Low coolant Pressure.. Trip in 3 Days...

[KSalibs]

Good evening,

i think i may have stumbled on an issue that hasn't fully presented itself yet... I have a 2003 320 DA with 6.2 Closed cooled blocks... Yesterday I was at the boat prepping for an upcoming trip. (Barnegate NJ to OCMD back to cape may then AC ) I was flipping through my smartcraft gauges via my Garmin while running and noticed my port engine showed that the coolant (fresh water) pressure was at 15 psi while the starboard was at 30 psi. The temps for each engine were fine. They were both identical and where they always are. Cant recall exact # i think 175... anyway i did notice a little coolant under the engine and i believe I traced it up to a hose that may be the cause. I am going to try to repair this before leaving but my question is can low coolant levels cause this loss of pressure? could it just be a sensor? do fresh water pumps go bad? hoping to get down there tomorrow top off the coolant and see if that changes anything.

any pointers would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Ididntdoit]

All you've discovered is that your raw water pressure sensors are faulty - switch them and the "problem" will move with it - on my set up the are at the back of the motor on top in a cooler....just re-read original post and your saying it's the coolant side......there is no way in hell the system would take 30lbs of pressure....you would be blowing out freeze plugs or popping the heat exchanger....home many pound cap is on it?.....again, must be a bad sensor....

 

[KSalibs]

Hmm ok thanks I know what sensors your referring to. I changed them last year... so even though the label on the gauge reads "coolant pressure (psi)" you think that's for the raw water? Not the actual coolant?

 

[MTC]

I believe he is saying if it is the coolant side the 15 PSI is accurate, not the 30 PSI. You most likely have a 16 PSI cap and if you truly had 30 PSI you would be in big trouble.