Carver Owners Forum

I am a new menber and recently purchased a 355 Aft Cabin. I have only had the boat out3-5 times for short runs. I am a remoldeling the boat to bring it back to a beautiful condition, the bones are very good. My question is any ideas on why the oil PSI is 80-85 on both engines? I poke around at15-1800 RPM'S. Also, My water temps are 180 and 190 degrees. Any suggestions would help. I am a little embarrassed, I haven't checked the manual, but all seems high. Csdaman2

Are your engines closed cooled ( fresh water, heat exchanger ) or raw water cooled, also on fresh water or salt.?? If you want to rest easy get the oil pressure checked with an external mechanical gage.....does the pressure fluctuate at all when engines are hot vs cold.80-85 seems ok to me, maybe heavy weight oil in there?? Some others with the same boat combo can probably chime in.

If the engines have heat exchangers then maybe you have 180 thermostats which I would be happy with, makes the engines more efficient Imho......

First off - as Bud said - unless you are measuring at the block with a mechanical guage, your readings will be inaccurate.

Second, assuming you have big blocks, your oil pressure when cold could be in that "neighborhood" if it's a pretty low hour boat. I would bet it's actually somewhere between 40 to 60psi cold and drops down substantially hot.

Performance oil filters as well as oil treatments (LUCAS, STP ECT) will crank it up there too.

As for the water temp, your are fine - well within the operating range.

Our 1998 355 AC/MY with 454 crusaders calls for and gets 40W oil (Rotella) and runs in that area psi. I'm in fresh water with open cooling and temp runs around 140 and has 143 degree thermostats in it. I'm guessing your closed cooling and would run higher in the 180 range. Mike PS=Welcome aboard the Carver craze!

To answer Bud 37, yes, my boat is closed cooled, low time, and is in fresh water (inland river) Thanks to all who responded, your info and opinion are greatly appreciated. I will take your advice, but all have already made me much more comfortable. I love my Carver! Glad to be a new member of the website and The Carver Club.
Csdaman2

My 355 with mercury closed cooling 454's idles at about 40 psi gauge and goes to about 60-70 gauge at 3200- 3500 when warm (175-180). As mentioned above it may be a gauge error, additives, oil weight or someone may have installed a high pressure oil pump somewhere along the line. I would not be to concerned unless the engines show significantly different or low pressure.
I run mobile 1 15/50.

Mike, I didn't realize open cooling was even an option in 1998?

Tom;
That's what there. Oh no I got the rare ones', just my luck!

That should make it worth more!