Had some
work done at Indiantown before starting the trek up towards St. Augustine last week, it's been brutally hot with no
wind, so
ICW all the way. Day 1 gets us to Stuart, don't notice any problems, but could have been preoccupied by finally being back in the
water and moving again (and trying to make the last lock through at St. Lucie by 4:30 PM).
* Day 2, noticed the
oil pressure gauge leaning precariously over towards 20, this while chugging along at 2500
RPM (rated max is 3200, so about 75%).
Engine hours are low, 525 at start of the trip, with fresh
oil and filter change (and
fuel filters, and
antifreeze flush and fill). Backed off on the RPM's to 2000 and watched the gauge climb to 30ish - just in the green. OK, so now we're doing 4.5 kts and I can live with that.
* Day 3, we have a little
current against us and I'm finding @ 2000
RPM the gauge is ticking just over the 20 mark, I drop to 1900, climbs back up around 30ish, we make it a short day. I change the oil and filter that night to be on the safe side.
* Day 4, no better. Did I mention brutally hot? The
coolant temp is steady, straight up in the green. Took the
engine cover off and directed a fan into the compartment, no appreciable difference, except the
cockpit is now a really miserable place to be.
* Day 5, lots of
current against us and I'm down to 1750 RPM to just keep the needle at 20. It's a short day, the oil level is a tidge lower than it was.
All along the engine sounds the same, a bit loud, but it always has been, so no change there.
Exhaust is clear, oil color is golden, temp is steady. Bad gauge? Oil cooler? Oil
pump? Thoughts?