system is telling you there is a problem. And you already found that out.
 

pickett98

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Re: 8.1 alarm going off over 4000 RPM

Aren't re-manufactured engine warranties great? If you fold them a certain way, you can use them as cocktail napkins . . . :)

My thoughts . . . and I say this 'cuz I was looking at the oil senders on my engines the other day . . . could it be that there are 2 oil pressure senders in different locations on the block??? One sender/location for the gauge (which apparently is working OK), and the other sender/location for the ECM???

If so, perhaps there is a blockage of some sort that is limiting the pressure at the ECM sender.


The manual gauge confirmed about the same presure as teh electronic gauge. Never under 20 psi at idle and 40 psi at higher RPMS.
 
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