Active Active   Unanswered Unanswered

1959 CC Ski 18' 283 has low oil pressure when started cold some times but others it jumps right up to 30-40.

Keeping your powerboat under power is a lot easier with good advice. Post your power systems questions here.

Moderators: Don Ayers, Al Benton, Don Vogt

Tony G
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2014 1:30 pm
Contact:

1959 CC Ski 18' 283 has low oil pressure when started cold some times but others it jumps right up to 30-40.

Post by Tony G » Tue Oct 16, 2018 8:04 am

Oil pressure very low 3-4 # when started cold sometimes but others it jumps right up to 30-40 PSI , before I tear into it does anyone have an idea what may be the cause , " new filter. good gauge, correct oil level ". you can actually hear a lifter tapping until the pressure comes up. It could take up to 4 minutes for the pressure to rise when this happens, but it doesn't do it all of the time .

User avatar
Bilge Rat
Posts: 383
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2015 4:02 pm
Contact:

Re: 1959 CC Ski 18' 283 has low oil pressure when started cold some times but others it jumps right up to 30-40.

Post by Bilge Rat » Tue Oct 16, 2018 8:51 am

A few possibilities here:

What grade oil are you running in it?

Oil pump may be worn, losing it's prime if it sits for a couple of days. Pick up screen might be partially plugged up with sludge.

Not sure what the 283 has for a pump pressure adjustment but could be something wrong with that.

If you're sure the gauge is good, worn out bearings but that should always show low pressure.

4 minutes of low pressure is way too long to be running the engine. The noisy lifter is telling you so (if it's truly the noise).
1966 Lyman Cruisette 25 foot "Serenity Now!"
1953 Chris Craft Sportsman 22 foot "Summerwind"

John Justice
Posts: 29
Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:40 pm
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Contact:

Re: 1959 CC Ski 18' 283 has low oil pressure when started cold some times but others it jumps right up to 30-40.

Post by John Justice » Tue Oct 16, 2018 3:55 pm

Is there a diagnostic procedure that would identify the problem before disassembling the bottom end of the engine? Maybe remove the oil pan access panel, spin the oil pump with a primer tool, and look for oil flow or swirling oil?

User avatar
mfine
Posts: 1405
Joined: Sun Jun 06, 2010 8:16 pm
Location: Pittsford and Penn Yan NY

Re: 1959 CC Ski 18' 283 has low oil pressure when started cold some times but others it jumps right up to 30-40.

Post by mfine » Wed Oct 17, 2018 5:11 am

You can pull the distributor and spin the oil pump.

User avatar
Bilge Rat
Posts: 383
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2015 4:02 pm
Contact:

Re: 1959 CC Ski 18' 283 has low oil pressure when started cold some times but others it jumps right up to 30-40.

Post by Bilge Rat » Wed Oct 17, 2018 6:15 am

Since its a Chevy engine, there are oil pump priming tools available that use the distributor opening to spin just the oil pump using a drill without turning the engine over. A old distributor with a modified shaft would do the same thing.
1966 Lyman Cruisette 25 foot "Serenity Now!"
1953 Chris Craft Sportsman 22 foot "Summerwind"

Greg Wallace
Posts: 400
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:49 pm
Location: Indian Lake, Ohio
Contact:

Re: 1959 CC Ski 18' 283 has low oil pressure when started cold some times but others it jumps right up to 30-40.

Post by Greg Wallace » Wed Oct 17, 2018 7:47 am

Have you tried that on a "flywheel forward"?
Greg Wallace 23 Custom 22166 former Chris-Craft dealer Russells Point, Oh.

John Justice
Posts: 29
Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:40 pm
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Contact:

Re: 1959 CC Ski 18' 283 has low oil pressure when started cold some times but others it jumps right up to 30-40.

Post by John Justice » Wed Oct 17, 2018 8:32 am

Tony, are you asking for things to look for as the engine is being disassembled? I'm not sure that there is anything that could cause the problem that could be fixed without removing the oil pan.

User avatar
mfine
Posts: 1405
Joined: Sun Jun 06, 2010 8:16 pm
Location: Pittsford and Penn Yan NY

Re: 1959 CC Ski 18' 283 has low oil pressure when started cold some times but others it jumps right up to 30-40.

Post by mfine » Wed Oct 17, 2018 6:08 pm

Greg Wallace wrote:
Wed Oct 17, 2018 7:47 am
Have you tried that on a "flywheel forward"?
Yes. The oil pump does not care which way the engine is facing or the direction of crank rotation. The distributor always spins in the same direction and always drives the oil pump in the same direction.

BTW, the tool I have was a large inexpensive screw driver from TSC with the handle cut off so it will fit in the chuck of a cordless drill.

jim g
Posts: 1003
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:55 pm
Contact:

Re: 1959 CC Ski 18' 283 has low oil pressure when started cold some times but others it jumps right up to 30-40.

Post by jim g » Wed Oct 17, 2018 10:52 pm

If its a flywheel forward engine. You would pull the tach drive not the distributor to spin the oil pump with a priming tool.

Greg Wallace
Posts: 400
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:49 pm
Location: Indian Lake, Ohio
Contact:

Re: 1959 CC Ski 18' 283 has low oil pressure when started cold some times but others it jumps right up to 30-40.

Post by Greg Wallace » Thu Oct 18, 2018 7:39 am

Jim wins the cookie.
Greg Wallace 23 Custom 22166 former Chris-Craft dealer Russells Point, Oh.

Tony G
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2014 1:30 pm
Contact:

Re: 1959 CC Ski 18' 283 has low oil pressure when started cold some times but others it jumps right up to 30-40.

Post by Tony G » Wed Jan 09, 2019 1:36 pm

Thanks for all the input, FYI when spinning the pump with a priming tool it does not allow you to build pressure because with the tack drive removed there is an open oil gallery passage , you can see the oil pumping but you will not build pressure. Found my problem to be a broken ring and scored cylinder wall and general wear, now totally rebuilt and purring like a kitten.

jim g
Posts: 1003
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:55 pm
Contact:

Re: 1959 CC Ski 18' 283 has low oil pressure when started cold some times but others it jumps right up to 30-40.

Post by jim g » Wed Jan 09, 2019 3:59 pm

Tony G wrote:
Wed Jan 09, 2019 1:36 pm
Thanks for all the input, FYI when spinning the pump with a priming tool it does not allow you to build pressure because with the tack drive removed there is an open oil gallery passage , you can see the oil pumping but you will not build pressure.
Incorrect. You were probably spinning it the wrong direction or a worn out pump.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests