Too much or too little oil? Sensor going off

[n-mod]

I know this is the PWC forum, but its the same engine and the other forum doesn't get enough responses. I have a 2004 seadoo sportster 4tec. I did an oil change this winter and now everytime I start it it beeps at me. After about 10 attempted starts the boat will run perfectly until it sits for over 2 hours.

We took the boat down to florida and boated over 300 miles while it was doing this every day. So I don't think its damaging the engine much, but how do I fix it?

It sounds like to me that my oil might be too high? Like it settles too much in the case while sitting and it take a few turns to distribute it throughout the engine. Anyone have any tips?

 

[devonte007]

You stated that you had an oil change done recently, who did it? Did you take it to a dealer or do it yourself? I would like to assume that whoever did it, did it correctly, but you never know. Was the oil filter replaced? Did the correct oil get put back in? Little things like this can cause big problems.

Since you are getting the alarm, there is most likely something wrong and I'm not sure if it was a good idea to drive the boat for 300 miles with this alarm going off. Since you did drive the boat with the alarm on, did the boat ever enter "limp mode" while the alarm was going off. When in limp mode, the computer limits engine performance and speed.

What is the oil level right now with the boat level? The oil level should be right in the middle of the two bends on the dip stick. Over filling the oil is bad for these engines and can trigger an alarm, just as low oil is bad. If the oil is too high, it will definitely trigger the alarm. If too much oil, you will need to suck some out. Something tells me you just have too much oil in the engine, it happens to lots of people and it is easy to do (even did it myself once). All it takes is an extra 1/2 a quart and the alarm can go off, these engines are very sensitive to oil level. Check this first.

If the oil level is correct, you need to start looking at oil pressure and the two oil sensors. It could be something as simple as a bad connection on one of the sensors or simply a bad sensor. It could even be a clogged oil filter. Unfortunately on this boat (without the digital gauge cluster) the only way to determine which trouble code the engine is giving off is to hook it up to the dealer diagnostic BUDS.

Hope this helps some, but either way I would not use the boat until I found the source of the problem as you could be doing engine damage.

 

[n-mod]

I was the one who did the oil change. Its the first time I've ever done one on these 4-tec but I'm fairly certain I did it correctly besides the level. I wasn't able to get a perfect measurement of how much I took out.

The each time I would start the boat it would enter limp mode and beep. After about 10 attempted starts it would run all day without any complaints and had full power.

I can't seem to get an accurate reading on the dipstick. The oil usually ends up on one half of the dipstick and is spotty. Once running it in the water for a while though and reading it on the water it appears to be perfectly centered on the dipstick. I just don't want to take out more oil and risk that I'm already too low unless I'm certain.

What do you suggest? Should I take out a 1/2 quart of oil and try to run it and see if the problem is fixed?

 

[KK40384]

Watch this video and see if you did it right

http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?60511-4-TEC-Oil-Change-quot-How-To-quot-**Video**

 

[n-mod]

Yeah I did everything exactly the way you did. The only difference is the dipstick gives different readings each time and the only is usually only on the one half of the dipstick. Its really hard to explain, not like how my car dipstick shows.

 

[KK40384]

Ok let's assume that for some odd reason oil won't stick to one half of the dip stick. What's the level at on the half it does read? And what type of oil did you use?

 

[garrettfox2005]

I have the same problem with my 2005 RXT when checking the oil. It seems that when pulling the dipstick out of the canal it gets oil on the stick as you pull it up making it hard to determine the oil line. It sure is a lot harder to check than a automobile

 

[n-mod]

I have the same problem with my 2005 RXT when checking the oil. It seems that when pulling the dipstick out of the canal it gets oil on the stick as you pull it up making it hard to determine the oil line. It sure is a lot harder to check than a automobile

I think thats exactly what is happening. It never gives the same reading because it seems it is scratching the sidewalls of the tube and picking up oil. So maybe I'm so low on oil that none gets on the stick? But that wouldn't make sense why the boat stops beeping after warming up a bit would it?

 

[garrettfox2005]

Yes I think you are right and it doesn't make sense why it would stop beeping after warming up because if it was low in oil it SHOULD continue to beep. Be careful and don't run it out of oil. I supposedly did in mine last summer and threw a rod through the block. Yeah, I just spent over $3000 dollars on a new engine.

 

[devonte007]

I guess it can be difficult to sometimes get a read on oil level. I would try to warm up the engine fully, take it out for a run, then shut it off and let it sit for about a half hour. Long enough for the hot oil to drain from the dip stick tube, but not long enough for the oil to completely cool off. Then try to get an accurate read from the dipstick. I would not remove any oil until you are able to accurately determine how much is actually in there.

If you determine that the oil level is correct (right in the middle of the dipstick) and the alarm still sounds then we got to dig deeper. I would probably start by making sure that the connections to each of the two oil pressure sensors are making good contact and that there is no issue with the wiring. With the engine running, wiggle the connector and wire harness, unplug and plug it back in, check for corrosion, etc.

If you determine it is not a connection or wiring problem then I would probably hook up an oil pressure gauge and check the oil pressure. I took a quick look at the shop manual and it is not very difficult to do granted you have the correct tools.

Another option is to replace each of the oil pressure sensors and see if that fixes the issue. They are only about $30 each and just simply screw in like a spark plug.

Keep us informed of your progress, I would be curious to find out what the actual problem is once you track it down. Good luck!

 

[n-mod]

Okay thanks for all the help. As soon some of this recent snowfall clears off the boat launches I will get it back in the water to do more testing and report back.

 

[KK40384]

Okay thanks for all the help. As soon some of this recent snowfall clears off the boat launches I will get it back in the water to do more testing and report back.

If I were you I would NOT get back into the water before I know for sure where the oil level is at. These motors are an expensive way to fins out you were low on it. Suck it all out if you have to, measure it and if it is right around 3.5 quarts you're good to go. If then the problem continues, there's a sensor somewhere. As stated above check the connection for corrosion and proper connection. If all that checks out, you have a oil sensor that's bad. My guess is you have a corroded ground somewhere.

 

[n-mod]

But if the sensor is bad I would think it would never stop beeping, but after a while the problem goes away entirely.

I guess unless the sensor needs to warm up to function.

 

[KK40384]

I guess unless the sensor needs to warm up to function.

you got it

 

[n-mod]

Just to let everyone know, I solved this problem. It was the oil was a little too high. I have to have it around 1/4 of the way between the two bends on the dipstick.

 

[Coastiejoe]

Too high of oil creates run-ability issues. This is the first time I have read of it tripping an alarm though.


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[n-mod]

Yeah, it still stumps me once in a while. On the really hot days (90+ degrees F) It still does it. I think I'm a little too full still, but works good on most days. I never experienced lack in power from too much.

 

[Coastiejoe]

Yeah, it still stumps me once in a while. On the really hot days (90+ degrees F) It still does it. I think I'm a little too full still, but works good on most days. I never experienced lack in power from too much.

Too full puts pressure on the crankcase and will take away from the engine performance. You can easily loose 1000 RPMs.


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[n-mod]

I mean't it doesn't beep most days, only the ones that are really hot. It always runs at about 7800 rpms at WOT. Maybe the oil level changed slightly over the summer. I will have to check it again next time I'm out.