A genset is the combination of a diesel engine & generator.

Two days ago, after changing oil and filter, the genset did not start normally. It stopped after about 10 – 20 s with the error code: oil level too low or too high or no oil pressure, defect oil pressure sensor or malfunctioning oil pump.

You can possibly imagine that I was not happy at all. I was simply p….. off and used words, I don’t want to repeat here again. The genset is extremely important for daily live: charging the service batteries if there’s is not enough charging by wind and sun, making freshwater for daily life (cooking and showers), doing laundry with the washing machine, using access energy of the running genset to make hot water for next day’s coffee and tea, and heat the boiler for hit water.

Back to the error. I had this error in the last months a few times. Restarting the genset solved the problem and it was running again without a problem. Still this issue was nagging on my nerves. Why does this suddenly happen and why is a restart the solution? I had no real idea concerning the route cause.

Reading through the various manuals and communicating with Onan specialists in NZ, I got the feeling it must be the oil pressure sensor. Luckily the local Onan service had such a sensor in stock and I got one yesterday. It was not exactly the same but with an additional ground cable I could use it.

This morning I went into the engine room and started removing the sound absorbing enclosure panels to get access to the oil pressure sensor. I first had to open the exhaust system and next to remove a cooling water hose. When I wanted to disconnect and remove the sensor I was very “happy” again. The sensor had imperial screws (USA made) and the engine has metric screw (Japan made).

I already replaced the American made wind converter for a European one (SuperWind. I’m very happy with this.), thus metric system. Should I ever get into the situation that I need a new genset, it will only be one with metric screw. May the USA become great again with their imperial system, I don’t want to have things on board with imperial dimension screws etc.

Today I kept the genset running for almost 2 hours again. We used the energy for making tea and coffee for tomorrow, run the washing machine, and heated the boiler for the luxury of short but hot showers.

Gosh, life in board is so nice – when the genset runs!