"Hi, my 1976 MD11C has lost th
"Hi, my 1976 MD11C has lost the oil pressure out of a sudden. I'll list the recent events as I remeber them to give you the picture:
1. Fri 13 Nov - changed oil and filter. No dramas, messy as usual but all ok.
2. Sat/Sun 14/15 Nov - went out for a sail, no wind one day so motored all up for about 6 hours. Pressure was normal.
3. Sat 21 Nov - Had a look inside stern gland because was leaking too much and I couldn't control it any longer. Ordered new packing.
This has got nothing to do with the engine but later on required me to run the engine under load at the dock while adjusting the packing nut.
4. Sat 28 Nov - adjusted valves. Also replaced rocker covers (valve covers). I used to have aluminum ones with allen hex bolts, one was round inside and difficult to undo. But the real reason for replacement was that I got a pair with decompression levers and wanted to get the hand cranking mechanism ready. The "new" ones are cast iron. I don't think it all matters but just giving you the whole picture.
5. Mon 30 Nov - got the packing and replaced it. Run the engine at the dock under load to test packing. The gland was too hot. Engine and oil pressure was all ok.
6. Wed 2 Dec - adjusted the packing nut and started the engine to test it. Noticed no oil pressure. The gauge was playing up sometimes so I knocked it, checked the wiring, still no pressure so I stopped the engine.
7. Fri 4 Dec - borrowed mechanical pressure gauges from work and connected. Ran the engine for a minute or so - no pressure at all.
8. Sat 5 Dec - removed oil pump. Disassembled and checked - all ok. Put the pump back. Hand fed it with oil and was pumping ok. Removed dipstick and fed some oil directly to the pump via small tube. Turned the engine by hand and pump sucked the oil.
Diagnosis so far: the pump is not sucking the oil from the sump.
The oil level is slightly above max as it was after the oil change..
The gaskets around the dipstick and dipstick housing are all ok and should be sealing correctly.
Not sure what the next step should be. I do not want to run the engine anymore until I am certain the problem is fixed. I'm worried that I may have damaged the bearings already by running without the pressure for too long while doing all these tests.
What would you do next?
PS. I know a new Beta is one option, but...."
"Hi, my 1976 MD11C has lost the oil pressure out of a sudden. I'll list the recent events as I remeber them to give you the picture:
1. Fri 13 Nov - changed oil and filter. No dramas, messy as usual but all ok.
2. Sat/Sun 14/15 Nov - went out for a sail, no wind one day so motored all up for about 6 hours. Pressure was normal.
3. Sat 21 Nov - Had a look inside stern gland because was leaking too much and I couldn't control it any longer. Ordered new packing.
This has got nothing to do with the engine but later on required me to run the engine under load at the dock while adjusting the packing nut.
4. Sat 28 Nov - adjusted valves. Also replaced rocker covers (valve covers). I used to have aluminum ones with allen hex bolts, one was round inside and difficult to undo. But the real reason for replacement was that I got a pair with decompression levers and wanted to get the hand cranking mechanism ready. The "new" ones are cast iron. I don't think it all matters but just giving you the whole picture.
5. Mon 30 Nov - got the packing and replaced it. Run the engine at the dock under load to test packing. The gland was too hot. Engine and oil pressure was all ok.
6. Wed 2 Dec - adjusted the packing nut and started the engine to test it. Noticed no oil pressure. The gauge was playing up sometimes so I knocked it, checked the wiring, still no pressure so I stopped the engine.
7. Fri 4 Dec - borrowed mechanical pressure gauges from work and connected. Ran the engine for a minute or so - no pressure at all.
8. Sat 5 Dec - removed oil pump. Disassembled and checked - all ok. Put the pump back. Hand fed it with oil and was pumping ok. Removed dipstick and fed some oil directly to the pump via small tube. Turned the engine by hand and pump sucked the oil.
Diagnosis so far: the pump is not sucking the oil from the sump.
The oil level is slightly above max as it was after the oil change..
The gaskets around the dipstick and dipstick housing are all ok and should be sealing correctly.
Not sure what the next step should be. I do not want to run the engine anymore until I am certain the problem is fixed. I'm worried that I may have damaged the bearings already by running without the pressure for too long while doing all these tests.
What would you do next?
PS. I know a new Beta is one option, but...."