Audible Whistling alarm

[briborg]

Hey, I'm a new Tahoe owner and new to this forum. You guys are great and I have gotten alot of great info for a new boat owner. I have a 2010 Q5 F/S with the 190 mercruiser. I have only had the boat out three times and the last time I had it out an audible whistling alarm was coming form the console. I assumed that it was for some type of low level because when I would make sharp turn it would go away. There is a small resivor in the back left of the engine compartment. (left looking aft) I don't know what it is for and what type of fluid to put in it.

The resivor has a pump on top of it and is marked with a SAE number but I could not find a match for it anywhere.

Could someone please help me get the right fluid to put in it. I don't have a manual for the engine yet, I bought the boat used and the original owner didn't have the manual. Also any info on this alarm would be great.

Thanks

 

[mccownk]

Re: Audible Whistling alarm

If you could post pictures that would help alot. A reservoir on top of the engine sounds like the outdrive fluid. The alarm going away around turns sounds more serious, possible engine oil low? There are links to engine manuals in the main forum. Do a search for your engine manual in the Mercruiser forum and you will find evrything you need. There are other alarms that this could be so be careful. Check all fluids including coolant if you have a closed cooling system. Good luck and let us know what's up.

 

[briborg]

Re: Audible Whistling alarm

Thanks for the input. I know I wanted to post a picture but I am currently off shore in the Gulf of Mexico. Working not boating I always check my fluid levels every time before putting the boat in the water and the only level that looks like it may be low is the trim pump tank. After doing some research I have identified the tank that I was trying to describe in the last post.

So what fluid goes in that tank. It has SAE 1171 Marine on it but I can't find anything that matches that spec. Also do you check levels with the engine running or shutdown?

 

[Ret USN CPO]

Re: Audible Whistling alarm

Welcome aboard. You made a good choice in Tahoe and in iBoats. I have been lurking around here for a couple years, and I have owned a Tahoe about that long as well. PLENTY of great info to be found on here.

You didn't mention if you were running at WOT or just cruising along. I get an audible alarm when my RPMs exceed a certain setting. I just lift a little on the throttle and it goes away.

 

[rdhawk1950]

Re: Audible Whistling alarm

The alarm works on 4 conditions only , they are low engine oil, low stern drive oil, high engine temp and engine over run, too high RPM. . It sounds as if on sharp turns your prop is possibly coming out of the water causing engine over run .all other conditions the alarm would sound on straight and level running

 

[brown_one]

Re: Audible Whistling alarm

does it also come on for low fuel?

 

[MelodyBay]

Re: Audible Whistling alarm

does it also come on for low fuel?

Good question.....I don't think it does. That would be too easy!

 

[J. Howard]

Re: Audible Whistling alarm

As it happens, I had the same issue this weekend. I called my boat care specialist and he told me that that alarm would sound for three reasons:
1) Engine overheat
2) Oil Pressure
3) Low Gear Lube Level

EDIT: I found this thread via the "New Posts" feature and posted my reply before realizing that I was in the Tahoe forum. I'm sure the alarm sounds for different reasons on different boats (I've got a Sea Ray). I do have a MerCruiser so I figured that I'd leave my response here on the outside chance that it'll help you or someone else in the future.

According to the gauges on my dashboard, the first two (temp and oil pressure) were fine. I checked in my engine compartment and noticed a similar reservoir to what you described which had fluid in it, but was well below the fill line -- in fact it was below the add line. This was the gear lube reservoir. I went to a boating store and bought the following:

I filled the reservoir to the fill line and started the boat and ran it a bit with no alarm sound. I still want to take it through its paces a little before any long days/trips to make sure that all is well.

This is not the same SAE number as you posted, but it sounds like it might be a similar situation. At least something to look into.

Hope this helps.

 

[mccownk]

Re: Audible Whistling alarm

That's the same gear lube that I use in my Mercruiser/Alpha 1 outdrive. I would be curious to know the location of the sensor in the outdrive the senses a low lube situation.

 

[rdhawk1950]

Re: Audible Whistling alarm

RE the pump in the back left corner of the Q5 motor well is the trim pump for the up and down of the stern drive. You can use a power steering type fluid for this..RE the sensor for low oil level in the stern drive , there is actually a float switch in the oil bottle at the front right of the motor with a blue/green color oil.The float switch goes down as the oil goes down.

 

[etransfer]

Re: Audible Whistling alarm

I had the same alarm three years ago when I got my Q6 and it was low trim fluid. I now keep a quart in the boat just in case.

I took it to the dealer and he told me the seals need to swell and it takes 20-30 hours. Until then you need to keep an eye on the fluids. Last year
it didn't use hardly any fluid all summer so I guess the dealer was correct ?

 

[briborg]

Re: Audible Whistling alarm

Thanks all for the reply. I read in a manual that the trim pump should have 10w-30 oil put in it. I topped off the trim pump tank then cycled the trim up and down a few times and the level stayed full and no more alarms. That seemed to be my problem.