Oil Level Indictor Is it Working??

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Grady_Crazy

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I have a 200 HPDI and my oil level guage has never changed. It looks like this:
OilGuage.jpg


I was wanting to run it down low to see if it actually worked but I was going fishing and I filled it up, added 2 gals. of oil so obviously it was low but all 3 indicators on the guage were solid. I am thinking it has a 2.5 gal tank, could be wrong on that one. After I filled the tank, no change on the guage. after looking at this chart, it looks as if the right most bar goes out when it is down to 1.6 quart. Full tank 2.5 gal, .5 gal is 2 qt. Did I not run it low enough for it to change? Or is it not working?

OilGuage2.jpg
 
I've never heard of the level sensor going bad in either tank. You can unplug the remote tank harness and look for the indcators. I've never let my remote tanks run down low enough for the sensor to trip, but I know the level sesnor works on one motor. I had a kink in the line which ran the tank down and it filled fine after the kink was removed. I always check the tanks before I go out just to see their level and to see if the bilge is dry.
 
I think it might monitor the small oil tank on the engine instead of the larger tanks. Had one of those oil pumps attached to the remote tank fail and engine alarm sounded. We were able to get home stopping and filling the tank on the engine a few times. Now we keep a one gallon jug always onboard. Be sure and check those remote pumps as they can get rusted out.
 
The engine works fine and I always keep plenty of oil in the remote tank so I don't know if the alarms work or not. I will start keeping a jug of oil onboard just in case. My engine had only 165 hrs on it when I bought it and I have put on the last 40. I'm just curious about the oil alarms.
 
The oil alarm is in the oil tank on the side of your engine. It has a float valve in it, if your remote tank pump fails eventually and shortly your tank on the side of the engine will deplete oil and when the level gets on the low side the oil warning horn sounds. You can get home safely by adding oil to the tank to run home. I had that very thing happen to me in my Sailfish. Had to take out the livewell to get at the holding tanks and the pumps. While only one failed both were in bad shape. I think the design of the metal brackets for the tanks was a bad idea. The metal bracket was up against the electric pump and guess what electrollis finally killed the port pump, starboard pump was also corroded badly but still running. I used nylon straps to hold the tanks in place after replacing the motors.
 
Another point. You should check the slide in the oil tank on your engine every 100 hours to make sure it slides up and down freely. If it sticks it would be a disaster. I have heard of one guy that had that happen, but then he did not check them ever until too late. If you set up your boat over the winter that is one thing I would check at the dock after getting your boat out of winter storage. Hey that is another good reason to move to Florida!
 
Be very careful if you remove the cap and float from the motor tank. There is a fine mesh filter held on with a tie wrap on the bottom...if it's distorted, damaged, or works loose, it WILL get sucked into the oil pump. Bad things will happen to your powerhead in short order if that occurs.

Yamaha recommends that if the cap and float are removed, that the screen be removed, cleaned, and a fresh tie wrap installed to hold it in place.
 
All good advice but it is normal for the oil tank guage to show full when it is down 2 gallons of oil? As I mentioned earlier, it looks like the main tank has to get down to 1.6 qt or less for the guage to change. Can anyone verify this?
 
I can't verify at what level the "low level" alarm sounds but it is pretty low. There isn't an analog gauge like your gas tank, it's either happy or you better find some oil fast. That's why I make it a point to check the tanks before heading out and always have a gallon handy.
 
The alarm float in the little tank on the motor ,when you removed it that is the best and very easiest way to test. lifting it out of the tank checks the alarm operation.
 
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