2004 Merc 4.3L Alarm - low pressure?

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gregshipman

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I bought a Whittley 2690 (26 feet) in July 2005 with a 2004 4.3L Mercruiser. It had 13 hours when I bought it from the dealer in Georgia and now has 61 hours. An alarm sounds at around 3000 rpm's and the governor kicks in. The oil pressure drops from 45+ to about 15psi. The Merc dealer replaced the gimbel bearing and U-joints at my expense and this did not correct the problem. Now the dealer says it is a low oil pressure problem caused by a bad bearing in the crankshaft. The dealer is recommending replacing the entire engine with only 61 hours. Any ideas or suggestions would be great...I can't fathom the engine needs replacement with so few hours....thank you....greg
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: 2004 Merc 4.3L Alarm - low pressure?

Need an engine serial number. They don't have "governors" .
Is this an EFI engine? Does it have a 555 ECM? Why did the dealer change a gimbal bearing? Was there water in the bellows?
I have replaced engines with only 30 minutes on them, so don't assume low hours means a good engine.
It does sound like your "Dealer" is using the "change parts till we hit on the problem" method of troubleshooting. Avoid him at all costs.
 
WillyBWright

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Re: 2004 Merc 4.3L Alarm - low pressure?

A 4.3 for a 26 footer? Geez, I'd want a BigBlock. If the motor ends-up junk, look into a bigger motor. Hi-Perf boat dealers (Fountain, PowerQuest, Cigarette, etc) often order consumer bigblock packages to sell the motors cheap when they swap-in special-order Hi-Perf motors. You might find a cheap 7.4L or 496 package that way. I'd think the 4.3 would be worked to death on much over a 20 footer. Or do you have twins? Is that a displacement hull or planing? Alpha or Bravo drive?
 
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gregshipman

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Re: 2004 Merc 4.3L Alarm - low pressure?

Don S. - Serial#0W006154, Engine Model#4-242067RS, Mercruiser 4.3L, MPI, B3, 220HP.

The boat will go 40 MPH before the alarm. When at 3000 rpm's pressure is 45 psi or so, then slowly drops to 15 psi or so. The Mercury dealer said there has been water below the engine and that is why the U-joints and gimbal bearing needed replacing, and now the whole engine. The bildge has always been kept dry under my ownership as it sits in a covered boat dock at my home and I check the bildge regularly, year-around. Let me know what your thoughts are......thank you.....greg




Don said:
Need an engine serial number. They don't have "governors" .
Is this an EFI engine? Does it have a 555 ECM? Why did the dealer change a gimbal bearing? Was there water in the bellows?
I have replaced engines with only 30 minutes on them, so don't assume low hours means a good engine.
It does sound like your "Dealer" is using the "change parts till we hit on the problem" method of troubleshooting. Avoid him at all costs.
Click to expand...
 
G

gregshipman

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Re: 2004 Merc 4.3L Alarm - low pressure?

Don said:
Need an engine serial number. They don't have "governors" .
Is this an EFI engine? Does it have a 555 ECM? Why did the dealer change a gimbal bearing? Was there water in the bellows?
I have replaced engines with only 30 minutes on them, so don't assume low hours means a good engine.
It does sound like your "Dealer" is using the "change parts till we hit on the problem" method of troubleshooting. Avoid him at all costs.
Click to expand...
 
G

gregshipman

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Messages
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Re: 2004 Merc 4.3L Alarm - low pressure?

Don, I'm new to this and don't know if you got this info - Serial#0W006154, Engine Model#4-242067RS, Mercruiser 4.3L, MPI, B3, 220HP.

The boat will go 40 MPH before the alarm. When at 3000 rpm's pressure is 45 psi or so, then slowly drops to 15 psi or so. The Mercury dealer said there has been water below the engine and that is why the U-joints and gimbal bearing needed replacing, and now the whole engine. The bildge has always been kept dry under my ownership as it sits in a covered boat dock at my home and I check the bildge regularly, year-around. Let me know what your thoughts are......thank you.....greg






Don said:
Need an engine serial number. They don't have "governors" .
Is this an EFI engine? Does it have a 555 ECM? Why did the dealer change a gimbal bearing? Was there water in the bellows?
I have replaced engines with only 30 minutes on them, so don't assume low hours means a good engine.
It does sound like your "Dealer" is using the "change parts till we hit on the problem" method of troubleshooting. Avoid him at all costs.
Click to expand...
 
Don S

Don S

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Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: 2004 Merc 4.3L Alarm - low pressure?

Has any of your oil pressure readings been verified with a mechanical gauge?
All of your problems could be a computer glitch if you are running Smartcraft gauges.
 
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