2010 Mercury 50 EFI .. is this normal?

[alan-bc]

I bought an old Whaler with a 2010 Mercury 50 HP EFI at the end of last summer. I ran it maybe an hour, maybe, when I ran out of summer and so pulled her out of the water.

This is my first real power boat. I'm a long time sailor (although I freely confirm that sailboats are power boats too, much more than sailors might like to admit.)

Before dropping it back it the water today, I decided to start it up in a bucket of water. To my delight, it started RIGHT up, within a second of turning the key.

I then watched and listened for a while and saw a few things that might be perfectly normal, but look a bit weird to me. Again, I know nothing about outboards, but do about motors in general and do consider myself a decent backyard mechanic.

First, I detect exhaust coming from three distinct places. The first is out of the middle of the prop, which is what I expect. The second is out the "pee" hole, in the middle back of the motor. The third is out the sides of the anodes, down by the prop.

Is this normal?

Second, I don't see water coming out of the "pee" hole (or whatever you properly call it), as I recall it doing last year. Actually, that's not entirely correct. I've seen water coming out twice in three starts and maybe 3 minutes of idling. Once it "spitted" out at bit at startup, once it peed for about 3 or 4 seconds shortly after startup.

Where I do see water coming out is from the front of the lower end, right at the bottom of the middle plastic case coverings. A substantial bit seems to be thrown out by the driveshaft(?) I half expected it to be dry down there ...

Is this normal?

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[racerone]

You need water about 12" higher in your test bucket !!-----You need to lower the motor in your test bucket !!!----You risk damaging the impeller.-----Replace the impeller and test with boat floating in the lake.

 

[alan-bc]

You need water about 12" higher in your test bucket !!-----You need to lower the motor in your test bucket !!!----You risk damaging the impeller.-----Replace the impeller and test with boat floating in the lake.

Thanks, I think. Although now you've got me worried.

The motor is as low as it's going to go .. it's within 1/2" of the bottom.

I assumed that those "earmuff" things worked, so I filled the tank about 4 or 5 inches above the holes the earmuffs would usually cover. Do they not work?

 

[alan-bc]

You need water about 12" higher in your test bucket !!-----You need to lower the motor in your test bucket !!!----You risk damaging the impeller.-----Replace the impeller and test with boat floating in the lake.

Well, I dropped the boat into the water today, and it's peeing out the back like it always has!

It wasn't a long ride .. just from the ramp to my dock a half mile away .. so I can't say for sure all is well, but that's a welcome start. She'll get a longer run in the next day or two.

One small problem is that there is no temperature gauge on the motor, so I'm not sure how I'm going to check for overheating, preferably BEFORE it happens.

Any suggestions?

 

[Thirsty Endgrain]

Your engine has an overheat alarm, and a low oil pressure sensor. You'll know if it's overheating. I'm installing a temp gauge on my '02 90hp 4 stroke merc, though I have yet to figure out where I can install the temp probe. I too would like to be able to monitor temperature.

If it hasn't been done by you or that you absolutely know of, you should replace the impeller before you run this thing very much at all.

Highly recommend getting a factory service manual. Usually ebay has them around. Will answer many questions.