Volvo 200x Oil Pressure Warning

[EdEssery]

I have a Volvo 2001. Recently the oil pressure light has started to flicker and the alarm make a sort of warbling sound at higher throttle settings. If I throttle the engine back it stops. I don't know the exact revs it starts at but we now can't motor at above 4 knots without it happening whereas we used to be able to motor for hours on end at 5 or 5.5 knots. At times, I have noticed the warbling stop and restart as the boat rolls from side to side.

This engine has always been a poor starter from cold in the three seasons I have had it, particularly in colder weather at the start and end of the season.

The engine has plenty of oil and runs very smoothly without any smoke.

Anybody seen or heard of this before and/or got any ideas? The alarm/warning light is definitely not on solidly even at maximum revs.

Thanks,

Ed

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[Stemar]

I'm not a mechanic, so this is not an expert opinion, but here's my 2 penny'th

If it were a true oil pressure problem, as long as there's enough oil, I'd expect the pressure to drop more when you reduce the revs. I'm therefore inclined to wonder if it isn't electrical.

The oil warning is fed 12V permanently and is earthed through the switch. An intermittent earth cased by insulation chafing through could cause the problem. A slight movement of the engine on its mounts, especially if these are a bit tired could bring it on at higher revs. Alternatively, a dodgy switch could play up as the engine runs a bit hotter.

If you can't find anything wrong, you could get an oil pressure guage (car breaker?) and fit the sender in a T piece (Halfords) so you've got both switch and sender working together. That way you can see what the pressure's doing.

Good luck

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[bendyone]

We had 2 x 2001s on our last boat both had the same as you within a year of each other. It was the oil preasure sitch causing the problem. Buy a new switch first and try it out.

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[cartman]

My 2003 does this too at tickover though. But wiggling the switch sorts it... so I concurr that a new switch is probably the answer

Steve

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[paulplatts]

I have a 3 cylinder Volvo engine, now nealy 3 years old. From new there has been an oil pressure warning problem. This occurs shortly after the engine is first started & clears as soon as the engine is revved. I have spoken to Volvo agents, but of course they have never heard of this & can not find a problem.
Interestingly enough I was in a marina recently listening to an agent handing over a chaarter boat to a new crew - he described this problem exactly - so is there a solution?

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