LOW OIL PRESSURE

[cajunfuse]

Our T180 skid loader is signaling low oil pressure then shuts down. It will start back up and act ok for a short while, then repeats. I took it to the dealer and he immediately started in about a new engine and went on and on to the point that I thought i was being pre-greased. Here is my questions. It has 950 hours. I sense no loss of hp or rpms when cranked. there is no engine knocking. there is no engine smoking when running. There is no mixing of any fluids senarios. They said the sensor is good that they did a manual test and it is running 12 psi of oil pressure. any directives out there.

 

[SSdoxie]

The first and obvious thing to me would be find out why it has low oil pressure. 12 psi at idle would not trigger a code, but at high RPM it would.
Why? Is oil pump worn? Is there excessive clearance in a bearing somewhere? Is there a suction leak at the oil pickup tube? Dealer is giving you worst case scenario, but it will take some labor time & $ to find out route cause and correct repair.

 

[PoorPlowboy]

What's the maintenance history of the engine look like? Regular scheduled oil and filter changes done?

See if you can locate a manual oil pressure gauge and a service manual for the engine to show where the correct port to check the pressure. It could either be a faulty sending unit or gauge if maintenance has been done on schedule.

In other words, that's the type of expense that I must see the diagnostics performed with my own eyes and known good set of gauges.

If it truly is showing low oil pressure on the manual gauge, I've extended the usable life of engines by going up a couple levels on oil viscosity to where it would build safe pressure again.

 

[cajunfuse]

All maintenance by the book. In fact probably oil changes a little sooner than specified. Engine has approx. 900 hours. We are definitely looking for another mechanic.

 

[tmajor]

How about faulty oil filter?

 

[cajunfuse]

Wish it were that easy. Code came up before filter change as well as after filter and oil were changed.

 

[tmajor]

After checking gauges, etc., I'd go for the pump. My NAA had low pressure from the day I bought it, used. Finally, the pressure dropped to zero .. the valve in the pump was stuck. A new pump gave me more pressure than it had ever had.

 

[ToadHill]

I'd start with a new sending unit. If that is faulty it could be causing the problem you are having. Next, I'd drop the pan and replace the pump. If both of them do not solve the problem, it's time for new bearings but at 950 hours with regular maintenance I doubt that is the issue.

 

[cajunfuse]

WHAT IS THE CORRECT OIL PRESSURE PSI ON A T180? MY OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT GIVE THIS INFO.

 

[SSdoxie]

The controller monitors engine RPM versus oil pressure so the pressure minimum varies with engine speed. The minimums are: at idle - psi must be more than 8. At full throttle - must more that 25 psi to prevent a low code and 20 pis or less will cause shutdown. To check the pressure with manual guage, remove the pressure switch and screw in a guage. With switch removed and unplugged, engine will stay running but give code that the switch is unplugged.

 

[Bobcatman]

Unplug oil sender if a 2 wire sender then check code, then install a paper clip into wiring plug if code changes to opposite then sender is bad. Ex out of range low it will change to out of range high. OR remove sender install manuel gauge to check actual pressure

 

[SAPP99]

I WOULD ALSO CHECK YOUR WIRING. I HAVE SEEN WHERE THERE MIGHT BE 4 OR 5 STRANDS CONNECTED AND IT WOULD READ JUST FIND. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THE TRACK MACHINE IN OUR SHOP HAVE WORN WIRES BECAUSE OF THE VIBRATION OF THE MACHINE. I WOULD LOOK BEHIND THE HYDRAULIC FILLER NECK UNDER THE CAB THERE IS A BIG CONNECTOR THERE AND THE WIRES LIKE TO RUB ON THE FRAME OR HYDRAULIC TANK.

I HAVE ALSO SEEN WERE THE CONTROLLER/COMPUTER WILL GIVE A FALSE CODE. THEY SOMETIMES SHORT OUT INTERNALLY. WE PUT A TEST CONTROLLER IN TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY AT OUR DEALERSHIP . THE BAD PROBLEM WITH HAVING A COMPUTERIZED MACHINE IS SOMETIME YOU ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE DEALERSHIP.

 

[mrcooper81]

Hey, did you end up figuring this out. I致e got the exact same issue at 520 hours.

 

[JJZ 109]

Hey, did you end up figuring this out. I致e got the exact same issue at 520 hours.

Looks like no solution posted. I had the same issue on my 2008 S185. Unscrewed the oil pressure sending unit and screwed in a manual gauge. All kinds of oil pressure. New sending unit and I was all set.
That was about 3 years ago and she's still good.

 

[mrcooper81]

Thanks for your response, what does it look like and where is it located?

 

[JJZ 109]

Thanks for your response, what does it look like and where is it located?

I don't know what you have for a machine. On my S185 it's right on the side of the engine facing you. A little gold or silver colored metal module with a wire attached if I remember correctly.
This photo may not be the exact part number for your machine, but the sensor should look a lot if not exactly like what you need. The threaded end goes to the engine and the plug will face you.



But as stated, if you have the means to attach a mechanical gauge to it to test oil pressure, that will tell you whether you need to spend money on the sensor or if you have bigger problems.

 

[JohnFourteenSix]

Having similar issues; starts up at 15 PSI idle/30 PSI full, but then drops to about <10 idle and ~20 full. Sending unit is ok. Engine only has 1600 hours, so I'm not sure what should be worn. I did have a coolant leak recently: fixed it, but there was coolant and oil all mixed in. It's also been stuck in the mud. Was working fine before that, but it wasn't that deep in water/mud.