Optimax... 4 beeps but oil reservoir mostly full... won't overfill with cap off

[kmagnuss]

Hey guys. I got the 4 beeps and oil light on my 99' Optimax 135 yesterday. Shut it down and restarted twice with no change... 4 beeps approximately every 2 minutes. Got back to the ramp and when I started it back up to get on the trailer the beeps and light were gone. Today I checked to see if the oil tank on the engine was full and it's about 90% full. I cracked the cap on it while running to try to get it to overfill and the level didn't change. (I read it was supposed to overfill if you crack the cap while running). I let it idle for about 5 minutes and there was no change in the oil level.
Think my oil pump is bad?
I suppose I should check the pick up tube on my aux oil tank for debris.
I will check both tanks if I get the beeps again tomorrow to see if the engine mounted tank is actually low, or maybe it's a faulty sender unit on the aux tank.
There's always the possibility of the water/fuel separator having water in it also (that makes the 4 beeps too).

Thanks.

-Mag

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Optimax... 4 beeps but oil reservoir mostly full... won't overfill with cap off

Mag, the remote oil reservoir is pressurized to cause oil to flow to the engine tank. It is not pumped by the oil pump. When was the last time you changed the water separator? You can disconnect the water separator water sensor, and see if that is causing the alarm.

 

[kmagnuss]

Re: Optimax... 4 beeps but oil reservoir mostly full... won't overfill with cap off

Thanks Chris.
The boat is new to me so I have no idea the last time the fuel/water separator was changed. I have one on order already.
Today on the water the beeps came back after about 5 minutes of 5000 rpm running. I ran back to the dock and took the cover off the motor to find the oil tank on the engine was about 75% full. I tried cracking the cap again while running and there was no change. I opened the cap on the aux tank and started the motor, put my hand over the opening in the oil tank and it built pressure pretty quickly.
So at this point I'm thinking there is some sort of blockage in the line... either the pick up tube or maybe a check valve.
Will find out hopefully today or tomorrow.

 

[woody66912]

Re: Optimax... 4 beeps but oil reservoir mostly full... won't overfill with cap off

The way you tested this it sounds like your boat tank cap was loose or not sealing. One ? did you just fill the boat tank lately.

 

[kmagnuss]

Re: Optimax... 4 beeps but oil reservoir mostly full... won't overfill with cap off

The way you tested this it sounds like your boat tank cap was loose or not sealing. One ? did you just fill the boat tank lately.

Nah I hadn't opened the cap on it lately until after I started to get the beeps.

 

[woody66912]

Re: Optimax... 4 beeps but oil reservoir mostly full... won't overfill with cap off

OK then i check the pulse valve on the starboard side of the engine. And when you have the hose off put a lb or two of air pressure in the line and see if it holds that should check the pick up tube and the cap.

 

[kmagnuss]

Re: Optimax... 4 beeps but oil reservoir mostly full... won't overfill with cap off

Well the pick up tube screen was covered in goo... I got all that cleaned up but no change.
Then I started with the hose going into the engine mounted tank and worked my way back to find the blockage.
It was in the little in line filter right next to the tank. It was filled with rubbery old gooey oil. Of course I don't have one so I blew it out with air and brake cleaner and as a band aid put it back on until my new one comes in. I have no doubt that it's still restricting the flow though. And speaking of flow... how quickly should that tank fill up? I had the motor running for about 10 minutes and it only went up about an inch. (10% of the tank approximately).

Thanks.

-Mag

 

[woody66912]

Re: Optimax... 4 beeps but oil reservoir mostly full... won't overfill with cap off

Well i have had to fill new installed ones due to float failure, and that would take right around two to three min to see any oil in the empty res tank, so to fill the tank at idle should not take more then 5 to 7 min. At this point i think your pulse valve has failed. Try this, fill the res tank, manually and let it sit for a while, if it goes down then your pickup tube leaks or you have a air leak on the pressure line. A simple check for the pulse valve is to refill the res tank and pinch off the pressure line and see if the oil level in the oil res drops. Remember the time it takes to fill the res tank is dependent on the level of oil in the main tank.