The Smartcraft Follies
08-10-2003 | 09:10 PM
#1
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From: Quogue, NY
The Smartcraft Follies
New HP 525 with full Smartcraft instrumentation here. Yesterday, it warned me: "Overspeed!" I was nowhere near 5400. And the thing goes into safe mode.
Later, at an increasing rate: "Overspeed 3575 rpm!" "Overspeed 2794 rpm" and even the odd "Overspeed 1875 rpm!" It was going nuts. And then it sent me "Fuel Sensor Fault!" All gauges were ok, oil press a tad low at 30psi.
I limped home and gave it a once-over. Turns out that oil level was very low. Duh to me for not checking. And Duh to Smartcraft for missing it also. Smartcraft can report every parameter known to man, down to the Seawater temp (although they insist calling it "Lakewater",) but it can't tell me something as trivial and important as oil level.
I mean, a budget car flashes a yellow oil can at me when it wants more lubrication, but an engine that costs 4 times as much and that has a network connection into my dash throws all kinds of faults at me, except the right one. Go figure.
Dumped in several quarts of the proscribed 25W40 and the messages went away. Happy engine, oil yum.
Now, I know, Smartcraft instrumentation is being sneered on in racing circles, and Monster Gauges are all the rage. But if the gauge wouldn't have told me what the engine computer was thinking, I would not have known why the engine was going blotto all the time.
To make matters worse: Did a fault scan with the Rinda tool. No faults.
Later, at an increasing rate: "Overspeed 3575 rpm!" "Overspeed 2794 rpm" and even the odd "Overspeed 1875 rpm!" It was going nuts. And then it sent me "Fuel Sensor Fault!" All gauges were ok, oil press a tad low at 30psi.
I limped home and gave it a once-over. Turns out that oil level was very low. Duh to me for not checking. And Duh to Smartcraft for missing it also. Smartcraft can report every parameter known to man, down to the Seawater temp (although they insist calling it "Lakewater",) but it can't tell me something as trivial and important as oil level.
I mean, a budget car flashes a yellow oil can at me when it wants more lubrication, but an engine that costs 4 times as much and that has a network connection into my dash throws all kinds of faults at me, except the right one. Go figure.
Dumped in several quarts of the proscribed 25W40 and the messages went away. Happy engine, oil yum.
Now, I know, Smartcraft instrumentation is being sneered on in racing circles, and Monster Gauges are all the rage. But if the gauge wouldn't have told me what the engine computer was thinking, I would not have known why the engine was going blotto all the time.
To make matters worse: Did a fault scan with the Rinda tool. No faults.
Last edited by Peconic; 08-11-2003 at 08:52 AM.
08-11-2003 | 06:13 AM
#2
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: richmond virginia
How did you oil get so low with a new motor? did you change it and not add enough back in? Anew engine will burn a little more at first.
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"If Things Seem Under Control, You're Not Going Fast Enough"
Mario Andretti
"If Things Seem Under Control, You're Not Going Fast Enough"
Mario Andretti
08-11-2003 | 08:48 AM
#3
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From: Quogue, NY
Guess I simply didn't check.Having all those parameters at the ready lulls you into false confidence.
Pulling the dipstick is part of the a daily regimen now. Engine is being checked today, PPPC, Pre-Point-Pleasant-Checkup.
Pulling the dipstick is part of the a daily regimen now. Engine is being checked today, PPPC, Pre-Point-Pleasant-Checkup.
Last edited by Peconic; 08-11-2003 at 08:54 AM.
