Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Ted & Karen on March 27, 2015, 02:05:16 pm

Title: Strange instrument reading
Post by: Ted & Karen on March 27, 2015, 02:05:16 pm
While driving about 300 miles yesterday, I check my instruments (VMS-PC mostly) after coming down a 5% grade in southern Arizona on I-8.  Everything seemed fine except the oil pressure- 103 psi.  I looked at my dash gauge- same , it was pegged at 103.
I varied my speed to see it if changed- nothing.  Everything else was in good range- temp, pressures, etc.  Coach was running good , so I stopped at the next rest area and called Bernd.

He agreed that it is probably a bad sensor, otherwise I would get check engine or even stop engine warnings, etc. 

I checked oil level today- fine.  Guess the coach knows we are headed for NAC to get new fuel lines from Bernd and wanted to give him something else to look at............lol.

Another adventure on the road........................... ^.^d
Title: Re: Strange instrument reading
Post by: Mark D on March 27, 2015, 05:16:20 pm
When the connection between the sender and some of those gauges get loose the gauge pegs to max.  It could just be a bad connection.  My my past experience bad senders read low oil pressure.
Title: Re: Strange instrument reading
Post by: JohnFitz on March 27, 2015, 06:54:26 pm
Usually the dash gauges have senders that are independent of the engine ECU sensors.  I would have guess that pressure is real.
What do they read when the ignition is on but the engine is stopped?  How about at Idle?  If still 103 when stopped then it would have to be the sender.
I haven't heard of a "oil pressure too high" alarm but there could be one.  Too low is usually the concern.
If the high pressure is real it could be caused by a stuck pressure relief valve in the oil supply system.  The only harm I can think of is if it were to burst the oil filter or some other external oil line - but I wouldn't think that would happen at only 103 psi.
Title: Re: Strange instrument reading
Post by: Mogan David on March 27, 2015, 09:09:34 pm
When the connection between the sender and some of those gauges get loose the gauge pegs to max.  It could just be a bad connection.  My my past experience bad senders read low oil pressure.
When mine was pegged at the top, mechanic worked with the wires & connections, checked gauge & connections, worked with the wires, checked gauge... ultimately got a new sender from FT = accurate display.
Title: Re: Strange instrument reading
Post by: Don & Tys on March 27, 2015, 09:23:18 pm
I was just at the Silverleaf seminar at the FMCA rally today and asked him about which oil pressure reading was more trustworthy. He (Dale) said that the VMSPC uses the ECM sensors whereas the dash gauges use sensors installed by the coach builders. In our case, the dash gauge reads significantly lower (especially while warm) than the VMSPC. I do know that the dash gauge sender was replaced right before we bought it because I noted that it wasn't working on the test drive. I think maybe the lot handyman put the wrong sending unit in... I trust what the engine is telling the ECM more than I trust the dash gauge. The fact that the VMSPC was reading the same as the dash gauge has me wondering about yours. I hope you get it resolved soon!
Don
Title: Re: Strange instrument reading
Post by: Ted & Karen on March 28, 2015, 10:53:10 am
At idle it is still 103

Hopefully it is a bad wire or sender/sensor.  That is what I am thinking. 

Part of the adventure/fun of living on the road............................... ;D