Try next? High RPM Overheat

Cruizer219

Cadet
Joined
Jun 23, 2017
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8
1982 Stingray 17 ft, stored only on trailer. Very few trips to salt water, nearly always freshwater lakes.
1982 Mercruiser 140hp 4 cylinder sn: 6004033
MC-1 sterndrive sn: 5984192
Housing sn: 6001305

First, to all who post to these forums, THANK YOU, very, very much! I have read hundreds of threads in the past couple months and learned sooooo much thanks to you.

My raw-water cooled Mercruiser ran perfectly thru end of 2016. Starting with our first outing of 2017, boat OVERHEATS after 5 minutes at cruising speed, climbing to over 200 degrees before I return it to idle and the temp slowly drops to normal, approx 180 degrees at low speeds. Similar results but temp rising slower if the T-stat is removed. All testing done in the lake after each step:

(PREVIOUS maintenance, in 2015, had included: Impeller + housing, Bellows, shift cable and seals in sterndrive. That ancient impeller was intact, no vanes broken off. Parts of the ancient water shutter/flapper were found in the old bellows and removed. Did not install a new shutter, running without now).

RECENT STEPS and results include (in order):
I replaced engine hoses, T-stat and gasket, no improvement.
Replaced Riser and Manifold (1[SUP]st[/SUP] time ever changed), no help.
Flexible camera-on-a-wire found no obstructions below riser thru bellows.
Replaced Circulating Pump (1[SUP]st[/SUP] time ever; several teeth found worn), nadda
Used clear hoses for testing, found no bubbles in intlet hose to T-stat, no bubbles between T-stat and manifold.

Impeller flow test showed it pumping 1.5 quarts in 15 seconds at 1000rpms, half of the suggested minimum of 3 qts.

Replaced Impleller and pump housing + base (with OEM parts). In disassembly, found some of the (2015) impeller vanes pointing the correct direction and others pointing the wrong way. Repeated flow test and now it pumps exactly 2 qts, only slight improvement. Also overheating slower now (after 10 mins at cruising speed instead of 5mins).

Removed water inlet hose (from engine side) and stuck the end of a sturdy zip-tie into the water tube where it goes thru the transom. It wouldn't go in very far without force suggesting there MAY be some OBSTRUCTION there. It could also be a screen if there is one at that location(?), I dunno.

Am not sure what to check now. My auto mechanic previously ruled out some possible engine causes and engine runs smoothly, no oil light suggesting pressure OK, proper oil level, good belt and tension, etc.

I wonder if the water intake hose (the one thru the gimball, housing) may be the culprit. What I can see and feel of it, rubber seems okay, no kinks. I am NOT skilled enough to attempt replacement of this hose.

Ideas on what my next steps should be?
Much appreciated!
 

Bt Doctur

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Messages
19,488
Some have collapsed internally and look perfect on the outside
 

alldodge

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Impeller flow test showed it pumping 1.5 quarts in 15 seconds at 1000rpms, half of the suggested minimum of 3 qts.

The Alpha should pump 15 gallons a minute, divide by 4 (15 seconds) = 3.75 gallons. Are you meaning gallons by typing quarts?
 

Rick Stephens

Admiral
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Messages
6,118
If you have the stern drive off, no reason you cannot pull the water in line at the thermostat housing (the hose that comes from the transom), use some sort of barbed hose fitting and hook that hose right up to your garden hose to backflush. There is nothing but hose and a plastic fitting between the thermostat and the bellhousing port - that's the hole on the bell housing with the o-ring. Hooked up to a hose it should blast out without resistance.
 

Cruizer219

Cadet
Joined
Jun 23, 2017
Messages
8
Thx for the ideas!

AllDodge, I got that amount from Alpha Pump Flow/Output Test guidelines that I've seen in many sources, including a Merc Seawater Cooling document. It states that 3.0 Quarts is the bare Minimum my drive (its MC-1 but close enough to Alpha for this right?) with a 1.98 gear ratio should pump in 15 seconds at 1000RPMs. I'd hope it would pump much more but in any case, mine is currently pumping about half the minimum.

Rick, I'll try that but just got the lower unit reinstalled and oiled. Is there any (easy) way to do the backflush without dropping the lower unit? If one end of the housing's intake hose could come off that might work (are both ends nearly impossible to remove?). If no other option, that's okay, can do it.

Edit: Now, NOT thinking the water line is blocked near the transom. I poked a wire and one of those long flex plumbing sticks into it and dont feel any obstruction. Hoping to hear ideas about the water intake hose or other possible causes.
 
Last edited:

alldodge

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Mar 8, 2009
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Your probably doing better, but that isn't enough water to cool much. Impeller is new but your problem may be the pump housing. Have you replaced the housing?
 

alldodge

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Then you have a restriction somewhere. Could be in the drive vent holes or lines going thru
 

kenny nunez

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Jun 20, 2017
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One other place to look is the plastic cover that the copper water pipe plugs that is in the upper portion of the drive shaft housing "aka" the upper gear housing. The plastic sometimes melts and the gasket under it does not seal properly. The bad news is the 4 stainless 1/4" 20 bolts usually break off and cannot be removed by just trying to turn them. If you can break the cover into small pieces you may be able to use a torch to heat the surrounding area around the bolts and gently work them back and forth to remove them. To do this the housing has to be removed and mounted in a holding fixture .
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
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May 19, 2004
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27,468
...Rick, I'll try that but just got the lower unit reinstalled and oiled. Is there any (easy) way to do the backflush without dropping the lower unit? If one end of the housing's intake hose could come off that might work (are both ends nearly impossible to remove?). If no other option, that's okay, can do it....

Pull the complete drive off. You can do that without dropping the oil. That gives you the option of back-flushing the hose from the t-stat housing to the drive bell housing...

Have a look at my videos to see how to drop the whole drive in under 4 minutes. :D

Chris........
 

Rick Stephens

Admiral
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Messages
6,118
Pull the complete drive off. You can do that without dropping the oil. That gives you the option of back-flushing the hose from the t-stat housing to the drive bell housing...

Have a look at my videos to see how to drop the whole drive in under 4 minutes. :D

Chris........

That is exactly right. Always pull the entire starn drive off as a single piece if at all possible. It is so fast and easy and you can leave it full of oil, no mess, no refilling. As well, installing a lower gear case by lifting it up and aligning the water pipe and input shaft is a miserable job on the boat. So so so much easier to drop the upper down onto the lower while the lower is sitting in a slotted holder. Making a bench fixture with a slot to hold the lower is also easy. Might as well do it now if you are going to own a Mercruiser.
 

Cruizer219

Cadet
Joined
Jun 23, 2017
Messages
8
All fixed and running cool now. Wanted to give a BIG SHOUT OF APPRECIATION to everyone that helped with this problem!!! Advice by each figured in to solving the problem by telling me WHAT to look for and/or HOW to go about it. Cruised for half hour at 160 temp, only got up to 165 after nearing WOT for a few minutes. Problem was broken rubber pieces (perhaps from an ancient impeller, I dunno) in the water channels of the upper unit. Found 2 behind the water pocket wedged in the hole the water goes thru then found 4 more in the water channel that goes into bell housing. Again, many thanks! Now the family can be on the water for the 4th!
 
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