Oil in bilge, low oil pressure

[PGALLAGH]

I have a 2005 Bayliner 195 with a 5.0 mercruiser. I recently went out for a "fun" ride with some friends and had a low oil pressure warning intermittantly at idle for a few seconds as we left the dock. It went away with higher RPMs, and we proceded to our favorite spot and got the same warning as we came off plane and approached our island to unload. As we anchored, I checked under the hatch and noticed oil in the bilge. I checked the oil dipstick and it showed 2 quarts low. I had checked the engine before we left, and checked the bilge (spotless since I clean the boat after each trip). I also don't put the drain plug in until we hit the ramp (part of my preflight ritual.)

After calling my mechanic, he suggested limping home at lowest plane speed possible (30mph) and stopping the engine if engine temp rose past 180 degrees, or if oil pressure dropped off too much. We made it home, and I drained the bilge water/oil into a bucket. It didn't look like that much, but the dipstick now reads no oil. I have searched the accessable parts of the oil pan, oil sending unit on top of the motor, valve covers, and the timing chain cover (all clean).

Anyone know where the other oil sending unit is located on this motor? Or any other possible location for my leak?

 

[Don S]

Re: Oil in bilge, low oil pressure

Clean it up, Fill it up with oil, start it up and start looking. Only way you are going to find an oil leak.
What does your oil pressure gauge say? The alarm could be for something else other than oil pressure.

 

[PGALLAGH]

Re: Oil in bilge, low oil pressure

Oil pressure is usually quite high 40-80psi on the stock gauge, was low that day, 10 at idle 20 on plane at around 2500 rpms. Was really low on return trip at 10 psi. No knock or ticking lifters though. Engine was a little hot at 180 degrees.

Clean it up, Fill it up with oil, start it up and start looking. Only way you are going to find an oil leak.
What does your oil pressure gauge say? The alarm could be for something else other than oil pressure.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Oil in bilge, low oil pressure

Hey, Keep it simple first. Do as Don said. Put some oil in, put on the muffs, get a really good flashlight and start it. Check around the oil filter and the oil cooler. Then start looking around the rest of things.
I wouldn't do too good a job cleaning just yet either. At least not it till you know where the problem is.

 

[series60]

Re: Oil in bilge, low oil pressure

I have searched the accessable parts of the oil pan, oil sending unit on top of the motor, valve covers, and the timing chain cover (all clean).

Anyone know where the other oil sending unit is located on this motor? Or any other possible location for my leak?

Other oil sending unit? Usually there is only one which is located back by the distributor on a 5.0.

 

[PGALLAGH]

Re: Oil in bilge, low oil pressure

Other oil sending unit? Usually there is only one which is located back by the distributor on a 5.0.

I checked the one behind the distributor - no leak, but I thought there was an additional oil sensor. One for gauge and one for ignition cutoff/buzzer? Been working all weekend, but I will have a chance tomorrow (Tuesday) to check it out. Going to do the camera trick under the motor to video all the places I can't see. The 5.0 in this boat was pretty rare, and with NO access room, I can see why. Every small problem requires the motor to be pulled. Just had it serviced last month, so it may just be the oil filter or the drain plug (crossing fingers). I highly doubt it would be the pan rusted out since it's an '05, and I do clean the boat pretty well after each use. I will update tomorrow.

 

[dingdongs]

Re: Oil in bilge, low oil pressure

in my bayliner 205 i have to unscrew the wooden uprights which have about 3 screws that screw it down to floor and removes easily.it then gives acess to winterising blue plugs,spark plugs easier.only found this out after ripping half my skin off.

 

[PGALLAGH]

Re: Oil in bilge, low oil pressure

in my bayliner 205 i have to unscrew the wooden uprights which have about 3 screws that screw it down to floor and removes easily.it then gives acess to winterising blue plugs,spark plugs easier.only found this out after ripping half my skin off.

So I crawled as far under as I could get, and took my digital camera and filmed the underside of the motor as much as possible. Looks like the other oil sensor is under the back of the port side head of the engine, and is rusted/bulging. The oil filter is right below, with the only oil drips I could find anywhere were on the bottom of the filter. Going to change the oil sensor and the filter, and check for extra seal (from a prior change) on oil filter seat.

 

[92rslt1]

Re: Oil in bilge, low oil pressure

make sure the oil filter isnt double sealed... happens all the time.

 

[Failproof]

Re: Oil in bilge, low oil pressure

You looking for the single terminal, 1/4 npt nipple sender right above the oil filter. Usually that would be for the low oil alarm. The big bulbous one by the distributor usually is the gauge. Not always though.

 

[wannaboozecruiser]

Re: Oil in bilge, low oil pressure

I have a 2005 Bayliner 195 with a 5.0 mercruiser. I recently went out for a "fun" ride with some friends and had a low oil pressure warning intermittantly at idle for a few seconds as we left the dock. It went away with higher RPMs, and we proceded to our favorite spot and got the same warning as we came off plane and approached our island to unload. As we anchored, I checked under the hatch and noticed oil in the bilge. I checked the oil dipstick and it showed 2 quarts low. I had checked the engine before we left, and checked the bilge (spotless since I clean the boat after each trip). I also don't put the drain plug in until we hit the ramp (part of my preflight ritual.)

After calling my mechanic, he suggested limping home at lowest plane speed possible (30mph) and stopping the engine if engine temp rose past 180 degrees, or if oil pressure dropped off too much. We made it home, and I drained the bilge water/oil into a bucket. It didn't look like that much, but the dipstick now reads no oil. I have searched the accessable parts of the oil pan, oil sending unit on top of the motor, valve covers, and the timing chain cover (all clean).

Anyone know where the other oil sending unit is located on this motor? Or any other possible location for my leak?

Believe it or not, same thing happened to me two weeks ago on my 93 Bayliner Capri.

After being extremely upset for two day, I fill it back up with oil and started her up. Found the leak to be coming out the oil pressure sending unit. Located basically behind the distributor. looks like a bell. I found it dripping, which explained by I also had some traces of oil on top of the manifold.

During my upset stage people were saying, main seal, oil pan seal, oil pressure buzzer switch but none explained oil on top of manifold. Well now I know.

Hope this helps, Good Luck

 

[PGALLAGH]

Re: Oil in bilge, low oil pressure

Believe it or not, same thing happened to me two weeks ago on my 93 Bayliner Capri.

After being extremely upset for two day, I fill it back up with oil and started her up. Found the leak to be coming out the oil pressure sending unit. Located basically behind the distributor. looks like a bell. I found it dripping, which explained by I also had some traces of oil on top of the manifold.

During my upset stage people were saying, main seal, oil pan seal, oil pressure buzzer switch but none explained oil on top of manifold. Well now I know.

Hope this helps, Good Luck

Thanks for your input. My intake and valve cover s are dry, and it seems like the only oil drips anywhere are on the bottom of the oil filter. That second oil sensor is right above it and is rusty/swollen. Going to replace both the filter and the sensor when we get back from our Griswold family summer vacation this week. Will update then...

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: Oil in bilge, low oil pressure

when we get back from our Griswold family summer vacation this week. Will update then...

Don't forget the dog!!

 

[PGALLAGH]

Re: Oil in bilge, low oil pressure

Don't forget the dog!!

I realize this is old, but wanted to update. Seems the oil pan on newer vortecs have accommodations for a dipstick on both sides depending on application. This was located near the oil filter on the port side. So, new oil pan/ engine removal next week.