low oil pressure

I plan, as my first effort, is see if there may be a loose or corroded connectiomd in the engine compartment that may be effected by heat. I have run wires from my bridge to the engine compartment for FlowScan and auto pilot and it is no easy task. I am not a kid anymore. My next project is to replace a navigation light that the shrink wrap guy destroyed so I can legally use my boat and maybe go on a cruise. I am finding that a 21 year old boat is hour of pleasure for four hours of work.
 
A spool-full of temporary bypass/jumper wire doesn't go through the chases, just run it outside.

If you are doing 4 hrs of work for 1 hr of boating pleasure, I don't think you are doing it right. Mine is 27 yrs old ( I/B engines 12 yrs) and I just went out and caught striped bass for a few hours today after working on it ( sanding /6-7 coats finishing, exterior teak) not leaving the dock for 10 days. :D I'm hoping to reverse that trend in the near future but suspect it's just fishful thinking.
 
Well my problem is some what solved. After I determined that my oil pressure was good with a mechanical gauge, I checked out the wiring and couldn't find any obvious problems. While I was in the engine compartment, I installed another new sending unit. I went on another trip and after an hour the pressure dropped to about 20 psi and slowly climbed to 30 psi. Starboard engine remained at approx. 40 psi. No bounces down to 0 as in the past. At this point, knowing that I have good oil pressure via the mechanical gauge, I am planning on taking out the mechanical gauge and put the buzzer switch back in and just keep monitoring the gauge.
 
I would, if all possible, keep the mechanical gauge. The only problem is running the 1/8" plastic tube from the engine to the dash. I have 2 mechanical gauges, one on the engine and one on the dash. Tape a length of yellow or orange weed eater line along with the oil line so you have a chase line already to go if you need to add other components. Every time you pull new line thru, tape another section of weed eater line so you have a fresh chase line for the next time you need it.
 
Are you screwing in the sender with Teflon tape since its NPT thread. The sender needs to make good contact with the engine block electrically in most engines. Teflon pipe dope is better in situations where you need the sender to make a good ground contact. If the sender has a single wire connection then it almost surely needs the base of the sender to make good ground contact.
 
When the oil pressure looks incorrect run a jumper from battery negative to the outside of the oil pressure sender. I still think its not getting a good ground.
 
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