Hydraulic Pressure

[MicroKap]

I have a triple station 1980 60' Sportfish. The resevoir pressure tank on my starboard side continues to lose air pressure. It says to fill to 70-80 PSI, but shows some slow signs of the lack of air pressure. There is no loss of antifreeze/distilled water mixture. What happens if I'm cruising and that system loses pressure. Will the engine continue running at the present setting only to find out that the pressure is low when you try to slow the boat?

Larry K.
1980 60' Sportfish
Monmouth Beach, NJ

 

[JLR]

First, those pressures vary by temperature so that when it is colder, the pressure reading drops without any loss of fluid. Second, according to the manufacturer, you could run your system with 0 pressure--not sure why but that is what they say. I have tried to track down the same scenario on my boat for the last six years--with no luck. I simply pump up the pressure and it stays there when temps in the engine room are 70 degrees or above. When the temperature drops, and the pressure drops, I simply pump it up again.