A week or so ago I was running back from A Can to Catawba Ramp when I got the one long beep for the critical oil alarm and the motor went into guardian mode (fast idle maximum).
Back home when I investigated, the on-boat reserve tank was 3/4 full but the on-engine tank was only 1/4 full so the oil was not getting from the on-boat tank to the on-engine tank.
The research I did and recommendations I received talked about broken reeds, check valve on the engine, inline oil filter between the 2 tanks, replacement of on-engine tanks, etc. But the fix was actually much simpler (and not mentioned anywhere that I could find).
There is a filter on the intake for the oil going from the on-boat tank to the on-engine tank and that filter was clogged with a waxy goo. I pulled the intake & cleaned it with carb cleaner. Put everything back together and it works just fine.
I have only ever used Optimax DFI oil since new (2016) so that waxy goo has to have been some sort of coagulation of the Optimax oil. I have not been able to find anything about Optimax oil going bad or having a "best-by-date" but in any event I have added draining and cleaning the on-boat tank and filter to my maintenance schedule.
Hopefully this helps prevent someone else having to rely on their kicker motor for the 15 mile ride to the ramp
Back home when I investigated, the on-boat reserve tank was 3/4 full but the on-engine tank was only 1/4 full so the oil was not getting from the on-boat tank to the on-engine tank.
The research I did and recommendations I received talked about broken reeds, check valve on the engine, inline oil filter between the 2 tanks, replacement of on-engine tanks, etc. But the fix was actually much simpler (and not mentioned anywhere that I could find).
There is a filter on the intake for the oil going from the on-boat tank to the on-engine tank and that filter was clogged with a waxy goo. I pulled the intake & cleaned it with carb cleaner. Put everything back together and it works just fine.
I have only ever used Optimax DFI oil since new (2016) so that waxy goo has to have been some sort of coagulation of the Optimax oil. I have not been able to find anything about Optimax oil going bad or having a "best-by-date" but in any event I have added draining and cleaning the on-boat tank and filter to my maintenance schedule.
Hopefully this helps prevent someone else having to rely on their kicker motor for the 15 mile ride to the ramp