Water Pressure Gauge

[team shadow]

I have a 1995 225 HP Evinrude and my water pressure gauge didn't wok at the beginning of the season and I replaced it and it was ok since.

My question is should there be water at the gauge? If not what could be wrong?

I know where it is hooked up at the motor but I'm not sure what that part is called or how it works.

And last i guess the hose and gauge should be disconnected during the winter?

 

[CatTwentyTwo]

Re: Water Pressure Gauge

No, I don't believe that there should be any water at the gauge. Water pressure from the motor will compress the air in thee tubing and operate the gauge. I have never worried about disconnecting it during the winter, but I guess you could blow air from the gauge back to the motor to clear any water out.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Water Pressure Gauge

makes sense, the air is locked and water should not be able to get to the guage itself.

Mine froze ther eother day and i just figured the water was frozen all the way to the guage and that it was something Id have to live with

but eventually the gauge started working again... I thought maybe the warm engine water thawed the line all the way..

Now i am guessing the water was frozen but warmed quickly because it is close to the motor...

nice Thread!

bob

 

[ezeke]

Re: Water Pressure Gauge

You should not have water in the line, only air.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Water Pressure Gauge

Usually you find only air in the line. If there is even a slight air leak in the feed hose at the gauge (or internal to the gauge,) water will eventually fill the line and can get into the gauge. The gauge will still work, but if it is in freezing temps-the ice will probably damage the gauge bladder and it will either not work right next year, or will read incorrectly. If you have any concerns, pull the line off the gauge when you put it up for the winter and blow any water back into the engine. I ran mine with no fall maintenance for 9 years, then over one winter the gauge froze and it had to be replaced the next spring. Perhaps an internal leak in the bladder. It went thru last winter with no maint and was fine this past spring.

 

[team shadow]

Re: Water Pressure Gauge

I just got the boat in 2008 and the gauge didn't work last spring and it was pegged and still was when I through it out.
I thought they worked on water pressure so I ran the motor with the hose disconnected at the gauge till the water came out. I thought I read you were supposed to do that, like bleeding it. I will drain it and leave it disconnected and hook it up in the spring before I run it.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Water Pressure Gauge

Allowing water to reach the gauge means the bourdon tube in the gauge gets moisture in it, freezes and then bursts the tube. This is an entirely closed system and there should be no water in it. As explained, water pressure at the engine compresses air in the tube which pressurizes the bourdon tube causing it to unwind and therefore move the needle.

 

[team shadow]

Re: Water Pressure Gauge

I pulled the hose off at the gauge and there was water in the hose and gauge.
I drained what I could and removed the gauge to let it dry out.

I found the installation manual from Teleflex and they do suggest removing the hose and draining any water from the hose or the gauge could go to full scale and be permanently damaged, which is exactly what happened last year.