billyfish
Active member
So with the dipstick coming out the other day. See previous thread, Came down today to tidy the mess. The level was not even on the bottom of the stick. Should the alarm not have gone off . How do you test they are working.
VP 31-D oil pressure switch
- Thread starter billyfish
- Start date
PaulRainbow
Well-known member
The alarm is for low pressure, not low level. So no, it should not have gone off. You are supposed to check fluid levels before starting the engine, on any trip.
If the low pressure alarm goes off, the engine is often toast before you can stop it.
billyfish
Active member
As you can see from my last thread. Not only had I checked it but changed it and the filter. Ran it for about 3 hours under load and it all came out through the dipstick. So it won't go off until it sucks air ?
PaulRainbow
Well-known member
I didn't read previous thread.
The alarm will not go off until the oil pressure falls below the threshold for the switch. In the real World, yes, it basically means that it won't go off until you run out of oil (unless there is a mechanical failure or a blockage etc). At best, you have a very few seconds to stop the engine, if you're up on deck etc, no chance.
Boater Sam
Well-known member
Sounds very bad, is it blowing out of the dip stick tube? Is there a seal missing? Or has the engine got severe crankcase compression, i.e. knackered?
Or is this one of the Volvo engines for which there is a kit to replace the dip stick tube so that it doesn't dip in the oil in the sump? There is another thread about this running on here.
Volvo diesels leaking oil out of dipstick.
Or is this one of the Volvo engines for which there is a kit to replace the dip stick tube so that it doesn't dip in the oil in the sump? There is another thread about this running on here.
Volvo diesels leaking oil out of dipstick.
billyfish
Active member
Thanks all. I've cleaned up and filled with oil, run up to temp, pulled out the dipstick and no oil came out . But wait there is just a mist of oil . So my conclusion at the moment is I didn't set the stick in properly or knocked it putting the cover back because I think to lose 1.5 Lts when just a mist, it must have been for the entire 3 or 4 hour that I ran it after changing. On the plus side it was all new oil and not dirty old stinky stuff.