No Oil pressure after changing oil.

[beruken]

I am trying to winterize my 1999 sea ray 190 4.3L for the first time and tried using a JABSCO drill pump to pull the oil from the dip stick tube. This comes with a smaller diameter tube to snake down into the pan and it didn't work too well. After completing the oil change my engine is not pumping oil! The alarm stayed on and no oil pressure at all. I checked the filter and it was bone dry.

Is it possible the tube damaged my pump?

k

 

[Fun Times]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

Hi there, try another oil filter.

What brand oil filter did you by? There have been a few threads like this one in the past and it's always been a defective new filter.

Let us know what you find, good luck.

 

[beruken]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

Hi there, try another oil filter.

What brand oil filter did you by? There have been a few threads like this one in the past and it's always been a defective new filter.

Let us know what you find, good luck.

That sounds like a good place to start. I purchased a Fram PH3980 which was supposed to be a direct replacement since the local marine store was out of stock of the original one. However I would expect there to be some trace of oil on/in the filter.

I am concerned about firing the engine as it ran for quite a few seconds dry. How long before the oil pressure registers? Should it register by just cranking the engine?

Thanks!

 

[MarkSee]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

I'm not sure about your engine year but I remember a Merc. mechanic mentioning to me that unless there is sufficient oil pressure, the engine will not be allowed to start by the computer (ECM?) system.
The experts here may be able to verify that but if that is true, then you should not have caused damage even though the pressure was low.

On my 2000 model 7.4 the pressure builds within a couple of seconds.


Mark

 

[RichRab]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

My guess is the filter also. You can leave filter off and quickly start motor after putting a ziplock type bag over fitting to see what happens. Silly question-- you are sure the correct amt of oil was added??

 

[300sflyer]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

There should be oil pressure there within a few seconds after starting it. Even with a completely clogged filter, the bypass valve should kick in and give you oil pressure. Was the pressure normal before doing the oil change? Did you warm up the engine before changing the oil?

 

[airshot]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

If oil pressure was Ok before oil chg then simply reuse old filter for a quick try, if you now have pressure you know it is the replacement filter. By the way and I know how popular they are but FRAM is the last filter I would buy. A few years back my company did an independent study on oil filters and their construction and we were completely shocked at the FRAM quality.
No one involved in the test will buy one now, just our opinion though.

 

[Bondo]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

That sounds like a good place to start. I purchased a Fram PH3980 which was supposed to be a direct replacement since the local marine store was out of stock of the original one. However I would expect there to be some trace of oil on/in the filter.

I am concerned about firing the engine as it ran for quite a few seconds dry. How long before the oil pressure registers? Should it register by just cranking the engine?

Thanks!

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,.... More than a few seconds, but well under a minute,....

I agree that Fram filters Suck,...

I run Napa filters, which are rebadged Wix filters, 'n Wix are some of the Best,...

If ya don't get Joy with a different filter,...
Check the wirin' on the motor for the pressure gauge,...

It'll be down low, postside of the block, right 'round the filter boss,...

 

[NHGuy]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

Stupid question, but did you refill the oil? Is it showing on the dipstick? And is the engine relatively level? If its low at the front and the oil is not full the pump might not be able to pick it up.

 

[alldodge]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

That sounds like a good place to start. I purchased a Fram PH3980 which was supposed to be a direct replacement since the local marine store was out of stock of the original one. However I would expect there to be some trace of oil on/in the filter.

I am concerned about firing the engine as it ran for quite a few seconds dry. How long before the oil pressure registers? Should it register by just cranking the engine?

Thanks!

The Merc part number for the V6 and V8 is Part number 35-866340K01; the FRAM cross reference is PH-8A, Pennzoil PZ-3, Wix 57099. Only issue appears to be the height and gasket diameter but basically same filter, EXCEPT

THE PH3980 DOES NOT HAVE A RELIEF VALVE
FRAM - Part Details

 

[achris]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

I have the stupid upside down remote filter (who ever came up with THAT!! :facepalm and so I can't fill the filter before fitting it to the engine. When I do an oil change it does take what seems like too long for the oil pressure to come up. I remember the first time it did it, I shut the engine down, rechecked EVERYTHING... Nothing wrong so I ran it a little longer, and the oil pressure came good. I had to give the engine a bit of a rev (to about 1500) for the pressure to rise though....

Chris.........

 

[beruken]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

My guess is the filter also. You can leave filter off and quickly start motor after putting a ziplock type bag over fitting to see what happens. Silly question-- you are sure the correct amt of oil was added??

good question, no I'm not. I didn't get all the oil out with the tube and wasn't sure. I did end up adding 3 quarts to what I thought was still at least a quart. After the first attempt I waited and checked. stick was at Add so I added another. then it registered way over. Tried putting boat on what I thought was a level plane. Still no luck. engine temp shot right up and no pressure registered so I shut it down quickly.

 

[beruken]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

The Merc part number for the V6 and V8 is Part number 35-866340K01; the FRAM cross reference is PH-8A, Pennzoil PZ-3, Wix 57099. Only issue appears to be the height and gasket diameter but basically same filter, EXCEPT

THE PH3980 DOES NOT HAVE A RELIEF VALVE
FRAM - Part Details

Thanks. The filter that was on there was a 33-883720q I believe.

 

[beruken]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

Stupid question, but did you refill the oil? Is it showing on the dipstick? And is the engine relatively level? If its low at the front and the oil is not full the pump might not be able to pick it up.

Yes, refilled and I had it cranked all the way up on the trailer. Never had a problem.

 

[beruken]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

If oil pressure was Ok before oil chg then simply reuse old filter for a quick try, if you now have pressure you know it is the replacement filter. By the way and I know how popular they are but FRAM is the last filter I would buy. A few years back my company did an independent study on oil filters and their construction and we were completely shocked at the FRAM quality.
No one involved in the test will buy one now, just our opinion though.

Thanks airshot. I heard too but it was the only one available to me at the time. Just wanted to get it winterized.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

.... engine temp shot right up and no pressure registered so I shut it down quickly.

Well, that's interesting. That would either seem to be suspect of something with the gauges or electrical issue then........all this while on a trailer on flusher muffs?

Mark

 

[beruken]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

There should be oil pressure there within a few seconds after starting it. Even with a completely clogged filter, the bypass valve should kick in and give you oil pressure. Was the pressure normal before doing the oil change? Did you warm up the engine before changing the oil?

Yes, oil was normal and I ran the engine for about 3 minutes. I didn't have a filter available at the time so i had to wait until the following day so the boat sat with only about a quart or so that I couldn't suck out. This is the part that sucks, with a car I can just drain it all and I know what I have to put in. It's a guessing game about what came out of the boat.

 

[achris]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

Yes, oil was normal and I ran the engine for about 3 minutes. I didn't have a filter available at the time so i had to wait until the following day so the boat sat with only about a quart or so that I couldn't suck out. This is the part that sucks, with a car I can just drain it all and I know what I have to put in. It's a guessing game about what came out of the boat.

Sounds like the pump dropped its prime. I've had that happen every time I've had an engine out and the oil pan off for anything more than a few hours....

Chris....

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

No oil pressure for a few seconds is absolutely normal while the oil fills th filter and all the lines and galleries after the oil change. Have never not gotten oil pressure back after a few seconds following a start. Heard the low pressure beeper sound off once, so far, then immediately silence when pressure shot up to 45/50 psi.

 

[300sflyer]

Re: No Oil pressure after changing oil.

Sounds like the pump dropped its prime. I've had that happen every time I've had an engine out and the oil pan off for anything more than a few hours....

Chris....

Yup... I would agree. Letting it sit after the oil is drained, is not a good thing.

Perhaps he could overfill the oil a few quarts, to help the pump recover its prime. Then just pump the excess back out once the pressure is back. The only other way I see to fix it, is to remove the distributor, and prime the pump with a priming tool. [I use an old distributor with all the gears ground off, and a HD electric drill]