Nerc 30 ELHPT Four Stroke Unattached Hose

[bakerlh]

I purchased a Mercury 30 ELHPT 4 stroke outboard in 2017. While changing the oil filter I usually stuff couple of paper towels below the filter into the bottom of the cowl. This absorbs any small oil that may occur during the procedure. I gently removed the paper with long reach needle nose pliers. In doing so I also pulled up a small (~1/4") hose from the bottom of the cowl.



The other end of the hose disappeared upward into who knows where. I spent some time trying to find a nipple to re-attach the small hose end to. I could not see or feel any. What I did see was a tiny hole in the bottom of the cowl – at the lowest point. I concluded that possibly the lower end of the hose was snaked in there and designed to lie loose in the cowl bottom to drain “something” from up above.



Is this correct? Or do I need to worry?

 

[saltchuckmatt]

I purchased a Mercury 30 ELHPT 4 stroke outboard in 2017. While changing the oil filter I usually stuff couple of paper towels below the filter into the bottom of the cowl. This absorbs any small oil that may occur during the procedure. I gently removed the paper with long reach needle nose pliers. In doing so I also pulled up a small (~1/4") hose from the bottom of the cowl.



The other end of the hose disappeared upward into who knows where. I spent some time trying to find a nipple to re-attach the small hose end to. I could not see or feel any. What I did see was a tiny hole in the bottom of the cowl – at the lowest point. I concluded that possibly the lower end of the hose was snaked in there and designed to lie loose in the cowl bottom to drain “something” from up above.



Is this correct? Or do I need to worry?

Is it your tell tale hose...(pisser)?

 

[QBhoy]

Not familiar with that engine, but my same age merc engine (all be it larger), has a couple of features that may be related to yours.
On mine, there is an sump oil drain pipe that goes down into a drain fitting on the mid section. I doubt it’s that, if it’s like mine..because the oil is released by the fitting at the mid section. You’d know all about it if it was pissing oil out.
Other thing is a flush port pipe. Mine has a fitting that allows fresh water flushing without the engine running. That fitting goes to a port on the lower cowling base. Yours likely has the same system. Could be that ? Look for a wee plastic cover cap on the side of the lower cowling. There is a hose fitting port there. You could be missing the pipe off that perhaps.
Then obviously it might be the tell tale or even a crank case vent or perhaps a drain pipe for the VST or FSM…if yours has one. Mine doesn’t though. Hope some of that helps.

 

[racerone]

Serial # is ??