[Kevin.clark]

I just purchased a boat with 1996 150 hp offshore Mercury outboard. I was wonder where water should be coming out. I have cranked the motor once with the ear muffs. Water came out of the tell tell after the motor ran for a couple of minutes, but it was not a powerful stream I guess it took the thermostat a while to open.

There is a stream of water coming out of the lower unit looks just like the tell tell stream (WHAT IS THAT ?). Also the big open port buy the tell tell has no water coming out of it (SHOULD IT? AND WHAT IS THAT PORT, IS IT A EXHAUST PORT?)

[Chris1956]

Kevin, A lot of those motors only have a telltale when the thermostat opens, and on the flusher in neutral, they do not get too warm, hence almost no telltale. You should actively see the water drawn into the motor upon startup. it will recirculate, and some water is dumped into the exhaust. This will exit thru prop and thru grates above and behind the prop.

Port high up on motor is likely exhaust relief for running in neutral with motor in water. On the muffs, little water will exit here.

[Kevin.clark]

Thanks for the response.