1998 200 hp oiling system dependability?

[sbklf]

I hear the drive gear on the crank for the oiling system pump is plastic and that it is common for them to strip out. I am faced with replacing a $100.00 sensor to get the warning system to work. The service guy recommends to abandon the oiling system and put the oil directly in the tank at 50:1 as he sees these gears strip out frequently. I have confirmed that the alarm I am receiving is false and the oiler is oiling properly but am not sure the condition of the gear or if I can even check it. What would you do?

 

[timebandit]

The condition of the gear can be checked with pump and coupler removed. Look down the bore with a flashlight while rolling the motor over. The sensor did not really fail that often. Probably the alarm is right and the gear is bad. I have seen poor connetions at the sensor cause your problem. The module has a green wire that goes to the #4 coil connection on the switch box. Make sure that is right as well. The gear usually failed if the coulper got stuck in the block. The clearance was increased to help with this.

Most people will tell you to abandon an oil system if they do not know anything about it.

 

[galamb]

I would replace the gear (if bad) and keep the oiler intact.

Over time it will save you more in the cost of oil (and the motor will run as designed - not at 50:1 "all the time") than the cost of the repair to the gear (as noted above the original issue was corrected with the replacement parts).